Cocktail Dry (1930)
by Jean Patou

Patou – Cocktail Dry (1930)

Patou revealed his “cocktail” collection in 1930. In addition to the original Cocktail, there were Cocktail Sweet, Cocktail Dry and Cocktail Bitter Sweet.

These were designed so that milady might mix and match according to her mood and/or find the unique representation of her over all personality. Presentations were also available as coffrets, collections of these themed scents called Cocktail Bar a Parfums, a mini bar in three sizes, Grand, Petit, and Baby.

Cocktail Dry is extremely complex and dark, yet with a decided “lift” (a combination to my nose of galbanum, clove and honey). It is a round, unctuous, green chypre with a sweetness that is not cloying. It keeps opening up like a flower in lapse dissolve photography. This is a rich, full, gorgeous scent that both I and my spouse agree deserves the epithet, “stunning.”

This is unisex for the mature woman or man. The dry down gives the impression of a well -worn leather without precisely fitting that genre. It is an amazingly comfortable scent, bringing a feeling of safety and security. A true classic.

There are an amazing 30 ingredients:

Bergamot, Lavender, Geranium, Oak Moss, Galbanum, Clove, Verbena
Mimosa, Chamomile, Jasmine, Rosa Centafolia, Petitgrain, Honey, Black Tea, Apricot,
Sandalwood, Patchouli, Frankincense, Civet, Ambergris, Vetiver, Anise,
Civet, Musk, Tonka Bean, Osmanthus, Benzoin, Peru and Tolu Balsam, Orris

I adored the original Cocktail, which I reviewed in January, 2017. Now Cocktail Dry is added to the list. On to the remaining two.