By Dane
There is no doubt that Joy is one of the most beautiful fragrances ever created. The store goes that Joy was created "in reaction to the 1929 Wall Street Crash." I have no idea what that means, but I suppose it's a reference to creating a perfume with hugely expensive ingredients at a time when no one was willing to spend any money(?)
My grandmother wears Joy. She has a tiny bottle of the Eau de Toilette, probably from the late 70's/early 80's, that she bought at a local pharmacy. I was entranced when I smelled it. Lush, fresh florals, deep musks, and more than a meow of civet. The current EDT is still grand, but is missing some of the skank of the previous generations (no doubt due to current restrictions on ingredients).
I was lucky enough to come across a tiny vintage bottle of the Parfum recently (in the beautiful black bottle), and everything about it is perfect. The ingredients are outstanding, and can easily compete with the likes of Chanel and Guerlain in quality. The topnotes are interesting, because unlike today's floral formulations, there is no citrus present. Fruity aspects of the rose and jasmine are emphasized with the addition of ylang, and all the notes mend seamlessly without one pushing it's way to the front. The heart of the scent reveals a darker, more lush side with indolic jasmine and thick tuberose, which are soon eclipsed by an intensily powerful musk note. Patou's website emphasizes that the current musks used are synthetic, and while I'm not certain if the musks in the older formulations are natural, I can attest that they do differ quite a bit.
An irreplaceable classic that everyone should experience at least once. I know that most guys would skip past this one, but as far as I'm concerned, a beautiful fragrance is a beautiful fragrance, and something like Joy is genderless.
Year: 1930
Perfumer: Henri Almeras
Nots: Bulgarian Rose Oil, Ylang Ylang, Tuberose, Rose de May, Jasmine de May, Musk-like Notes
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