Jicky (1889)
by Guerlain

It's only appropriate that this be my first review/contribution to the general pool of fragrance "knowledge," or opinion, at least. This was the first Guerlain that I asked to smell at The Perfume House--or what I like to refer to as "The Happy Place"--a wonderland of mostly non-mainstream scents in Portland, OR, USA. When the SA first spritzed it on a cotton ball, yes, I got lavender and citrus, but then recoiled when I sensed something I described as "fecal." That was my first encounter with civet. Actually, not true--my first civet encounter was in an occult store in San Diego...it was in the middle of a shelf of oils-n-potions, and the one I thought a person into magick could use to inflict the most evil. Just the thing to pour down the heating vents of an ex's Porsche.

Anyway, after months of obsessing over/collecting/ranking and re-ranking the most prominent Guerlains, I've returned to Jicky, and have reconsidered. It was only the civet that stood in the way of its fresh, herbaceous, androgynous character. And that was on a cotton ball. I went back to the Happy Place and finagled a vial when purchasing CdG Incense Avignon. On skin, lavender is the first thing that rises up. The civet is there, but its effect just serves to make the perfume "take a turn." Not the way of spoiled milk, but in traveling the labyrinth (of English hedges or Mediterranean sunbaked stone?), it's the t-intersection; I face a wall, a warm one, and keep exploring. This perfume's a bit 'bent.' Now I like it. Doesn't hit the heart of me, but a part of me.

18th January, 2012.

I have tried Jicky a couple of times after reading that it was a good unisex scent.
Both times I was shocked at the faeces/vomit opening which strangely and thankfully completely disappears after half an hour or so. I like what comes after, though I can't really place any of the notes in the pyramid apart from a rather classy vanilla which keeps improving. good longevity on my skin, and reasonable projection. I guess I am not really qualiified to review it properly but I will give it a neutral so far.

12nd January, 2012.

My first adventure into fine fragrance, now smells of the memories rather then the scent. Like Femme de Rochas very masculine on me. May try again now I'm a grown up and can look back on the misadventures of youth with acquinimity

27th November, 2011.

I find Jicky to be a quality scent -citrus,lavender,etc.-but he isn't a favorite .Jicky isn't a love/in love with it scent .On a scale of how well you know/love someone -Jicky and I have met a few times at work functions and he was tolerable to be around ,but we never really talked or became very well accquainted.His aloof sister Shalimar was nicer to talk to .I really hit it off with the Samsara Triplets and became BFF with all three.
Another problem with a friendship with Jicky- my cat.Z HAAAATES Jicky (and lets me know in his own odorus way!).
Toleration in a relationship doesn't equal a week or more of carpet scrubbing.The cat stays .Jicky extrait is going to see if he will be well loved out west.

18th October, 2011.

I love this fragrance! It smells wonderful! The version I've tried is the EDT, and it has a pretty dominant lavender note which actually comes out smelling pretty much like natural lavender on me! I almost always love lavender in fragrances so there is just no way I can dislike this one. I also agree with the other people on here that Jicky also has a very sweet, gourmand type of smell as well which I agree smells somewhat like Creme Brulee. Mostly, I'm getting the lavender though. The only thing about this EDT which is perhaps not altogether positive is that it is a somewhat light fragrance on me, and I suspect it won't have great longevity. Aside from that I definitely recommend this one to anyone who is looking for a great lavender fragrance that really smells like lavender!

9th September, 2011.

an amazing but ephemeral scent - get the EDP!!

8th August, 2011.