L'Air du Temps Nina Ricci 1948 Eau de Toilette
4
Another Tragic Reformulation
I have been tempted many times over the years to purchase a bottle of L'AIR du TEMPS, but always held back because of the ridiculous cast plastic cap. I love doves; I love peace. But the utter tackiness of this weird piece of plastic on top of a beautiful bottle just screamed "bad perfume"!
I finally decided to take the plunge, which was easier to do over the internet, since I did not have to actually touch the plastic top, but only look at it. Perhaps I managed just prior to hitting the "buy" button to convince myself that it was really made of crystal after all.
Well it's not. And what I learned during today's test fest is that I have known MANY women who wear this fragrance. It's clearly a safe choice: a light, agreeable mingling of small flowers among a modicum of mild fruits in an initially quite harmonious way.
Yes, my feelings were rather positive at the initial spritz, when I became immediately convinced that this was a floral aldehyde--albeit much more floral than aldehyde.
The second stage was less happy, I am sorry to report: I found myself thinking about the Elvis Costello line "cheap cut satin and bad perfume," while daydreaming about strolling down the fragrance aisle of Walgreen's. During that middle phase I realized that there was something awry--something tawdry, something cheap, going on. Synthetic flowers, perhaps? Perhaps it is something peculiar to the reformulation? I am aware that L'AIR DU TEMPS is renowned as a great classic. But somehow it missed the mark in the middle stage of my day.
The final phase has been quite pleasant. I do not feel the need to go scrub down, and I'm back to liking this eau de toilette once again. But the middle phase may keep my 3.4 oz bottle quite full for many years to come!
Not to mention, but I will: the plastic doves, which are further marred by an air bubble right in the middle of the cap!
Caveat internetemptor!
(Note: this review is of the reformulation currently available in drugstores everywhere)
I finally decided to take the plunge, which was easier to do over the internet, since I did not have to actually touch the plastic top, but only look at it. Perhaps I managed just prior to hitting the "buy" button to convince myself that it was really made of crystal after all.
Well it's not. And what I learned during today's test fest is that I have known MANY women who wear this fragrance. It's clearly a safe choice: a light, agreeable mingling of small flowers among a modicum of mild fruits in an initially quite harmonious way.
Yes, my feelings were rather positive at the initial spritz, when I became immediately convinced that this was a floral aldehyde--albeit much more floral than aldehyde.
The second stage was less happy, I am sorry to report: I found myself thinking about the Elvis Costello line "cheap cut satin and bad perfume," while daydreaming about strolling down the fragrance aisle of Walgreen's. During that middle phase I realized that there was something awry--something tawdry, something cheap, going on. Synthetic flowers, perhaps? Perhaps it is something peculiar to the reformulation? I am aware that L'AIR DU TEMPS is renowned as a great classic. But somehow it missed the mark in the middle stage of my day.
The final phase has been quite pleasant. I do not feel the need to go scrub down, and I'm back to liking this eau de toilette once again. But the middle phase may keep my 3.4 oz bottle quite full for many years to come!
Not to mention, but I will: the plastic doves, which are further marred by an air bubble right in the middle of the cap!
Caveat internetemptor!
(Note: this review is of the reformulation currently available in drugstores everywhere)
2 Comments
PBullFriend 12 years ago
Good thing you can find old bottles of it on eBay. I just bought one and am enjoying this lovely soapy peachy carnation just as I did in the 1980s.
Apicius 14 years ago
This perfume was so gorgeous 30 years ago. It was the fragrance of my mother. I also have tested it some months ago, and it was so badly reformulated. Horrible stuff today.