Catsylvania

A while ago I remember a large number of people mention Fancy Nights as a dupe or some sort of a substitute for Chanel's Coromandel. Upon testing both, this could not be further from truth. What they might share is the overall sweet balmy patchouli rich general tone. Fancy Nights should definitely be a scent to be consulted by any fan of dark patchouli scents and by those who aren't afraid (of no ghosts) of prominent vanilla notes. Be forewarned, the opening may be highly offensive to some as the bergamot and papyrus come together in a powerful screechy blast only to be subdued with a few passing minutes. You'll be greeted by a strong almost chocolatey patchouli note, some demure floral notes in the background accompanied by earthy mossy tones. The overall ensemble is framed by a highly texturized, somewhat balmy, sweet vanilla note, which seems to act like a balancing pendulum that swings the scent from one extreme straight to the next and eventually come to a perfect balance. Overall, this is extremely pleasant to wear, it's very good quality, there's certainly plenty of original thought, and my personal experience with Fancy Nights has been nothing but delight. The scent is strong, bold and potent. It projects and lasts extremely well.

I have two splash bottles, both seemingly 50s and 60s vintage releases. The older bottle (dented with a pink lid) contains a darker colored liquid that, while it smells the same as the "younger" bottle's contents, seems to overall come off as more mature than the other bottle (tall, narrow at the base, widening at the top, white lid). Both scents have a very strong lilac presence, very creamy ylang and a very gentle musky woody base. The apple blossom note itself is definitely present, however, not in the way one might expect. Perhaps, when this was released, apple blossom note was supposed to have an airy, veil like touch whereas now, after so many decades, the note is present, but it's heavier and more mature. You can get some traces of jasmine, but it's hard to distinguish from ylang that seems to dominate the overall composition. Surprisingly enough, this scent is by no means strong or overpowering. It's rather fleeting and after an hour or so clings very close to your skin. I highly recommend, if you have a splash bottle like these, to perhaps fill up an atomizer as it will make reapplication much easier. It's a gorgeous "they don't make them like they used to" old school scent. It's exceptionally pleasant to wear, and I immediately bought a backup bottle.

Yardley's Pure Silk (not to be confused with Mayfair's later version) is a powerful 80s oakmoss based floral chypre. The florals have a strong spicy undertone, however, the florals fused so perfectly together, I personally find it hard to pick out any individual notes. The oakmoss is deep, rich and immersive. The base is a very solid, great quality vetiver that feels rather smoky throughout the wear and especially prominently during the drydown. Caution needs to be exercised upon initial application as the sprayer is really powerful, yet, prone to getting a bit blocked up. You may experience a very sharp, screechy and unpleasant opening (even if not overspraying), but rest assured, this is only temporary. What follows next is a beautiful floral chypre, so much in the spirit of the late 70s and early 80s. Seems to be relatively easy to score for a low price online, so if you are on a budget and want a vintage from an iconic era, this one is for you. Bold, powerful, packs a punch. Silage and longevity are insane.