Lightning Comment: Rumpelstiltskin at the Beauty Farm
NAME
I don't quite understand the significance of the name Wrappings (packaging, wrapping papers, and a few other facets) for this fragrance. However, it is clear that this name makes the scent an absolute candidate for testing on the second Christmas holiday, the traditional day of taking down the gift wrap to the trash bin.
BRAND
Clinique is a US brand focused on body and facial care for women. At one point, it had to be called Linique in Europe because regulatory authorities or courts believed that Clinique sounded as if the anti-aging creams and face masks had a medical benefit. For some time now, Clinique has been back in use, apparently the company fought and won a legal battle. Fragrances are not part of their core business.
SCENT
With this brand, one expects a calm, softly creamy, somewhat boring to stuffy women's fragrance, whose claim to originality barely reaches beyond that of the fragrance oils in the wellness sector.
However, it seems that a forest troll, perhaps Rumpelstiltskin, has managed to break open the window of the spa facility and perform wild dances and archaic rituals between the massage tables at night.
What we encounter here is an extremely robust and extremely green chypre that has not been washed (or rather: that has not been washed at all). Wrappings is everything green, from the entire kitchen herb garden of the monastery (albeit trampled and vandalized) to peppermint, moss, foliage, and weeds. Additionally, a hint of berries, honey, and wood from the forest.
There are also lush flowers, but not a delicate bouquet in pastel, rather a clumsily gathered heap of proletarian forest and meadow flowers, from which generous amounts of soil are still cascading onto the sparkling white marble floor tiles of the Institut de Beauté, along with the uprooted roots.
CONCLUSION
Although no galbanum is noted: a rabidly green scent that immediately made me think of Vol de Nuit. However, there is no direct similarity, as Wrappings is too telluric. Not a night flight, but a night hike through the thicket, a Randonée de Nuit. One of the most unusual and original scents I have ever smelled. Very beautiful, unusually beautiful, but I can hardly imagine it on myself, perhaps because I am not named Rumpelstiltskin. Definitely worth testing. That it has sneaked into the Clinique portfolio and has been there for 30 years, I interpret as subversive irony.
DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank Tabla very politely for this testing opportunity. According to your source, this is the original formula from 1990. This fragrance certainly has a vintage scent.
Funny, I have completely different expectations of Clinique; at least I definitely don’t expect anything stuffy. But that might be because I only know their Aromatics, which are also exceptional, though I only like the one in White. Oh, and Happy... yeah, that’s definitely more mainstream. By the way, their cosmetics are really good. I’m not too keen on trying the Wrappings, though...
This is the scent of my pregnancies. The only one I could wear during that time. That's why I have a special connection to Wrappings. I think it's great. Green, genuine, unmistakable. But I will never wear it again. Because those times are behind me.
I totally agree with Edda and would love to be lying in a cozy wooden cabin in front of the tiled stove, wrapped up in wild herb wraps. For some reason, I'm thinking about wild game right now :)
Regarding the name: The fragrance is only available in the USA in November and December and is intended as a 'wrapped gift' for Christmas. By the way, the slim but high-quality portfolio of perfumer Elie Roger also includes the legendary Karl Lagerfeld Homme (even if it's not listed that way on Parfumo).
A fitting appreciation of a great, largely unknown fragrance. (Just like with Aromatics Elixir - one of the ultimate perfume powerhouses - the current version is just a shadow of its former glory). Estée Lauder's fragrances - with Clinique and Aramis being mere offshoots - are often completely underestimated. For me, Lauder holds the same significance for the second half of the last century as Guerlain does for the first.
As always, a powerful, very amusing, and helpful description, thank you! (By the way, I have a Rumpelstiltskin trauma. When I was a child, my mom played the Rumpelstiltskin record and went shopping. Just when he screams his name really loudly, the record had a scratch! And I wasn't allowed to touch the stereo, so I curled up scared in the basement... I was so relieved when she came back home.)
Exceptional scent and a child of its time, hard to find and almost as good as Aromatisch. I'm still missing it! As an alternative for you, maybe try Coriandre.
What, your name isn't Rumpelstiltskin?! How do you know about Institut de Beauté...? Rabidly green wishlist. We greet you, relaxed and wrapped in all sorts of foliage, and thanks for this beautifully blunt comment.
Back then, I was disappointed with the scent because I found it way too strong (I was hoping for something soft and fruity). Today, 30 years later, I’d probably see it differently, but I'm not so sure either ^^
Legal disputes can sometimes take delightful turns. Just imagine if Euphorium Brooklyn had to name their fragrance Ald instead of Wald, because you can't actually go for a walk in that scent ;-) Nice comment on what seems to be a really lovely fragrance.
In the 90s, I had a bottle of that too. Back then, I found it a bit too harsh. Today, I would definitely appreciate it more. It's really great and quite unusual!
Not my kind of scent, but I really appreciate your positive comment and the fact that the perfume has been around for over 30 years is definitely impressive. Great review!
Nice comment on a (treasure seeker calls it "quirky green spice") - I almost read it as green desert. A sporty blonde friend wore it and smelled amazing. I found it exceptionally beautiful, but more like an aromatherapy. Unmistakable.
That's true, there is a discrepancy between the skincare products and the perfumes of this brand. My friend uses the creams because they are fragrance-free. Not for me... I bought Aromatiques Elixir many years ago - and never finished it. For me, this strong perfume with a lot of patchouli is unbearable. I don't know Wrappings yet, even though it's 30 years old. But the included fragrance notes don't really appeal to me.
Even though it contrasts with all my other fragrances and I shouldn't really like it, it has sneaked into my heart. Always for special occasions... Christmas, and I think also Mother's Day, Clinique offers the fragrance/body lotion set online. A 25 ml bottle. This year there was no set! ? Hopefully it will be back in 2021!
Green Chypre hits the mark. Great comment.
And yes, it simulates a galbanum impression... I remember exactly how it always smelled on my sister; it has a soft herbal-creamy vibe, like a veil on her. On me, it’s completely different... more floral with leathery notes... the base is stronger... Wrapping is something really special... the niche of all niches, as SchatzSucher says. Yes.
As usual, your quick comments resonate like thunder! Rumpelstiltskin in proletarian green outfit sounds really interesting; a limited fragrance that's been around for 30 years as well... Whether the (un)wrapping has erotic connotations is still up for investigation...
If you think of wellness and calm, clean scents when you think of Clinique, then you clearly haven't tried Aromatics Elixir. It's the epitome of the wicked stepmother - cruel, but beautiful.
You really can't call this scent boring. It's a fun, unconventional, and quirky green-spice fragrance that would be the niche of all niches today. Your description captures it perfectly.
Even though Chypres are basically my home turf, I really didn't get along with this one a few years ago... maybe I should give these proletarian wildflower scents a second chance. :)
I have a faint memory of this scent; I actually thought it was quite nice back then, but I never owned it. Your Rumpelstiltskin associations really made me smile!
Happy New Year!
You really hit the nail on the perfumed head again.
Rabidly green wishlist. We greet you, relaxed and wrapped in all sorts of foliage, and thanks for this beautifully blunt comment.
And yes, it simulates a galbanum impression... I remember exactly how it always smelled on my sister; it has a soft herbal-creamy vibe, like a veil on her. On me, it’s completely different... more floral with leathery notes... the base is stronger... Wrapping is something really special... the niche of all niches, as SchatzSucher says. Yes.