Vivre Molyneux 1971 Eau de Toilette

A dry herbal green chypre featuring a smooth body of lilac, cyclamen and jasmin.
Rose and aldehydes act as the main modifiers. Musk ambrette can be found in the base.

Vivre belongs to the deeply unfashionable genre of tailored chypres along with such greats as Givenchy III and Y.
Thanks to Max Gavarry for the analysis based on an Osmothèque reconstruction.

When I got my hands on a bottle of eau de toilette, at the first sniff from the bottle (I had the fluid version), I wouldn’t say that it was a feminine scent. Apart from the alcohol, you can smell the citruses. When you apply it to your hand, you immediately feel bergamot and green leaves. This aroma is slightly different from the original sensation in its softness. In the middle, jasmine, iris and rose begin to smell. The aroma has completely changed, becoming sweet and floral. And at the end the aroma begins to smell of sandalwood, moss and leather. The aroma at the end becomes fresher, more premium. Very cool scent

Despite the title, I must admit I have never encountered Vivre before. And yet, I am immediately transported back to the 70s; Vivre simply feels familiar to me.

I am greeted right away by a well-known aldehyde-bergamot note, and as was customary back then, some green and herbal elements follow closely behind. At first, one might think of Alliage, but Vivre takes a turn towards a floral parade, and since the aldehydes remain very present, the scent now reminds me of a stronger version of No.5. It is especially this heart note that evokes that familiar feeling of "I know this." And it’s not just the Chanel scent; it also brings to mind Madame by Rochas, a hint of Miss Dior, a pinch of Rive Gauche, and similar perfumes that seem to be related to Vivre. Feminine, slightly soapy-powdery, and in an elegant yet understated way, it is distinctly feminine.

Only as it develops does the perfume acquire a truly independent note, as myrrh and a soft, light leather now take the lead, giving Vivre more volume and making it noticeably more expansive, robust, and expressive.

If there is such a thing as an olfactory zeitgeist, the decade of the intriguing 70s is very well captured in Vivre.

It's strange how they keep finding their way back to me, even though I haven't smelled a Schüpreee in such a long time, haha. Jumpeidi and Jumpeida, schnapps is good against cholera... Jokes aside, seriousness comes, and many of you know my chypre-tinged collection.
Turandot mentioned the similarity to Chanel No 5. That is - at least at the beginning - undeniable. But while No 5 spends quite a while indulging in all sorts of soapy aldehyde compounds, Vivre soon settles into a mild-spicy floral character. Powdery iris clearly takes the lead. The other flowers are so dense, none push forward. For quite a while, I thought: Well, a pretty, well-mannered chypre. Nothing animalistic-genius like Bandit, no melancholically dark beauty with a punch lasting 3 days like Paloma Picasso.
Later, Vivre gains depth. A fine leather note emerges, and warm noble woods make it elegant.
I don't like the labels: suitable for everyday and office wear. However, we have here a fine chypre that doesn't thunder, has no "puma pee" in the dry down, and no cool beavers (beaver cool was also often mixed in during the 1970s) make an appearance. Recommended for chypre newcomers ;-)

Cough cough.... pant pant... "Fever beads" on my forehead as I was at the flea market today. I almost stumble into the next stall. Private individuals selling there. All sorts of knick-knacks on the wallpaper table draped with a purple tablecloth. In the back left, PARFUM BOTTLES are practically glowing at me. A small collection of various scents from several companies. One from "Avon," almost full, one from "La Rive," two from Givenchy that I already have, and then... "VIVRE" by Molineux, a good three-quarters full 30ml bottle, and two others that I will report on separately.
From "Parfumo," I learned that "Vivre" is a Chypre. And such scents are my preferred prey, and for this reason, it could only be MINE.
I rummaged "insignificantly" and asked about the price. "Oh, those are old things, we brought them along to see if anyone wants to buy. You can have them for four euros. And if you take the other four as well,
we can make it twenty together." I was amazed, as there were also 50ml and 100ml fragrances included.
I took them all.
And now to "Vivre." The good one has everything that makes a great Chypre. Aldehydic citrus notes, embedded in fine spice. Fat green through lily of the valley, slightly sweetened by jasmine, rose, and ylang-ylang, fresh and cool floral through hyacinth (which I can distinctly sniff), and iris.
So far, it reminds me of a scent that wavers between "N°19," "Je Reviens," and Trussardi's "Donna," old version. A bit of each.
But then it becomes quite independent with its leathery oakmoss depths, flanked by woody and balsamic notes that last a very long time.
And "Vivre" tends to go in a somewhat creaky-dry direction, bitter, but flowers still "shine" through and unexpectedly reappear from time to time.
Even the coriander from the beginning sprinkles its spice grains over the scent again and again. But the moss is the dominant main actor at the end and plays "Do You Understand Fun?" with the remaining fragrance notes.....