My Fifth Avenue Elizabeth Arden 2018

...was the title of a show that my dear grandmother enjoyed watching. In it, a somewhat aging quiz team had to guess the name of a mostly already deceased celebrity. The celebrity was presented by someone, usually older and related through five degrees, who had either achieved nothing themselves or lived in the shadow of their famous relative.

My Fifth Avenue unfortunately also stands in the shadow of its big brother. Those who got to know the fragrance in the nineties of the last century and have hopes for a reinterpretation will experience a bitter disappointment. I unfortunately do not know the scent from back then, but the one that is available today at a very reasonable price - and it is one of my special favorites when it comes to floral fragrances.
And not just mine: Fifth Avenue is particularly popular in the USA and is a true classic and evergreen there. The fresh floral scent with sweet ylang-ylang and linden blossom is unmistakable.
My Fifth Avenue has nothing in common with this fragrance except for its name. It relies on the trend of skin scents that are supposed to lay on the wearer like a second skin to enhance their attractiveness. These could be the ozonic notes. Whether that is true is a topic that is permanently and very lively discussed.

But back to the scent: Those who like Gabrielle by Chanel might also find pleasure in this one. While Gabrielle primarily exudes the typical Chanel DNA in the opening and later seems a bit old-fashioned, My Fifth Avenue is powdery fresh with light citrus notes. Later, gentle floral tones come into play, which then transition into a slightly woody and somewhat laundry-like musk note. Fortunately, My Fifth Avenue lasts quite long on the skin at about six hours and maintains a certain freshness until the end. The overall impression is almost that of a high-end product, but only almost. The decisive kick is unfortunately missing. Arden could certainly do more…

Conclusion: My Fifth Avenue is a modern, finely fresh, elegant, and likable fragrance for women who appreciate a rather intimate scent aura. The bottle is very pretty and fits well in the hand. I would classify it as suitable for year-round wear, as it is not a typical light summer scent despite the citrus notes at the beginning. Unfortunately, it has been packaged as a flanker, hoping for a larger customer base. That is a pity, because My Fifth Avenue is a standalone subtle scent that deserves its own name and should not have to stand in the shadow of an older relative.