Gabriela Sabatini Gabriela Sabatini 1989 Eau de Toilette

GS is a fragrance that can undoubtedly be classified as a classic. Launched in 1989 and alongside 4711, Tosca, Nonchalance, Maroussia, and the Swan by Vanderbilt, it is one of the few scents that has been continuously available on the shelves of drugstores and perfumeries for years - otherwise, it's a constant coming and going. After a few years, most of them disappear, and only a few fragrances actually make it to classic status.

I received my first bottle as a gift back then, it must have been around 1990. Whether I actually finished the bottle or if it ended up in the trash at some point, I can't say for the life of me. At that time, I preferred Joop Femme, which smells very similar but was significantly stronger even back then. Both have probably been reformulated since, and I haven't sniffed Joop in years, but GS seems much lighter to me than it did back then. However, that doesn't bother me... ;-)

Last autumn, I was looking for a fragrance that fits the season. I have so little choice. *gg* At Müller, my eye fell on the good old GS. 20ml for €6.95. It was a spontaneous purchase; I hadn't really thought about the fragrance, but I had fond memories of it and a bit of sentimentality attached. I had received it during a very beautiful time in my life, so why not give the fragrance another chance? I sprayed it on at home in peace and immediately traveled back to the early 90s, to the vacation at Lake Wörthersee with my then intense, but unfortunately far too short love. Ah....

It seems more aldehydic to me than in the 90s, but maybe I remember it differently. Otherwise, it smells pretty much the same to me, although significantly lighter, which I actually appreciate. At the beginning, it is downright soap-clean, but still not dusty. It is very complex for me, floral, warm, cozy, classic. An everyday scent, perhaps for the cold season and not exactly for very warm days, and with 1-2 sprays - distributed - it is not too much, but rather close to the body. It is very rounded and soft, nothing pokes, pricks, or gives me a headache. Besides the aldehydes, I can clearly detect neroli, jasmine, and tuberose. In the base, I can't smell patchouli, which I am quite glad about. Instead, there is a lot of sandalwood; the scent is wonderfully soft and cuddly. A bit of musk as well, but just a little, so it doesn't bother me. Even my husband, who hates musk, doesn't complain about it; on the contrary, he likes the scent. A touch of vanilla rounds off the fragrance nicely. I'm not so sure about the amber; at least the scent doesn't take on an animalistic, tacky touch on me, which unfortunately often happens with fragrances that have a lot of amber.

For me, a truly beautiful classic that has been around for 27 years now - I wouldn't mind another 27 years.