By Dane
Amarige is one of the notorious few that gave perfume a bad rap. I wouldn't be surprised if it single-handedly created a whole new breed of allergy sufferers. What it also did was update classics like Fracas with an unforgettable accord of white florals and power-house synthetics.
Givenchy took advantage of Amarige's success and created a slew of flankers - d'Amour, Mariage, and as of late, annual "Harvest" editions focusing on one ingredient that had a stellar year. L'Artisan made a similar move, creating a new fragrance each year, while Givenchy sticks with the foundation of its most popular scents. Thus far, Amarige has received two ingredient-focused treatments - mimosa (2005 & 2007) and ylang-ylang (2006 & 2008).
But wait - Amarige has something other than tuberose you ask? Coulda fooled me! I honestly had no idea mimosa was listed in the notes, but there she be. In the "editions", I've only had the pleasure of smelling this year's ylang-harvest thus far, and I have to say that they did manage to emphasize the banana-like notes in the drydown. Other than that - same old same old. The weird grape-koolaid-from-hell topnote remains, as does the Mack-truck-tuberose heart.
I know I haven't really given much of a description or opinion on the scent (gasp!), and there is a reason for that. Amarige is undeniably a classic success, whether anyone wants to admit it or not. It's unmistakable and irreplaceable. Whether or not I like it is besides the point...but just in case you were wondering, I do.
Ssssshhh...don't tell anyone.
Year: 1991
Perfumer: Dominique Ropion
Notes: Gardenia, Mimosa, Precious Woods
Post a Comment
Oh, you must love Amarige, it's Ropion!
ReplyDeletePoor Amarige...she is so often dissed and maligned...yet she's a sultry little siren with a big warm heart.
Amarige is probably the only perfume that my friends and family will recognize as my signature scent. I wore it from about 1995-2003 *constantly*
Alas, I think I've now outgrown it, or perhaps I just have way too many other perfumes vying for attention (or more likely, the hatred of it makes me afraid to wear it).
The review of Amarige in Luca Turin's original French perfume guide is my personal favorite. He describes Amarige as the result of a conflagration upstream at a perfume factory. Touche!
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's me, but what I smell for the most part is an arrogant ylang-ylang, sour and almost chemical and sligtly dark in the the end.
ReplyDeletewhich is why I love this perfume