Bath & Beauty Jil Sander 2012

Bath & Beauty, the original, passed me by in the eighties. The name wouldn’t have attracted me either. It doesn’t sound like a fragrance, more like the name of a trade fair for bathroom furniture and skincare products. I always liked Jil Sander's fashion very much, but as a fragrance, at least back then, only number two was known to me, a great scent that my sister-in-law wore. A review on the internet (not here) made me aware of Bath & Beauty. Everything sounded like a Chypre that I might like, and recently I was able to buy it for really little money.

The opening feels familiar, galbanum and bergamot, green-herb and pleasantly bitter, simultaneously powdery and soft. Later, it becomes subtly floral, though I couldn’t name the flowers. I perceive B&B as more green than floral, but the warm kind of green, not the scratchy one. Vanilla and honey sweeten the base very gently, the powdery and bitter freshness remains throughout the entire scent progression, which I like. B&B is a subtle Chypre, elegant yet casual, like Jil Sander's fashion. Absolutely suitable for everyday wear, ideal for work. Not a scent with a wow effect, but one that always works and doesn’t annoy. The puristic glass bottle suits my taste and fits well with the fragrance. The longevity is in the medium range, the sillage could be a bit stronger for me. It probably isn’t suitable for men due to the powderiness.

I don’t know the original, so my evaluation might be a bit more objective, as I approached B&B without comparison or expectations. Can a fragrance evaluation even be objective? Probably not. But I have seen that there must be a vintage in my samples. Hmm, maybe I better not test it, as it could awaken desires that are unfulfillable.

And now I also know which fragrances B&B reminds me of. A little bit of Anais-Anais and Ivoire 2012. And Mr. Pluto is currently wrinkling his nose and thinks that I smell fresh and pleasant.