Paloma Picasso / Mon Parfum (1984)
by Paloma Picasso

If Diorella and Cristalle met, married and had a child, that child would be Paloma Picasso! A very lovely floral chypre that goes on forever. It smells so much more expensive than it's sensible price! This, along with Anais Anais and Calandre, is probably the "biggest bang for your perfume buck" . I was very impressed and I like the idea that this scent comes in lotion & bath gel, also. PS Normally I prefer EDP to EDT, but this is one of those exceptions. The EDP is very "in your face". The EDT is refined and beautiful with very good longevity. 4 stars for the EDT; only 3 stars for the EDP.

I love this fragrance. Agent Provocateur reminds me of it. I love how Paloma Picasso smells on others when it has dried down on their skin. My husband unfortunately hates it, as he has a strong aversion to patchouli. So I don't wear this because a fragrance he strongly dislikes can really throw him out of a good mood and make him cranky (Libran!). But I love it. A classic that still smells great.

Recently, I purchased a bottle of the edt for the coming fall months. I remember testing it a long time ago ---in the 1980s? --- and remembered how taken I was with its opening ---awash in dark flowers and patchouli.

When I opened my bottle and sampled it again yesterday, I swooned over its rich and welcoming opening and experienced a deja vu moment, but not from the 1980s. It reminded me of something very near and dear to me in my fragrance wardrobe......et voila...Aprege!

I'm flabbergasted, and maybe it's only me, but the opening of Paloma is a sister to Arpege, one of my all time favorites. Paloma's drydown isn't as rich or faceted; it carries it's own, rather linear finish. It leaves her audience stage-left instead of ascending a grand staircase as does Arepge.

That said, Paloma is no attempted knock-off; it opens with a famillar accord and then finds it's own way in the world. I like it a lot.

This fragrance is a MUST for all patchouli lovers!

If the scent has changed, I guess I didn't notice. It was deep and rich and beautiful in the 80's and it still is now.

Re formulated. That makes sense. That's why I've lost my enthusiasm over 20+ years. I first sniffed it on the young striking woman, a psychologist, testing my son. So I got it, and loved it, though it didn't smell the same to me. The old round black bottle with the clear, glass, sphere in the center - a beautiful and unusual design. Why did they change it? Yes, the gold cheapens the look, and the shape is humdrum.