Sorceress

Smelling vintage No. 5 is like sniffing a fine wine to me. I'm not a fan of aldehydes and never have been, we don't get along too well, nor am I particularly fond of a perfume that is too heavy on the florals. But sniffing No. 5 is a whole new ballgame.
I was introduced to it as a child by my mother, and it wasn't my favorite. As a young adult, I was gifted it, and again, I just put it aside, not really appreciating it. I just have always leaned towards the oriental or gourmand side. I knew this was a hugely popular perfume and there had to be something to it, so why didn't I enjoy it?
A few years ago, a neighbor's mother passed away. She was in her 80's. One day, he handed me a carton of her perfumes, telling me he didn't know what to do with them. I took them, thanking him, not knowing what I would find in the box. After all, his mom was an older woman, so I knew there would be some interesting choices in there.
Lo and behold, there it was. Chanel No. 5, staring me in the face. Again. Daring me to pick it up and smell it. But this time, when I uncapped the Edt, something miraculous happened. The vintage inside that I swirled around was captivating. It had matured like a fine wine. It had such a heady aroma, I couldn't stop sniffing. This stuff smelled good.
The aldehydes have muted somewhat, allowing the civet to come to the forefront along with the vetiver. There's more earthiness to it that wraps around the florals too, but those florals will always be strong. There's also a muskiness that seems to overwrap the whole perfume. The woods come into play in the last phases along with a mild vanilla that surprises. It strong with the real civet. And, you have to be a civet lover to understand the beauty of it.
It's not a perfume to be taken lightly, it's one to be revered and worn at the pulse points. It's not a body spray or a fragrance mist. Chanel No. 5 is a mature perfume that warrants a mature nose that appreciates it.
How does it compare to today's? If anyone has sampled the formulations of today, they know it is a far cry from the vintage. More like an empty room missing pieces of its furniture.
If you're not an aldehydes or floral fan, this one's not for you. Pass go, keep your $200 and buy something else. There are plenty of perfumes in our world to sample and enjoy. But most definitely, if you do want to try it, stick to the vintage.

Back in the day when I was working the fragrance counter at Macy's and hawking it, Opium was flying off the shelves. Everyone was wearing it. People talk of Giorgio and how it created a sensory overload but Opium was right up there in its distinct aroma and how women over-sprayed it. Now, the prices for a vintage bottle are ridiculous. Is it worth it?

Looking at its notes, yes, Opium is everything its cracked up to be. It embodies all its notes. It's an outrageous perfume. This can be a grand old dame, wrapped in soft velour, adorned with Mikimoto pearls, carrying a Judith Leiber clutch or a bar-fly with a hiked-up faux-leather Guess skirt, Sam Edelman booties and a crop top. Anyone and everyone has worn it and altho it is a classic that stands alone, it is so well-known it is no longer special. It's lost it's uniqueness.

It had its place back then in the late '70's and '80's when the powerhouse perfumes were all the rage. Rock 'n' roll was loud, clothes were big and so were the hairstyles and attitudes. It just fit the time period. You'd wear it and strut because you could. Wearing it today outside takes a certain attitude, a certain way of dressing, it's a completely different way to be.

I'm not saying Opium can't be appreciated today, it just can't be appreciated in the same way because this isn't the same time period. Some perfumes stay beautiful and always will be, but they just don't make it into the mainstream of the future decades.
Opium is a perfume that needs to sampled by all vintage lovers because it belongs in the perfume Hall of Fame. It's rich in feeling, opulent in spices and incense, animalistic in nature and makes you want to let go. It will strangle the weak enslave the willing. If you are a fan of patchouli, spices, incense, myrhh, cloves and too many others to list, go for it. You won't be sorry. But be forewarned, you're signing up for the den of inequity to other perfumes. You may never be the same.

Warning: Not a favorable review. I was recently in Sephora and saw the little bag of perfume and decided to try it on. I wasn't impressed with the initial spray and walked around shopping.The smell was getting more and more sour, turning minute-by-minute. Withing half an hour, it had turned into a rancid after-sex smell. You know the kind. Well, that can be good or bad, depending on where you wear the perfume and actually, how it starts out. But if the entire journey of it isn't good, for me, it's not purchase-worthy. The manager came on the floor, who is a friend of mine, and yelled over to me to come and test the new Marc Jacobs perfume because she needed my opinion. She told me that a number of her girls and herself felt there was a minty feel to it, but mint was not listed in the notes. Why was she getting that, she asked. I had no idea, judging from the notes, but I asked her to smell my wrist. She did, her eyes opened up, and she hesitated to say what she smelled. But she did say, "That doesn't smell good on you..." I asked her what does it remind you of?" She laughed and said "Sex". And then she asked how could that be? What I offered was that some perfumes have a certain chemical composition when mixed with a person's skin to produce certain aromas to create various effects. That was the easy answer. I explained that some of the earthiness came from the orris root, saffron and jasmine. Unfortunately, I didn't think this was what Marc Jacobs was going for. Imari Elixir and Agent Provocateur L'Agent have the same identical effect for me. On the up side, I think the bottle is different and I like it. Oh well, not every perfume will be a winner for everyone.

My box dates from the year 2000. I always thought of this as the younger sister of the original Far Away. FAF has strong sillage, but her longevity is just a tad short of say 6-8 hours, versus Far Away's lasting all night.
There is that same strong coconut vibe tempered by amber and wonderful spices, but the air is filled with more flowery nuances instead, prompting you to wear Fantasy daytime should you like. The original Far Away can be heady, musky and over-the-top for some, I happen to love it, but if you're one that likes it but wants it in a lesser concentration, minus the heavy spices and muskyness, then add airy light florals, then this is your gal.
Fantasy worn lightly wouldn't offend, it's more of a carefree blend done very well by this House. Their series of Far Away is excellent. Just consider Far Away Fantasy the wall-flower version of Far Away.

Mad Potion is heavy on the boozy vanilla while at the same time wrapped in a clean musk. This is a familiar, comfort fragrance. It's quite pleasant, one I could see myself reaching for often. There is a powder presence, wrapped in clean, white, fresh musk, but really the star of Mad Potion is the strong, almost cloying vanilla. You must enjoy gourmands to wear this one, and I do. I almost sense a chocolate, but it's not listed in the notes, so I'll have to attribute that to the Bourbon Vanilla. Bourbon Vanilla brings a much richer tone to a perfume, and in this case, it works its wonders. Think decadent vanilla, rich, thick and almost overbearing the other notes. After 4 hours, Mad Potion was still hitting the strong mark in sillage and it's longevity is even longer. This should be perfect for crisp weather in the Fall, and definitely watching the snow. I've enjoyed every perfume from this line so far, no complaints.