Morpheus1

Once again, this is a fragrance where the name could not have been chosen more aptly.

L'Arte di Gucci, a shy, delicate Chypre mythical creature of modern perfumery from Gucci, that hides away. Not many know it or get to see it.

Its prices are astronomical, and this is not only due to its rarity but also its quality.

A Chypre that breaks conventions and follows its own, modern path.

It impresses with a sparkling, bright aldehydic lightness for a Chypre.
Additionally, it is underscored with floral fruity elements.
Subtle green leathery nuances can also be perceived as it develops.

Somewhat lighter than the EdP, but still expressive.
An elegant fragrance that is also very well suited for more festive occasions or evening events.

The Rembrandt or Picasso among Gucci's fragrances.

I searched for this fragrance for a very long time and had it on my wish list.

Yesterday, it finally happened.
Found the treasure as a 50ml splash.
The joy was immense.

At some point, I also need to get the EdP in the large bottle (even rarer), of which I am lucky to already own 3 minis.

Inquiries among parfumo users have always been denied; no one gives up the black EdP bottle once they have it.

Thus, the search continues for new treasures and masterpieces in the fragrance universe.

First of all: The Vintage Parfum de Toilette version is intense.

I acquired a vintage bottle in the old 1986 design with a blue cap from a nice perfumer.

Parfum de Toilette was supposedly the original designation for the later Eau de Parfum from Guerlain, so they say. Nevertheless, the PdT is stronger than the EdP.

Before that, I tested a 2004 Shalimar Eau de Toilette.

This 1992 version has almost nothing in common with the modern Shalimar.

The scent:

Perhaps one should warn people nearby before spraying. Sensitive souls might faint from the olfactory intensity.

The opulence is present from the start, and one should apply 1 to a maximum of 2 sprays.

At the beginning, alongside the flowers, a bright, fresh bergamot emerges, before moving into the heart with iris. I do not consciously perceive rose.
The first 5-10 minutes are somewhat difficult to endure; one must break through the perfume wall.

After a few minutes, an enormous resinous smokiness joins in, which I had not experienced from Shalimar before (having not smelled a real vintage).
The scent, however, undergoes a long development.
The room is already enveloped in a powdery smoky iris floral note.
The balsamic vanilla and tonka bean come relatively late (after 30-45 minutes) and blend with the prominent smokiness.

The vintage is not an oriental for beginners! You have to dare to wear it.
Especially the longevity, but also the sillage, lean more towards extrait than Eau de Parfum.

The newer EdT 2004 version, on the other hand, has hardly any smokiness and significantly more simple powdery vanilla. Of course, it also has a shorter overall development.

As is often the case, vintage versus modern times.

... is this beautiful, dreamy vintage scent.

I must say I never had much to do with Opium and have already experienced several vintage women's fragrances.

But this scent clearly stands out from everything I have smelled so far as well as from the rest of the Opium line.

Unfortunately, one can only dream of such scents today.

Cinnamon sweet and warm enveloping with vanilla, mixed with oriental floral notes.
Opulent, but very well balanced and crafted.
Spicy notes are, for me, strongly in the background or not directly perceivable as such in the overall composition.

Sensual, heavy, elegant, luxurious, and noble smelling.
Nothing disturbs my nose.

No overloaded spices, not soapy, not old-fashioned, no aldehydes.

However, one must like vanilla.

A dream of a vintage oriental, perfect for winter and cold Christmas days.

It is enchantingly beautiful and sensual.

Anyone who can still get this scent and loves oriental heavy fragrances is warmly recommended Opium Secret de Parfum!

Longevity and sillage are very good.

It was once again one of those vintage blind buys from the online marketplace, due to the current situation since unfortunately there are no flea markets at the moment.

A scent directly from Coty, there were many good classics, so let's give it a try.

I smell the fragrance for the first time and must say: it grabs you from the very beginning.

It has charm, sophistication, masculinity, and a rich variety of fragrance notes.
Wow. What a composition.

Now I understand why it is considered a good, unfortunately discontinued classic.

The Route 66 tin cans are being traded at decent prices.

A citrusy (slightly) sweet-fruity (pineapple) start is followed by a heart characterized by oak moss and herbal accents, finally transitioning into a spicy woody base. Patchouli and tobacco paired with woods do their part here and give the fragrance its masculinity.

This initially fruity scent mixed with the mossy-herbaceous, along with spicy wood, patchouli, and tobacco creates a unique fragrance.

Masculine, but by no means old-fashioned.

You have to smell it to understand it.

Welcome to my collection Route 66 by Coty!

I had only heard and read about the brown vintage glass bottle with an integrated sprayer.

It is said to be very strong and powerful, an opulent scent monster that is now traded at a high price as the first version.

Before that, I only had the opportunity to test the vintage aftershave as a mini.

Now I was able to acquire and test it.

What can I say? It’s true.

An olfactory fireworks display with strong presence and longevity.

In the opening, crunchy herbs meet ethereal lavender with violet and other flowers.
It has something of a herbal bath for the bathtub.

Subsequently, spicy wood encounters animalistic leather on sweet oak moss. A lot of oak moss.
Sweetened by the amber.

Sillage is strong, longevity even stronger.
An old-school scent through and through.

A complex composition that appears rounded and fitting as a whole.

You either like it or you don’t.
There is nothing in between.

A fragrance with a high factor of enthusiasts, collectors, and nostalgia.