Top Notes 
Amalfi lemon
Bergamot
Mandarin orange
Heart Notes 
African orange blossom
Gardenia
Jasmine
Lily of the valley
Rose
Ylang-ylang
Base Notes 
Chamomile
Oakmoss
Patchouli
Peach
Plum
Sandalwood
Tonka bean
Vanilla03/20/2025
Krmarich
228 Reviews
Krmarich
2
Back to the 80s
I discovered a well preserved bottle of this beauty this week. It had not "gone off".
I have a little story to tell about Xia Xiang. In 1987, the Last Emperor debuted in theaters. There was much fanfare. I had a movie date and we dined at an upscale Chinese restaurant, enjoyed fine wine and my date wore Xia Xiang. It was the highlight of the evening. I remember its powdery character. I never encountered it again.
Now I have a bottle today and it is spectacular. The "mysterious Oriental smoke and mirrors" aside, it is more of a chypre to my nose with lots of rose, chamomile and oakmoss dominating the stage for the first few hours. It then settles into a delicate, fragile and perfect dry down. It is very "pink and pretty"-like the movie, but not. Yes, I am reminded of Vol de Nuit!
Revlon released about 2 perfumes a decade and this was its biggest 80s venture. Scoundrel was a little forward(Joan Collins)? and the Charlie flankers just didn't fit the times. It was lost in a densely competitive market that was flooded with titanic powerhouses from Paris and Beverly Hills. Electric Youth would soon roar into the teen age market.
This was romantic, retro and kind of out of context in the big hair and shoulder pad chic of the time. Xia Xiang seemed like a lost Guerlain from the 1930s. It is pure romance and one of Revlon's best.
I have a little story to tell about Xia Xiang. In 1987, the Last Emperor debuted in theaters. There was much fanfare. I had a movie date and we dined at an upscale Chinese restaurant, enjoyed fine wine and my date wore Xia Xiang. It was the highlight of the evening. I remember its powdery character. I never encountered it again.
Now I have a bottle today and it is spectacular. The "mysterious Oriental smoke and mirrors" aside, it is more of a chypre to my nose with lots of rose, chamomile and oakmoss dominating the stage for the first few hours. It then settles into a delicate, fragile and perfect dry down. It is very "pink and pretty"-like the movie, but not. Yes, I am reminded of Vol de Nuit!
Revlon released about 2 perfumes a decade and this was its biggest 80s venture. Scoundrel was a little forward(Joan Collins)? and the Charlie flankers just didn't fit the times. It was lost in a densely competitive market that was flooded with titanic powerhouses from Paris and Beverly Hills. Electric Youth would soon roar into the teen age market.
This was romantic, retro and kind of out of context in the big hair and shoulder pad chic of the time. Xia Xiang seemed like a lost Guerlain from the 1930s. It is pure romance and one of Revlon's best.
Gold
