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Elusive 1969 Perfume

7.1 / 10 7 Ratings
A perfume by Avon for women, released in 1969. The scent is chypreartig-spicy. The production was apparently discontinued.
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Main accords

Chypre
Spicy
Smoky
Oriental
Powdery
Ratings
Scent
7.17 Ratings
Longevity
6.49 Ratings
Sillage
6.19 Ratings
Bottle
6.918 Ratings
Submitted by Hasi · last update on 12/17/2020.
Source-backed & verified

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Elusive (Cream Perfume) by Avon
Elusive Cream Perfume

Reviews

3 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Oriane

140 Reviews
Oriane
Oriane
Helpful Review 3  
Nice Incense-and-Floral-Centric Fragance
Top Notes: Incense, Galbanum.

Heart Notes: Cloves, Coriander.

Base Notes: Civet, Oriss Root, Musk, Oak Moss.

Avon's Advertising Blurb about Elusive:

"Avon's indefinable fragrance that makes a woman as mysterious as India itself. Tantalising. Irresistible. With the spirit that makes words a poem, melody, a song. Elusive. Above a place. Above a time."

This review is for a vintage EdC which I purchased blindly. My bottle is pre-barcode and quite possibly a 1970s vintage. I found conflicting dates for Elusive's launch. Some sources say it launched in 1965 which I could totally believe. Others sources say 1969 or 1970. Whatever date it may have launched, Elusive is really powerful for an EdC. It is supposed to be an Oriental. I find it to be more of a Floriental.

I took the above listed notes from on-line, so I cannot say how accurate is this list, but I definitely detect some of the listed notes--most notably incense and galbanum. I cannot tease out any particular spices or floral notes, but I do detect floral notes and a lot of incense. The incense is quite prominent on my skin. I really enjoy incense perfumes, so I am quite pleased with Elusive's incense note. I do not detect anything akin to vanilla or amber or other such warmer notes in Elusive. Elusive is more of a cool fragrance than a warm one.

Elusive smells "perfume-y" in the old style way. I doubt anyone would mistake it for a contemporary Floriental. It is a fragrance for a mature woman or man. It is somewhat dry, somewhat green and florally in the deep dry down, and not at all sweet. It may possibly have some oak moss in its base.

Elusive is another one of those old but surprising Avon EdC's that can be had for a song. If you like incense and florals, I encourage you to give it a try.

I feels unisex and is probably more appropriate for evening wear and cooler weather. Projection is excellent for an EdC. Sillage is moderate to moderate plus. Longevity is average for an EdC.

I like it well enough, but I probably will not reach for it as often as some of my other Avons such as Rare Rubies which is warmer, richer, and more to my overall taste. Still, I am glad to have had the chance to try Elusive.

I am rating Elusive in comparison with my other older Avons such as Occur, Timeless, and Charisma, all of which I find myself more drawn. I must say, that I very much like the girly, rather smoky-pink and warm gold tones of the bottle, and Avon's advertising blurb about Elusive certainly helps to explain the packaging design.

Fragrance: 3.5/10

Projection: 7/10

Sillage: 6/10

Longevity: 5/10
0 Comments
Shehrazade

3 Reviews
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Shehrazade
Shehrazade
Very helpful Review 5  
Long-lasting Oriental
For my first comment, I chose my oldest perfume.
I have read many comments and am still practicing identifying the individual components, so I struggle with the description. But at some point, you have to start, learning by doing, so to speak.

I received the glass bottle from my mother, who got it from my father as one of many "promotional gifts," so it must have been before their engagement, which was in 1971!
This bottle is the only one left from her very valuable and old collection. My parents' house was broken into, and the thieves took jewelry, evening gowns, shoes, etc. (all great 70s stuff, sniff), and almost all the perfume bottles as well.
This perfume was handed down to me this week and got to move into my bedroom cabinet, of course not without being tested first.

Thanks to help from the forum, I now know that it is probably Elusive, so an Eau de Cologne. For an EdC, it is very strong, probably due to its age. I don't think it has gone off; I can't smell anything sour or celery-like. It is very spicy and leans towards the oriental. I would call it a true chypre bomb, typical of the 70s. The sillage is enormous; my husband has walked past me several times, wrinkling his nose. I have had the scent on my wrist since this morning and can still perceive it. I have little comparable; the few chypres in my collection were gifts, my preferences remain gourmands!

The glass bottle with leaf pattern is quite pretty, has a bit of an Art Deco vibe, and would look nice on my dresser, but I prefer to keep it in the dark; who knows how long it can stay good.
However, it will still remain in my collection, purely out of nostalgia!
1 Comment
Rosaviola

181 Reviews
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Rosaviola
Rosaviola
Helpful Review 4  
Oriental Spice Amphora
I had a small elongated glass bottle from Elusive, but unfortunately, the fragile neck of the bottle broke not too long ago while I was closing it.
I had no choice but to transfer it.
Unfortunately, I only had an empty spray bottle available.
Since it would likely evaporate soon, I decided to wear it more often and use it up quickly.
After all, it has been around for quite a few years. It is likely from the seventies.
Before I continue, I want to say a few words about it, even though I can't say much about Elusive as I unfortunately don't know any of the fragrance notes.
I have it as Eau de Cologne, and I must say for a Cologne, the sillage is really not bad,
but back then everything was a bit more opulent.
I would describe it as an oriental-spiced Chypre and believe I can detect something like
clove. Overall, it does come across as rather austere and slightly smoky.
Unfortunately, it doesn't last very long on me, at most three hours. Maybe the EDT lasts longer, but I can't judge that unfortunately.
I find the pink bottle quite pretty; it reminds me of an amphora.
But as I said, I unfortunately had a different, long, narrow glass bottle.
This was the first time that a bottle of mine has broken.
I can't think of much more to say about Elusive.
Maybe I'll find the pretty pink bottle again.
2 Comments

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