Xi'a Xi'ang Revlon 1986 Cologne

Xía Xíang (pronounced See-Ah See-Ahng) is, contrary to all my expectations, not an oriental fragrance. Chypre... yes, but...

The opening completely aligns with the pyramid; citrusy, fresh, slightly bitter and herbal. It takes a little while for the top note to transition and reveal the heart, so I had to muster some patience.

But it was truly worth it. The heart note is a muted green, floral note, where the flowers form a unity. Not a single one is distinctly perceivable here. The scent is very close to the skin and pleasantly soft, with patchouli and plum already adding a specific, slightly spicy, somewhat musky accord in the heart note.

The sillage is quite small, making Xía Xíang very skin-close and only perceptible in my immediate surroundings.

Later - after about 6 hours - the base comes into full effect, with patchouli and plum being noticeably more subdued than in the heart note, while vanilla, tonka, sandalwood, and chamomile become perceptible, with the vanilla being particularly restrained here.

Xía Xíang is an exceptionally beautiful chypre, and it is truly a shame that it is no longer produced. However, although I have known it by name for a long time, it has always passed me by, which was due to the brand. Revlon was never a fragrance choice for me.

Revlon itself says about the fragrance (quote): "The riddle is solved... To travel forward into the past, to allow everything that is forbidden, to reach the elusive. All of this is Xía Xíang... the riddle of ancient China, the scent of imagination."

For me, this fragrance is a real surprise and continues my chypre journey.