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

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.