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Colony 1938 Parfum

Version from 1938
8.1 / 10 24 Ratings
A popular perfume by Jean Patou for women, released in 1938. The scent is fruity-floral. The production was apparently discontinued.
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Main accords

Fruity
Floral
Leathery
Chypre
Spicy

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
PineapplePineapple Ylang-ylangYlang-ylang
Heart Notes Heart Notes
CarnationCarnation OpoponaxOpoponax VetiverVetiver IrisIris OakOak
Base Notes Base Notes
MuskMusk LeatherLeather

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
8.124 Ratings
Longevity
7.615 Ratings
Sillage
6.415 Ratings
Bottle
8.323 Ratings
Submitted by Kankuro, last update on 08/27/2024.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Colony (2015) by Jean Patou
Colony (2015)
C'est la vie! (Eau de Toilette) by Christian Lacroix
C'est la vie! Eau de Toilette

Reviews

4 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Flakon11e

40 Reviews
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Flakon11e
Flakon11e
Very helpful Review 10  
long-lasting pineapple
Tipsy fresh pineapple dances past a half apricot by the herb garden, a green, crisp, and slightly floral scent accompanies both dancers. A few aldehydes crackle forth, galbanum, hyacinth, and mimosa swirl with delicate ylang-ylang, cloves, and jasmine, while chamomile and lavender occasionally wave from the herb garden... and the pineapple dances...

After 3 hours, delicate roses appear, iris dusts a little, the scent becomes more balsamic and slightly ambered. The dancers rest on the lush moss carpet, earthy pu-erh tea is served. A cat lies down on the sandalwood bench and purrs.

After about 5 hours, attention is drawn to a horde of beavers: they run across all the herb beds and flower borders; the cat flees, the pineapple lets out a brief scream and falls onto its leather sofa to watch the devastation of the beds from a safe distance.

The cat sneaks back onto its sandalwood bench, musk softens the scene, light vanilla gradually reveals itself until the end.

I tested the EdT (see photo). The pineapple is sometimes more and sometimes less present, sometimes a whirlwind, sometimes a lady.
The green note in the heart, which I smell with galbanum, hyacinth, and mimosa, could be from the oak. Opoponax unfortunately completely eludes my perception in this combination.
After 15 hours, I can still sniff the scent.
16 Comments
Nasowas

20 Reviews
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Nasowas
Nasowas
Very helpful Review 5  
For me, an absolute dream
Why did I only meet you now, what a beautiful time we could have spent together?
This fragrance is said to be inspired by the French colonies and Josephine Baker, according to the Patou homepage.

I don't perceive much from the top notes anymore; the sample is probably a bit older, I can only detect a faint fruity note, perhaps something floral but no Ylang-Ylang of the oily/heavy kind.
In fact, the carnation quickly comes to the forefront, but this state doesn't last long, as the components form a dense, hardly untangled fabric.
It is quite dry here; the iris does not automatically powder itself but merges with a subtle, extremely sensual leather, so far completely unsweetened.
Soft balsamic Opopanax and musk, which I initially wouldn't have identified as such, along with some woodiness and leather, create a somewhat smoky scent reminiscent of incense sticks, before transforming into a soft, sensual, divine mélange with a hint of sweetness.
After hours, a fine warm leather residue remains, I suspect underscored by musk.
Yes, I find the fragrance very sensual, so I can very well understand the comment from Medusa00, but in a mature, not intrusive or flat way.

The sillage is moderate, not overwhelming, and then becomes closer to the skin.
The longevity is good.
Unfortunately, it is now very hard to find, expensive, or no longer in usable condition.
This fragrance is, for me, a true work of art and wearable; I think it is always suitable except in the height of summer.
Unfortunately, I am not able to say more about it; for me, it is an absolute dream scent.
Thank you for allowing me to get to know you.
2 Comments
Medusa00

842 Reviews
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Medusa00
Medusa00
14  
Just add another log on the fire....
... she breathed and sank down onto the shaggy carpet in front of the burning fireplace.
While she sucked on pineapple, freshly cut, and the juice dripped onto her bare bosom. With a lascivious glance, she revealed to him that she had imported expensive Ylang-Ylang flowers from Indonesia.
"Oh, it doesn't matter, darling," he murmured, his eyes only for her as she lay there, completely bare.
He quickly rushed into the garden to chop some oak wood. How else could he resist the woman? She squanders his money. And every time, the woman lures him again. He chews a bit of grass (chews, not smokes!!). Then the desire grows stronger. He picks the last irises (sword lilies) and the first carnations for her in the garden and ties them into a large bouquet.
He leaves his leather pants hanging in the wardrobe, but the scent wafts into the living room.
A fragrance of warm woods, fresh sweat, fireplace, port wine, flowers on the table, leather in the wardrobe, and a bosom adorned with pineapple makes them forget everything.

And where am I supposed to get that now???????
6 Comments
Callas

187 Reviews
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Callas
Callas
Helpful Review 5  
Slices from the Can
The top note of Colony pleasantly surprises me.
I had expected the scent of sweet pineapple. Well, I perceive the fruity pineapple, but I wouldn't describe it as dominant.
It’s probably just the slices from the can. I won't name the brand that comes to mind, as product placement is unwelcome.

I dive straight into the heart note, as the carnation pushes itself to the forefront.
I am increasingly revealing myself to be an iris fan and am delighted to encounter it here. It beautifully embraces leather and musk, dark, dry, earthy, green, soft, a comforting base, a classic old chypre that I find wearable all year round.
The bottle looks stylish, and the outer box is wonderfully retro.
5 Comments

Statements

2 short views on the fragrance
5 years ago
5
A masterpiece! Captivating pineapple on a leather whip somewhere in the Mediterranean.
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0 Comments
6
1
Pineapple so fine, bitter flowers, dominant oak moss.
Then it becomes animalistic-leathery.
Serious, strange... dreamy!
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1 Comment

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