Paradoxe Pierre Cardin 1983 Eau de Parfum

Paradoxe (Eau de Parfum) by Pierre Cardin

Bottle Design:
Serge Mansau

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8.2 / 10 61 Ratings

A popular perfume by Pierre Cardin for women, released in 1983. The scent is chypreartig-spicy. The production was apparently discontinued.

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Main accords

Chypre

Spicy

Floral

Leathery

Smoky

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Bergamot

Lemon

Mandarin orange

Heart Notes

Jasmine

Tuberose

Iris

Ylang-ylang

Hyacinth

Base Notes

Pepper

Amber

Leather

Frankincense Moss

Moss

Musk

Perfumers

Raymond Chaillan, Robert Gonnon

Ratings

Scent

8.261 Ratings

Longevity

7.951 Ratings

Sillage

7.551 Ratings

Bottle

7.653 Ratings

Value for money

8.210 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 05/07/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Paradoxe Parfum

Nino Cerruti pour Homme Eau de Toilette

Insensé Eau de Toilette

Fan di Fendi Extrême

Reviews

3 in-depth fragrance descriptions

06/19/2024

Krmarich
139 Reviews

Krmarich

1

lost beauty

I was shopping my collection and came across Paradox de Cardin. What a forgotten beauty! Initially, I was frightened off by the notes-leather and tuberose can challenge my skin. This time it is flawlessly blended into a very discreet and intelligent masterwork of often overlooked French couture.

The floral notes at first are bold and after a few minutes settle back into this wonderful leather chypre that can be worn by anyone, really. Pierre Cardin was a gender bender before it was fashionable and Paradox is very evident of this. 1983 was the beginning of a flood fragrance from both sides of the Atlantic and the competition was ferocious. Paradox was basically lost in a market that everyone was tossing their hat in. Pierre Cardin was famous for its ubiquitous men's classic in the USA with commercial jingles. I wasn't aware of Paradox in stores ever.

Paradox is a simple, yet no less complex formula. After a brief citrus opening the florals immediately rush in. I get mostly hyacinth, ylang ylang, iris and jasmine. This is not a floral composition. They settle fairly quickly and then oakmoss, vetiver and patcholi lend a green character that carry into the base. There is a rich amber note that is prominent through the entire composition. The after a few hours, the smoky leather sits on sultry woody base that lasts for hours.

It is a casual old school classic that you wont find in todays market. As the weather cools down, I find myself reaching for this more often. The bottle feels great in my hands. Pierre Cardin paid attention to bottle design and this one reflects the modern mid century style. Its an honor to have this forgotten classic in my collection!

03/16/2021

8
Bottle 9
Sillage 9
Longevity 9
Scent

Rossiniopera
38 Reviews

Rossiniopera

Helpful Review 1

Cool on the outside, warm at heart

I guess the paradoxe in this perfume lies in the contrast of the warm, sunny notes of hyacinth and tuberose, and the cool cloud of smoky leather, moss and pepper that surrounds them. Like a pretty summer dress in a floral pattern, worn with a black leather jacket. It struck me as a somewhat unusual combination at first, but it's a very good perfume, suitable for spring or early autumn, when it seems to reflect the weather: warm sunshine and cool air.

The only minus for me is that the smoky leather cloud tends to outgrow the flowers and suffocate them. This usually happens a few hours after application, and can sometimes make me a little uncomfortable. The leather becomes too much, too dry. If it was the other way around, if the floral notes were allowed to really glow in all their sweet glory, with just a hint of the peppery leather underneath, it would be absolutely perfect.

06/03/2021

8
Bottle 8
Sillage 8
Longevity 8.5
Scent

Serenissima
710 Reviews

Translated Show original

Serenissima

Top Review 21

I'm going to Maxim's...

Count Danilo from Franz Lehar's operetta "The Merry Widow" spent his nights there Who does not remember Johannes Heesters, when he threw his white theater scarf with a brisk swing, put on the top hat and left the stage with a wink enterprisingly?
First it went behind these, whether later really from time to time into the "Maxim's", that is not known.

On April 7, 1883, former waiter Maxim Gaillard opened a restaurant to which he gave his name. At first, its clientele consisted primarily of the neighborhood cab drivers.
Only with the Belle Epoque this should change seriously.
Who went to the Parisian "Maxim's", left his wife at home; because there the most famous Grisetten (see "The merry widow") waited for the enterprising men and also soon could be eaten there excellent.
After the war, Maxim's experienced its heyday: anyone who was anyone was to be found there; the list of guests certainly resembles a "Who's Who" of the celebrity/glitter world of the time.
Even though the three "Michelin stars" have been lost in the meantime, a visit to the museum set up by Pierre Cardin is still certainly just as interesting as the restaurant's art nouveau interior, which is well worth seeing. This was nevertheless classified as a "Monument historique".

What, you may ask, is she talking about again?
Who cares about this establishment; it is, after all, about perfumes.
Exactly!
Because in 1981, Pierre Cardin, known as a couturier who never copied but always went his own way, bought Maxim's.
(Oh, what a "rustle in the papers" that was back then!)
Under this name the enterprising man sold all sorts of gourmet stuff.
I still remember well the champagne truffles in the tasteful packaging with the then for me still somewhat disreputable sounding name "Maxim's". - Yes, it's been a long time!
Also the champagne of the same name was bought with pleasure: How happy our working students were when there was a bottle of "Maxim's" champagne from the boss on their birthdays or at Christmas!
Thus Pierre Cardin managed to make his name very widely known and to stand on more than one leg.

Always more innovative than others, anticipating and betting on the spirit of the times, Pierre Cardin was the first to gain a foothold in both ready-to-wear and "prêt-à-porter" women's fashion.
As early as 1958, he created a unisex clothing line and in the sixties, he and Courrèges were part of the avant-garde.

After his first Eau de Parfum "Choc" (1957) (already the name sets itself apart from the so shielded world of couture), he brought 1983 - one hundred years after the first opening of the Paris "Maxim's" - "Paradoxe", also as Eau de Parfum, on the market.
This man knew his craft and mastered the art of riding the right wave at the right time.

Although Pierre Cardin was a creative mind and never copied in fashion, he did follow the successful chypre fragrance paths with "Paradoxe".
Thus, the fragrance pyramid shows the typical course of a classic Chypre, which was appropriately embellished and adapted: "Paradoxe" has yet a pronounced strong character!

The top note is a stylish fresh combination of citrus notes gathering around the bergamot; mandarin and lemon thus give a first cheerful impression.
Relying more on iris and foregoing the classic rose for this, "Paradoxe" changes quite quickly in the powdery direction.
The two fragrant white bloomers tuberose and jasmine, get their portion from the powder puff and also hyacinth and ylang-ylang have to duck a little.
The heart of "Paradoxe" is not as flowery radiant as it would be expected.
Rather, it already points to the base in shades of brown, green and smoke; an interesting transition!
The already strong moss in itself is supported by leather and spicy pepper:
Immediately, "Paradoxe" becomes darker, deeper and is no longer so cuddly; some barbs can already be guessed.
Even if musk and amber draw a light curtain in front of this fragrance power and thus want to maintain the soft-feminine character of the previous fragrance course: "Paradoxe" does not want to swim with the elegant chypre current!
It wants to give women with self-confidence an additional fragrance personality that draws attention!
To this end, generous use is also made of incense:
The woman of the eighties was strong and herself - and that she should also show!

Perhaps "Paradoxe" was also intended as a counterpart to the exuberant profusion of color and fabric in the fashions of those years.
I only recall the gorgeous gowns in "Denver Clan" and similar cult series.
The woman there so elaborately "wrapped", showed strength and a fragrance underlining this was therefore just right!

The selected and very skillfully dosed fragrance notes give "Paradoxe" a corresponding sillage and shelf life.
A, for the time quite appropriate business fragrance: I remember only a few offices in which Chypre fragrances were not the most present "employees".

Anyway, I will happily use the fragrance sample Gelis gave me (even if some iris powder has now got into my nose and mouth when I sprayed it, making me cough!).
I take this opportunity to thank you for this.

And between you and me:
One could still get through a night at "Maxim's" in the company of this fragrance work without having to touch up - unless for pleasure!