Jazz Prestige (1993)
by Yves Saint Laurent

Strong soapy lavender with a touch of mint to begin with, then the tobacco starts to take over, which is also quite strong. There's also a bit of fruitiness kicking around. I just tried half a spritz to the chest and I can't imagine wearing more without some discomfort. In a sense, it doesn't come across as a complete fragrance, but rather as collection of notes, many of which are fighting for dominance. However, I can see how some might enjoy this kind of presentation, though I'm really not sure what to think. It's natural-smelling and has strong "sillage"/projection and longevity. but you had better like soapy lavender and tobacco, that's for sure!

7th February, 2011.

Among those, for whom the pursuit of the now-obsolete olfactory treasures has become a source of constant fascination -- nay, dare I venture? -- obsession, the discovery of a still-boxed, fresh, full bottle of Jazz Prestige would be comparable to a car-boot-fare scenario, in which Steve Buscemi's 'Seymour' discovers a mint copy of an early John Coltrane album released on the original 'Prestige' record label.

Indeed, in Terry Zwigoff's remarkable, Ghost World (2001), we would see 'Seymour', the vintage-loving music collector, first admire the album's sleeve and 50s artwork; witness his thorough inspection of the disc for any scratches, etc., feeling the weight of 'old' vinyl as it slipped carefully from its inner, paper sleeve into his vigilant-yet-delicate grip and, finally, get to see him playing it on his old 'Hi-Fi' equipment. Escaping into 'the sound of the day', marveling at the 'sheets of sound' from Coltrane's tenor as captured by analogue -NOT digital - recording techniques. Buscemi's trademark over-crowded teeth breaking into an inexorable, easy grin to the infectious “swing” of the music.

Such is the quality of Jazz Prestige, a sadly discontinued bottle of pure “hard-bop” perfume, and a master class in olfactive intricate harmonies and delft key changes, that twists and turns just like Coltrane's solos, as the 'nose' in question threw everything but the proverbial “kitchen sink” into this creation and managed somehow to 'pull it off'. With engaging outcomes!

So, I cannot help imaging a film, an ‘alternate-universe’ Ghost World, in which the 'Seymour' character is like me and into perfumes. Buscemi's Seymour, with his fascination with all things lost, and disthymic, laconic tone would provide the perfect commentary on vintage scents!

For the benefit of the lost-yet-inquisitive 'Enid' (Thora Birch), after judiciously spraying 'Prestige onto both their wrists…

"You see...right off it’s citrusy and bright: “aromatic. green.”, and kinda deeply floral, oddly, with that heavy, ylang-ylang head note...and don't be fooled by the box, this is a unisex fragrance despite the 90s, bull***t, marketing-label crap. Yeah...here we go....this baby becomes an 'Oriental', smell all the pepper and spices?...but here....check this out now...yeah, you get the 'apples', but wait for the chypre notes...you dig the 'leather', right? That's genius; leather chypres were really cool in the 50s/60s because of a guy called 'Chant'...but here's the thing: this is no pure chypre either...tell me what you think in a couple of hours, when this dries down...you'll get a pure fougere...that's right, the coumarin-oakmoss- tonka bean vibe that made Paco Rabanne famous...only this is a thousand times better. Yeah, most numbskulls just know Paco and Drakkar, but to make an oriental-to-chypre-to-fougere that lasts...well, this is just… this is just pure class!

“No please, friend...take it: it's for you!"


For Andy

27th July, 2010.

Very different than the regular. To me not as loud, stays closer to skin with minimal sillage, but is also definitely much richer. Carnation and geranium with sandalwood and tobacco, dries down for animalic base. Something here reminds me of Havana, this is more floral though and not as spicy.
Very masculine, interesting release from YSL.

16th September, 2008.

Jazz Prestige was one of my all time favourites, I was dismayed to say the least when told of it's discontinuance.
In my humble opinion one of the best men's fragrances ever created.
It's elemental composition is forever seared into my olfactory memory !

25th December, 2007.

The topnotes are to die for in Prestige. There is mint there, but not as present as in the Live version. The added tobacco is very easy to detect in the drydown, with hints of Sandalwood. Overall, a richer, warmer version of both the original and Live versions, and slightly better than both as well. Makes you wonder why they discontinued it.

9th November, 2006.

Much more interesting to my nose than the more conventional Jazz. It's probably the mint in it that grabs my attention, especially in the topnotes. There's a compelling contrast here between cool, tart, refreshing notes and warmer, earthier, woodsy notes. As it dries it becomes what I would consider a good version of an 80s-style "men's cologne smell." It's very masculine, has good projection, and is long lasting. My issue with it is that when it dries down it turns sour on me. I have this same issue with Jazz, and I have to say it's a deal-breaker for me, though I doubt it would be an issue for everyone.

10th June, 2006.