Zizanie (1932)
by Fragonard

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 Avoid this one and save the true classics from being branded as "outdated."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.

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 sublte. Performs better as a cold-weather scent, since it will expand and choke you in hot weather!

Very powdery and musky. Has an old world feel to it like what I'd imagine to be the scent of powdered wigs of elder statesmen.

Very nice, similar to Chaps or the original Royal Copenhagen. Did Frank Sinatra really wear this? I heard he wore Bois du Portugal by Creed. Personally, out of all the Creed fragrances, I really like Vintage Tabarome and Green Valley. I REALLY love Erolfa!

Zizanie was the scent I grew up smelling on my father... I remember him saving his last bottle when it was discontinued (in the U.S?) and then being so happy when he found a bottle at an old time fragrance shop. I enjoy the current version - a little citrusy, a little woodsy and sweet... nothing too complicated but nothing offensive at all. Good for summer days.

I'm sorry to hear that the bottle I have is vastly different from the original... I'd like reexperience the original. If anyone know where to find such a bottle feel free to message me.

In 1951, when I was an innocent youth of 21 and in Paris for the
first time, I was "adopted" by a few days by a fellow, traveling with
his mother, who had designs on my innocence. Despite a lunch at the George Cinc Hotel his designs fell on barren ground. However he left me a bottle of the old Zizanie. It was the old
aluminum bottle with a cork top. I didn't like it then, but it brought
back memories of Paris. When the bottle was used up I bought
a new one, for the sake of nostalgia. Can someone confirm that
the formula was radically changed? If I didn't like it in 1951 I loathe
it in 2008. A men's fragrance, indeed, for men who have no friends
and no sense of smell. A heavy fragrance which, alas, doesn't
dissipate but has a truly nasty end note.