Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
11/28/2022
Elysium
816 Reviews
Elysium
Very helpful Review
5
All My Childhood Memories
Ciara comes from the Irish male name Ciaran, which means “little dark one” or “little black one.” This is also the meaning behind the name Ciara, the feminine version. Back in ancient and medieval times, the name Ciara would be given to babies born with dark features like hair, skin, eyes, etc. This was quite common in those times to name children after their features. An example would be the name Fionn or Fiona, which means “the fair one.” That said, yes, after flirting with it for a long time, I launched myself into buying this vintage perfume in the dark. I never sampled it in a drugstore and honestly I do not remember it during the ‘70s and ‘80, Chalie and Chaz were more famous. Although I ordered the 100% strength on the Notino website, I’m not sure if it’s 80% or 100% because this value does not show anywhere on the package or bottle. Perhaps in recent productions, only one concentration is no longer reported. On the bottom, the sticker with the brand reports EDP, so I surmise, but I am not sure I’ve got 100% strength.
First things first, right off the bat, the fragrance reminds me of two other perfumes with the same vibe: Vanderbilt Eau de Toilette and Charlie Blue Eau de Toilette. A medley of notes in all the perfumes mentioned reaches my nose, creating a similar and recognisable accord. If I had to arrange my perfumes in containers, this would go together with those two, Tabu Eau de Toilette and Obsession Eau de Parfum. Besides, this is cheapie, but the ingredients, the quality, and the performances are everything but cheap.
From the first notes, I perceive the amber structure of the perfume as vintage but not old, dated, or stale. Not a dame, ma’am, or granny kind of scent. Maybe the original 1973 release targeted women, but contemporary Ciara is gender-neutral, a sweet, heady and opulent perfume thickly laden with notes of syrupy amber, incense and wood. The opening notes can be overpowering in large doses, so a light hand on the nozzle is enough to cocoon you in a soft, warm, luxurious, and sensuous cloud for many hours. It opens with floral spiciness, dense, lavish, and a little balmy. Although it features berries and citrus fruit, I don’t get them dominant or too harshly, just a hint of muted citrus in the background. A sort of raspberry syrup is detectable from the sprayer, more than in the mix, akin to Cough Soothe Syrup for children. Instead, the output is a pleasant cloud of floral and spicy aldehydes, bohemian, reminiscent of retro hair sprays but darker than Chanel N°5 opening, for instance. Likewise, the neroli is there with a supporter role but does not come too bitter and vivid as in solinote fragrances. Thus, on my skin, the opening is smoky, a tad powdery and hairy.
Going past the opening, I catch a rosy nuance in the heart, albeit it does not mention rose blossoms. It might come from the Brazilian rosewood and palmarosa woods, which both have a rosy, green smell. Now the scent grows, softens a bit, and takes a powdery slant, which I can match with Vanderbilt Eau de Toilette because of the orris butter. But it is nothing more than a nuance far from a lipstick or makeup vibe. Other than the iris, there’s also the particular slightly bitter mimosa-like note present in Vanderbilt, which I also find here. The bouquet comprises a mix of flowers that match dark incense. There is honey-like ylang-ylang and sweet jasmine. Even so, none is prevalent or overpowering. And an abundant resinousness, very rich, from the opoponax grains. The middle stage, which comes out about half an hour after the initial application, is where Ciara shines and reveals all its allure.
The dry-down is all about dark amber and smoky incense, and the latter is the most dominant note in the brew, not overbearing, albeit noticeable. Ouch, the base is really complex, with resinous, sappy, leathery, musky, and amber notes. Leather is not as rugged as in Tom Ford's creations; I get smoky leather and suede like soft gloves. The reformulated cologne is modern and the incense accord with a floral touch keeps it away from the contemporary oud and dark leather marriage. I can find a similarity with the floral incense sticks or cones I usually burn during my leisure and working time. So, not an opulent or churchy incense. It’s mind boggling at first hit, and the initial experience is almost intoxicating, but on my skin it softens quickly, and becomes soon practically a skin scent. Only towards the end and a few hours after wearing it did I perceive that characteristic shade of cherry that accompanies my beloved Joop! Homme Eau de Toilette I looked around to see where that familiar smell was coming from, only to realize that it was coming from the back of my hand where I had sprayed Ciara. By this, I am not saying that the two are similar, but that one resembles something of the other.
Ciara is a non-linear cologne that changes according to the skin chemistry, the weather, and the time passed, a genderless scent that fits well on anyone who likes amber and somewhat animal scent, with no feminine or masculine slant. There is nothing fruity-floral, gourmand or light and refreshing about this scent. Instead, this rather unique and recognisable perfume is quite thick and possesses a complexity and longevity that belies its low price. This is not a safe blind buy despite its affordability, as it seems to be a love it or hate it kind of scent. A cheap vintage anyone should check once in a time in its life and have in its wardrobe. Get away with Ciara during the fall and winter days with just a couple of sprays, but even evenings and nights if you extra-spray it without exaggerating. For being an EDP, I don’t find him extremely strong nor with a huge throw. I wish it was stronger and longer lasting.
I base my review and formulate my opinion on a bottle I have owned since November 2022 (Batch 22010, 2022-01-10).
-Elysium
First things first, right off the bat, the fragrance reminds me of two other perfumes with the same vibe: Vanderbilt Eau de Toilette and Charlie Blue Eau de Toilette. A medley of notes in all the perfumes mentioned reaches my nose, creating a similar and recognisable accord. If I had to arrange my perfumes in containers, this would go together with those two, Tabu Eau de Toilette and Obsession Eau de Parfum. Besides, this is cheapie, but the ingredients, the quality, and the performances are everything but cheap.
From the first notes, I perceive the amber structure of the perfume as vintage but not old, dated, or stale. Not a dame, ma’am, or granny kind of scent. Maybe the original 1973 release targeted women, but contemporary Ciara is gender-neutral, a sweet, heady and opulent perfume thickly laden with notes of syrupy amber, incense and wood. The opening notes can be overpowering in large doses, so a light hand on the nozzle is enough to cocoon you in a soft, warm, luxurious, and sensuous cloud for many hours. It opens with floral spiciness, dense, lavish, and a little balmy. Although it features berries and citrus fruit, I don’t get them dominant or too harshly, just a hint of muted citrus in the background. A sort of raspberry syrup is detectable from the sprayer, more than in the mix, akin to Cough Soothe Syrup for children. Instead, the output is a pleasant cloud of floral and spicy aldehydes, bohemian, reminiscent of retro hair sprays but darker than Chanel N°5 opening, for instance. Likewise, the neroli is there with a supporter role but does not come too bitter and vivid as in solinote fragrances. Thus, on my skin, the opening is smoky, a tad powdery and hairy.
Going past the opening, I catch a rosy nuance in the heart, albeit it does not mention rose blossoms. It might come from the Brazilian rosewood and palmarosa woods, which both have a rosy, green smell. Now the scent grows, softens a bit, and takes a powdery slant, which I can match with Vanderbilt Eau de Toilette because of the orris butter. But it is nothing more than a nuance far from a lipstick or makeup vibe. Other than the iris, there’s also the particular slightly bitter mimosa-like note present in Vanderbilt, which I also find here. The bouquet comprises a mix of flowers that match dark incense. There is honey-like ylang-ylang and sweet jasmine. Even so, none is prevalent or overpowering. And an abundant resinousness, very rich, from the opoponax grains. The middle stage, which comes out about half an hour after the initial application, is where Ciara shines and reveals all its allure.
The dry-down is all about dark amber and smoky incense, and the latter is the most dominant note in the brew, not overbearing, albeit noticeable. Ouch, the base is really complex, with resinous, sappy, leathery, musky, and amber notes. Leather is not as rugged as in Tom Ford's creations; I get smoky leather and suede like soft gloves. The reformulated cologne is modern and the incense accord with a floral touch keeps it away from the contemporary oud and dark leather marriage. I can find a similarity with the floral incense sticks or cones I usually burn during my leisure and working time. So, not an opulent or churchy incense. It’s mind boggling at first hit, and the initial experience is almost intoxicating, but on my skin it softens quickly, and becomes soon practically a skin scent. Only towards the end and a few hours after wearing it did I perceive that characteristic shade of cherry that accompanies my beloved Joop! Homme Eau de Toilette I looked around to see where that familiar smell was coming from, only to realize that it was coming from the back of my hand where I had sprayed Ciara. By this, I am not saying that the two are similar, but that one resembles something of the other.
Ciara is a non-linear cologne that changes according to the skin chemistry, the weather, and the time passed, a genderless scent that fits well on anyone who likes amber and somewhat animal scent, with no feminine or masculine slant. There is nothing fruity-floral, gourmand or light and refreshing about this scent. Instead, this rather unique and recognisable perfume is quite thick and possesses a complexity and longevity that belies its low price. This is not a safe blind buy despite its affordability, as it seems to be a love it or hate it kind of scent. A cheap vintage anyone should check once in a time in its life and have in its wardrobe. Get away with Ciara during the fall and winter days with just a couple of sprays, but even evenings and nights if you extra-spray it without exaggerating. For being an EDP, I don’t find him extremely strong nor with a huge throw. I wish it was stronger and longer lasting.
I base my review and formulate my opinion on a bottle I have owned since November 2022 (Batch 22010, 2022-01-10).
-Elysium
Elysium
