Wind Drift (1970)
by Dana (originally by MEM Company)

Barbara Herman described this as the scent of "wet wood - cedar and sandalwood, surrounded by citrus, herbs and light florals with a subtle musk."

I on the other hand get "dry wood," without being able to ascertain either cedar or sandalwood. There is lavender here with a citrus/herbal/musk mix, making it a light and refreshing fougere. There is a slight sharpness to its green note.

However, it is not in the impressive department, just a "nice" cologne splash that dries down to a nondescript wood base.

You could do worse in the English Leather line, such as the totally vile Timberline.

Not bad, just not distinctive.

Wind Drift actually began its life in the 60's as a men's fragrance called Villa D'Este by the MEM company. It was marketed as an upscale fragrance but apparently never caught on until it was repackaged as Wind Drift in 1970 as part of the English Leather family. The H & R Guide lists its components as topnotes of bergamot, anise, rosemary, lavender, aldehydes, basil and lemon, midnotes of geranium, fern, rose, jasmin, carnation, cedarwood and sandalwood, with basenotes of musk, moss, tonka bean, vanilla and labdanum.

I never quite got the ocean associations of the name and packaging --- this is a complex fougere with lots of green and foresty accords, although the bergamot and rosemary give it a bracing initial splash, and the jasmin and carnation add some richness to the greens of the middle. The drydown is long-lasting, but rather generic, and doesn't retain much of the earlier notes. It's never been one of my favorites, but does have some historical significance, and it was quite original for its time.

Quite simply the best of the English Leather/ 70s cheapies. Very clean scent, with a strong leather base and a wind-blown quality that makes it feel light instead of bogged down like many masculine frags before and since. Strong aquatic sensibility without being feminine like many of the modern aquatic colognes.

Not particularly impressed; it just smelled "weird", not quite sure how else to put it...

Stick to the original, which is great stuff.