OpiNion

That's what David Letterman said to Cher when she finally came on his show in 1986 after about 81 requests. I think the interview is legendary.
And ever since then I've wanted to know what she smelled like. Ideally, she would just walk relatively close to me. Hmm, you can still dream...
In the interview, she says that her fragrance actually consists of two scents and she also mentions the names. Ritz and Vanilia.
My further research then revealed that this layered combination is said to have served as the inspiration for her own fragrance creation, Uninhibited.
My idea was then to either find the two fragrances separately somewhere or her fragrance. I thought it was a great idea, but it wasn't that easy to implement and took a while.
Then the unbelievable happened: I received an email informing me that the fragrance was in the souk! And then it was on its way to me! I almost freaked out! Soon I'll know what Cher smells like!

It's here. There's even a note in the box that you can fill in and send in. I wonder if anyone can still be reached at the address? Another time without the Internet, when letters were still regularly sent for communication.

I was told that the fragrance was bought in 1988, was still in perfect condition and that I could definitely test it on my skin. That was exactly what I wanted. I had often wondered whether the fragrance might be too sweet for me. That I would then keep a small bottling and pass the bottle on to the next person waiting for the fragrance. Anyway. What does Cher smell like? Now she's sort of finally come to me and I would find out.

Pfft...

aromatic, dense, rich, subtly soapy without being soapy, chypre, oriental, classic, soft, balanced, ylang ylang with spicy tobacco, the whole progression is fantastic, the heart is floral, powdery and creamy at the same time and never too much of one, never too sweet, the notes intertwine beautifully, are very well interwoven and incredibly harmonious, the base is balsamic, soft, enveloping, incredibly beautiful, I can't believe it. I think the vanilla makes the fragrance softer (but not too soft), but for me it's not a modern, loud vanilla.
More like a classic. Old school, but not old-fashioned.
The fragrance is mature and takes its time. It lies between the past and the present. And it lasts just as long on the skin. It wraps itself protectively around me like a creeper and becomes a part of me.

I haven't smelled such a great and multi-faceted perfume for a long time.
I have associations with Aromatics Elixir and have fears -- the "2nd opinion" is not a big fan of it (although it has gotten better).
The all-clear is given with a short:
"Smells like..."
Me: "Aromatics Elixir."
"Yes, but you can do it."
I am relieved.
The perfume suits Cher, it's timeless and special. I would definitely look around for the person who smells like that.
You are mine now!
It remains to be seen whether every time I wear the fragrance I think: "Wow, now I smell like Cher. Now I smell terrific!" What I do know is that I will appreciate and enjoy it every time!
And I will always remember how the scent came to me and be grateful.
Thank you.

P.S. During another test, the 2nd opinion came in and asked:
"Well, do you smell like Cher?"

From the amount of Sixteen92 samples from a great swap with @IceMachine, I deliberately picked Dark Entries Extrait de Parfum for my first test. The reason is my musical fondness for Bauhaus, Dark Entries is the title of one of their songs.
I am very surprised. And thoughtful. I wanted to like the scent and find it at least interesting.
My nose makes me realize that there are apparently people who feel the same way about Bauhaus music as I do about this fragrance. That is an uncomfortable feeling.
For me, the fragrance is also very uncomfortable, sweet and dusty, bitter and nutty and sticky, sweet and stinky and scary. And unwearable.
Looking at the notes, I recognize the honey, which brings the sweetness. I associate the night-blooming flowers with the eeriness, the herbs with the bitterness and the candle wax with the stickiness.
The '2nd opinion' was ruthless and sounded something like this:
"What is THAT then? Marzipan with sweat? That smells like something humans don't like! It's in our spinal cord, just like spoiled food, we know that straight away! Get the fuck out of here, I don't feel like cooking in my bed!"

The thought that the music of Bauhaus could be perceived in this way makes me feel alone. For me it is wonderful, hypnotic, calming or electrifying, I feel at home with it.
I had hoped that the perfume would evoke similar feelings, but they are quite different.
What I find interesting about the fragrance are these associative insights and the considerations as to why the perfumer has transformed the song into precisely this fragrance.
Some people will like Dark Entries Extrait de Parfum, then perhaps listen to the song and feel exactly the opposite...

Again, it becomes clear that music and fragrances are a matter of individual taste, music AS a fragrance perhaps even more so.
The thought of another skin test makes me shudder.

First listen to Bauhaus now, but not Dark Entries...

Pardon my French! And thanks for reading.

That night, the moon shone as brightly as only the sun could.
His transformation was complete and he roamed alone.
All his senses were heightened, he enjoyed the voices of the night and felt free and cleansed.
The moonlight lent nature a glistening, silver-violet color that seemed dreamlike.
He chose the path through the large lavender field at the edge of the forest. No one ventured into the shadows in the dark.
It hadn't rained for a long time and the dry, sandy field soil kicked up small clouds of dust as he walked past, dancing in the moonlight.
The woody lavender plants exuded an intense and familiar scent, even in the middle of the night.
The lavender flowers that tangled in his light gray fur as he roamed about, along with the dust and dry wood of the forest, created a mixture of scents that would stay with him forever.
He lifted his large head with his yellow, clever eyes and breathed in the cool, fresh night air slowly and deeply.
Silence.
He turned his head and looked at me. I smiled. I wouldn't forget that smell either.

When I smelled Gris clair... (2006) for the first time, these pictures were created.
The abridged version can be found in my statement on the fragrance.
Thanks for reading.
And thanks to Floyd for the title :-)