Iquitos (1987)
by Alain Delon

As a friend said, "It makes a grand entrance, but leaves the party too soon". If it lasted on me, Iquitos would be among my all-time favorites, but it's all head and no body. While it's around, it makes a good impression.

The top notes are of a piquant fruity-floral quality I've experienced in Czech & Speake's No. 88, an accord not unlike grape crush but richer and denser. In No. 88 the effect smooth and deep, but an ample dose of aldehydes makes Iquitos effervescent to the point of brusqueness. This contrast of lush and angular notes is a little touch of genius in a bottle, and really what makes Iquitos unique.

Perhaps inevitably, the drydown fails to live up to the promise of the top. The fragrance brightens and simplifies, the heart consisting of a powdery, apple-tinted rose with a touch of jasmine, an amiable leather gradually emerging in the hushed sillage of the base. I find it neither woody nor particularly patchouli heavy, especially given how inseparable rose and patchouli are in so many modern rose soliflores.

I'm sad that this is discontinued, as it spoke "rose" in a unique way, but I could also wish had a fuller and more complex base. I can only hope some up-and-coming perfumer steals the good ideas from Iquitos and does something new with them...

How I wanted to like you Iquitos. You are strong and dark, but the opening you employ is a tad synthetic for my tastes and leaning a bit too much toward feminine.

I can see why others extol your virtues, but I cannot count myself among them.

WOWSERS!!! There are scent which employs aldehydes and then there are scents which just max it out! Iquitos belongs to the latter category. such a lovely scent! it;s become my new favorite for casual events or evenings out.
This one smells exactly like one has opened up a box of Rose based agarbattis (incense sticks). not burning sticks, but the box which stores incense's. from the rose perspective, i would put it in No.88 or 1913 category, although, it smells nothing like it. this ones too loud and much more exciting. not that No.88 and 1913 are not exciting, they are more refined whereas Iquitos is uncompromising and direct. and how i wish the openign accords would last forever..doesnt matter... by drydown, the rose is still present..but has a mineral like quality to it with touch of patchouli and leather. lovely scent! im glad i purchased a 100ml!

This was really a nice "summer" scent. It had a soft, fruity base to it. I liked the sillage and longevity of this fragrance. It always had a clean refreshing quality to it that was never cloying nor tireing. Yes, it is very 80's but in a nice, refined way. I really wish they would bring it back because I would be the first to buy it.

At first I thought this might be too feminine but after a few moments I realised that Iquitos is truly gorgeous! Straight into my top five, I quickly bought another two miniatures in case I wasn't able to track down a full size bottle (although I have managed to get a 100ml very recently).

Rose. A nicely done rose. One that I could wear because it doesn't feel like I feel asleep in a florist. Simply dark and good.