I've been longing for a full bottle of Quadrille to seriously indulge in for quite a while. Disaster struck when I ordered my first one on Ebay. I received only a smidgin left in the 100ml bottle. The rest had leaked out, soaking the packaging and filling the local post office with the most glorious smell. 
I wept at the shameful waste caused by stupid carelessness of the seller.
And getting my money back from the Evilbayer was like extracting teeth. Using my best school teacher tone, I suggested that it may not be good for business if I conveyed my sadness on forums like this. She decided that perhaps she had indeed received that returned bottle and I finally got my money and sat back waiting for the next opportunity.
I have an ancient micro mini, almost the size of a sugar cube, full of dark treacle coloured juice to judge the new acquisition by. Thank goodness, the new EDT was pristine, light in colour, but full of the notes that I expected. The micro had developed an almost burnt toffee aroma, wonderfully rich and pleasing, though more dominant than the EDT I now have. The micro had obviously lost some of the top notes over time, and the heart and basenotes came forward more quickly.
Now lots has been written about this perfume. It was around for a long time, and is a close cousin to my much beloved Le Dix. It is, however, totally different in character. This is a fruity, floral, spicy affair, rich and deep, with marvellous projection, and good staying power.
The notes do not give one a real indication of just what this little gem from 1955 is about:
Bergamot, Coriander,Plum, Peach
Jasmine, Cloves, Cardamon, Lily of the Valley
Musk, Amber, Oakmoss, Vetiver
What the unknown perfumer (I have searched high and low, unable to establish who was responsible for this beauty) achieved with the blending of spices, flowers and fruit is testament to how skilfully the noses of the past were able to blend elements together to form stimulating but highly harmonious perfumes. I have other spicy perfumes, Nuit de Noel, Tuscany per Donna, Parfum Sacre to name a few, yet the use of spice in Quadrille is something else completely.
The fruit and spices are prominent, but not overwhelming, cloying or sickeningly gourmand. There is just a pleasant floral accord accompanied by, in turns, soft fruit notes, and lovely complex spices that combine to form a wonderful background to main fruity, floral theme. And floral it is, despite only listing two floral notes.
At one point, I could smell a note reminiscent of the days when mother and I made toffee for the school fete. As the colour was darkening in the saucepan that wonderful bittersweet aroma of 'almost burning' sugar filled the air. I hadn't smelled it in years, but it resonated with me, and brought back such pleasant memories.
So besotted am I by this latest addition to my vintage collection, I am now looking at buying another bottle. The newly acquired bottle will be empty too quickly. I'm even looking longingly at extraits, something I usually don't do. I find extraits to be quite often too much contrast to the bright, easily digested EDTs, but these rich, dark spicy notes will surely be heaven in an extrait
At the same time as I purchased this Quadrille, I also ordered a little bottle of the Balenciaga Michelle. Now this one is totally untested, but will surely become another love of mine. Of course, I will surely share my reactions in another review.
I wept at the shameful waste caused by stupid carelessness of the seller.And getting my money back from the Evilbayer was like extracting teeth. Using my best school teacher tone, I suggested that it may not be good for business if I conveyed my sadness on forums like this. She decided that perhaps she had indeed received that returned bottle and I finally got my money and sat back waiting for the next opportunity.
I have an ancient micro mini, almost the size of a sugar cube, full of dark treacle coloured juice to judge the new acquisition by. Thank goodness, the new EDT was pristine, light in colour, but full of the notes that I expected. The micro had developed an almost burnt toffee aroma, wonderfully rich and pleasing, though more dominant than the EDT I now have. The micro had obviously lost some of the top notes over time, and the heart and basenotes came forward more quickly.
Now lots has been written about this perfume. It was around for a long time, and is a close cousin to my much beloved Le Dix. It is, however, totally different in character. This is a fruity, floral, spicy affair, rich and deep, with marvellous projection, and good staying power.
The notes do not give one a real indication of just what this little gem from 1955 is about:
Bergamot, Coriander,Plum, Peach
Jasmine, Cloves, Cardamon, Lily of the Valley
Musk, Amber, Oakmoss, Vetiver
What the unknown perfumer (I have searched high and low, unable to establish who was responsible for this beauty) achieved with the blending of spices, flowers and fruit is testament to how skilfully the noses of the past were able to blend elements together to form stimulating but highly harmonious perfumes. I have other spicy perfumes, Nuit de Noel, Tuscany per Donna, Parfum Sacre to name a few, yet the use of spice in Quadrille is something else completely.
The fruit and spices are prominent, but not overwhelming, cloying or sickeningly gourmand. There is just a pleasant floral accord accompanied by, in turns, soft fruit notes, and lovely complex spices that combine to form a wonderful background to main fruity, floral theme. And floral it is, despite only listing two floral notes.
At one point, I could smell a note reminiscent of the days when mother and I made toffee for the school fete. As the colour was darkening in the saucepan that wonderful bittersweet aroma of 'almost burning' sugar filled the air. I hadn't smelled it in years, but it resonated with me, and brought back such pleasant memories.
So besotted am I by this latest addition to my vintage collection, I am now looking at buying another bottle. The newly acquired bottle will be empty too quickly. I'm even looking longingly at extraits, something I usually don't do. I find extraits to be quite often too much contrast to the bright, easily digested EDTs, but these rich, dark spicy notes will surely be heaven in an extrait
At the same time as I purchased this Quadrille, I also ordered a little bottle of the Balenciaga Michelle. Now this one is totally untested, but will surely become another love of mine. Of course, I will surely share my reactions in another review.
