5th Avenue Elizabeth Arden 1996 Eau de Parfum
Drowned in Sweetened Soap
The version of 5th Avenue I was introduced to for the first time was prior to the changes that many classic perfumes had apparently undergone without any announcements. I appreciated it as a more 'modern', casual approach to the conservative style. Fairly balanced so that none of the traits would be prevalent. Prim and proper, yet far from the stiffness of the governess' ironed collars. Unquestionably feminine in its nature, but not the voluptuous type calling for the bees. While centered on the floral, it would be neither romantic nor innocent. Down-to-earth and self-reliant although discreet and tactful; quite recognisable despite the lack of attempts at attention-seeking.
Basically, a mature, composed, clean floral with a grounding woody base. The bottle well-matched, its iconic status owed to its elegant simplicity. I would even go so far as to say that for me, this perfume would have represented the olfactory idea of the early "emancipated woman" (I will not pursue this point to stay on the subject).
Unfortunately, the last edition I acquired turned out to be a personal disappointment after being worn across the four seasons on different occasions. During the coldness of winter, the florals were buried under thick layers of white soap. Spring brought forth the lilac along with the linden blossom and aqueous magnolia. In the blazing summer heat, 5th Avenue proved its tenaciousness with a single application over several hours. There was an oily appearance of aldehydes and bar soap, and I suspected the Ylang-ylang as it might come across to me in this way if it worked unfavourably. However, it did not bother me as long as it was "clean". The powerful base finally broke out in autumn. The unfaltering mixture of musk with amber and vanilla weighed heavily in my lungs while the sharp flowers that popped their pointy heads throughout the stuffiness strained my nerves. The smell seemed faceless and at the same time persisted in being noticed. Kudos to its explosive projection: applying twice on the waist required opening windows, which I had never experienced before.
In conclusion, as much as the flowers may stand out in the pyramid, the base would be most prominent on my warm skin, limiting this fragrance to early spring or the sunny winter. Against my expectations, it was not versatile enough for this kind of perfume to be kept in my collection.
Another fragrance this reminds me of is Sparkling White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor, even though the perceived similarity would be more in the type than the smell. If 5th Avenue were bar soap, SWD would be 'gorgeous' soap powder. Even if I had to dilute it in order to wear it comfortably, I would prefer SWD for being significantly less sweet and having a clearer aftertaste than Arden. Nevertheless, it should be noted that SWD's 'cleanness' is far from fresh, based on bitter neroli and a punch of ambered musk, and because of my personal association with facial or body cream, I cannot really imagine SWD worn other than in private scenes. As a member of the E. Taylor line, SWD possesses longevity and projection that would surpass 5th Avenue. Whether this tickles someone's interest or not, both fragrances may work better for those with lower body temperatures.
Basically, a mature, composed, clean floral with a grounding woody base. The bottle well-matched, its iconic status owed to its elegant simplicity. I would even go so far as to say that for me, this perfume would have represented the olfactory idea of the early "emancipated woman" (I will not pursue this point to stay on the subject).
Unfortunately, the last edition I acquired turned out to be a personal disappointment after being worn across the four seasons on different occasions. During the coldness of winter, the florals were buried under thick layers of white soap. Spring brought forth the lilac along with the linden blossom and aqueous magnolia. In the blazing summer heat, 5th Avenue proved its tenaciousness with a single application over several hours. There was an oily appearance of aldehydes and bar soap, and I suspected the Ylang-ylang as it might come across to me in this way if it worked unfavourably. However, it did not bother me as long as it was "clean". The powerful base finally broke out in autumn. The unfaltering mixture of musk with amber and vanilla weighed heavily in my lungs while the sharp flowers that popped their pointy heads throughout the stuffiness strained my nerves. The smell seemed faceless and at the same time persisted in being noticed. Kudos to its explosive projection: applying twice on the waist required opening windows, which I had never experienced before.
In conclusion, as much as the flowers may stand out in the pyramid, the base would be most prominent on my warm skin, limiting this fragrance to early spring or the sunny winter. Against my expectations, it was not versatile enough for this kind of perfume to be kept in my collection.
Another fragrance this reminds me of is Sparkling White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor, even though the perceived similarity would be more in the type than the smell. If 5th Avenue were bar soap, SWD would be 'gorgeous' soap powder. Even if I had to dilute it in order to wear it comfortably, I would prefer SWD for being significantly less sweet and having a clearer aftertaste than Arden. Nevertheless, it should be noted that SWD's 'cleanness' is far from fresh, based on bitter neroli and a punch of ambered musk, and because of my personal association with facial or body cream, I cannot really imagine SWD worn other than in private scenes. As a member of the E. Taylor line, SWD possesses longevity and projection that would surpass 5th Avenue. Whether this tickles someone's interest or not, both fragrances may work better for those with lower body temperatures.
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Anessa
