Zizanie (1932)
by Fragonard

Holy cow, this is one of the muskiest fragrances I have ever smelled. There's a gamey, animalic musk all over Zizanie, along with some jasmine for even more raunchiness. Zizanie comes from the Royal Copenhagen, Stetson and Black Suede school of men's fragrances - a floral oriental - and probably was the main inspiration for those, since it came out long before them.

I don't find Zizanie to be as powdery as everyone else describes it. Maybe that's because I have the eau de cologne version, I don't know. What I do know is that this is some pretty strong, old school stuff, and I like it. If you've worn Royal Copenhagen, you'll have some idea of what this is like, though it's less powdery, more animalic, and more aromatic than RC. There's lots of patchouli in this, which also prevents this from turning into some dandified powder pouf.

I like how this exudes silvery-haired class. If you want to smell like old-guard manliness, Zizanie is right up your alley.

MY RATING: 7.5/10

17th March, 2011.

A strident fragrance that might have done well in the 1930's when people showered and bathed less frequently than now, or when they were exposed to acrid and rank smelling French cigarette smoke. But for non smokers who shower daily, this excessively potent and almost nauseatingly powdery fragrance is anachronistic.

4th May, 2010. (Last Edited: 7th August, 2010.)

One powdery, dusty, musty mess. The opening is a dusky citrus muted by a very prominent powder right away. Synthetic and awful.

23rd November, 2009.

when i first smelled this i loved the patchouli and sandalwood and this is one of the few old scents that actually still smells good! its amazing this stuff was made in the 1930s becasue it still smells better than many of todays scents


its a very fresh woodsy semi sweet scent that is perfect for guys and that has NEVER gone out of trend

28th August, 2009. (Last Edited: 24th September, 2009.)

I recently had the opportunity to smell this again. This time the stench I experienced previously was mercifully absent. Rather, I got the musky powder of repute - in the Royal Copenhagen tradition. I'll change to a neutral. My original review is below. (April 2011)

Let me start by establishing my old school bona fides: I drive a Buick Park Avenue, wear vintage clothes and am enamored by midcentury men's classics such as Tabac, Monsieur de Givenchy, Agua Lavanda, Green Water, etc. Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Buddy Greco are on my deck. So it was with some degree of excitement that I purchased a bottle of Zizanie from ebay.

Unfortunately, this is one old school member that's a dropout. It is easily the worst fragrance I've smelled to date. This is the type of mess that gives the old school a bad name; it's almost a parody of the overwhelming alcohol astringent smell that the young are fond of belittling in anything older than 2006. For once the opprobrium is justified. Avoid this one and save the true classics from being branded as "outdated." If you're curious, try the local Goodwill store; that's where mine was sent.

7th June, 2009. (Last Edited: 17th April, 2011.)

Disliked it at first, with the powder notes being overwhelming. However, the compliments I received from women convinced me otherwise and I stuck with it for many good memories. Similar to Royal Copenhagen but softer. Longevity is average, not great. Projection is subtle. Performs better as a cold-weather scent, since it will expand and choke you in hot weather!

3rd June, 2009. (Last Edited: 10th November, 2011.)