Mainstream Monday – Sniffing a Popular Perfume
Created over 30 years after the original Oscar, Esprit d’Oscar is much better than the original. Original Oscar was undeniably popular. Fine and functional fragrances wanted to be like Oscar. Unfortunately this popularity destroyed Oscar. It is now viewed as “dated” instead of a classic. Esprit d’Oscar, launched in 2011, smells more “classic” than the original!
Esprit d’Oscar opens with an optimistic citrus blend of lemon and something that reminds me of freshly rubbed lemon balm. The citrus mingle over a fresh, heady orange blossom. There’s this interesting, faint anise-violet in this top that reminds me of Caron Aimez-Moi. Esprit d’Oscar becomes a soapy blend of white florals, not sharp or rigid, but soft and laundered white florals. And then the wonderful heliotrope appears. It’s powdery vanilla-almond floral and as a soft as a pillow. This is when Esprit d’Oscar reminds me of a cousin of Guerlain Apres L’Ondee. The dry-down is a hay-like tonka with vanilla and powdery dry vetiver. Overall, the fragrance is seamless and as usual I’ve over analyzed. It’s a fantasy powdery floral that smells “grown up”.
Esprit d’Oscar smells nothing like the original. It smells more like a Guerlain than an Oscar de la Renta. Keep that in mind if you are expecting something like the original.
Notes listed include Sicilian lemon, bergamot, citron, Egyptian jasmine, orange flower, tuberose, musk, heliotrope, tonka bean, and vetiver. Launch date 2011. PERFUMER – Frank Voelkl
Give Esprit d’Oscar a try if you like Chanel Eau Premiere, Guerlain L’Heure Bleue, Caron Aimez-Moi, Serge Lutens Datura Noir, Guerlain L’Apre L’Ondee, and/or Phaedon Rue des Lilas. I view Esprit d’Oscar as a very feminine fragrance with a retro feel.
Esprit d’Oscar has above average projection and longevity.
Esprit d’Oscar comes in 2 sizes with prices ranging from $78-$98 at Nordstrom and Harrods (UK). You can also find it for a stellar deal at Fragrancenet and Lily Direct (under $30!)
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Powdery, pretty floral. True love at first spray.
Want more reviews? Try…
Muse in Wooden Shoes (comparison of the original Oscar to the Esprit d’Oscar)
Oh boy it sound like a movie star perfume …and with Carole Lombard in the picture I can sure see it. Must smell this. Thanks for the wonderful review.
Lanier
LANIER SMITH recently posted..THE COMEBACK ~ Beige Les Exclusifs de Chanel
It’s such a blonde Hollywood starlet perfume. A big ‘ole fantasy floral with powdery notes. So pretty.
Oh Victoria!
Once again you have The Dandy quivering like leaves in a storm on an autumn tree.
I’m finding Aimez-Moi all over at the moment, most recently in Van Cleef & Arpels Feerie of all places and as for Apres L’Ondee, well, what more is there to say – a reserved beauty if ever there was one.
So, shock horror, a re-realease improves on the original and actually harks back to the time of classic perfumery.
Wonders will never cease!
Oh happy day.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
theperfumeddandy recently posted..Sickly tea and boozey sympathy… Green Tea by Elizabeth Arden The Perfumed Dandy’s Scented Letter
I’ve never made a formal favorites list but if I did, it would have to include Aimez-Moi, Feerie and Apres L’Ondee. I love a good powdery purple floral.
What is sad about this one is that it is only 2 years old and it’s not easy to find in department stores and seems to have hit the discount market. I guess this is good for us because we can get it cheap. However, the mainstream shopper doesn’t get access to this beauty and may leave the store with Nikki Minaj instead…
Dear Victoria
Feerie was a real find for me and once I smelt it I was in love, the EdP seems preferable and the flacon – what exuberance!
Talking of purple prose, you may be interested in the l’Essence by Balenciaga – a pleasant slightly powdery take on the violet…
I tired it recently and posted my thoughts.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
theperfumeddandy recently posted..The Perfumed Dandy’s scent today: Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker
Thanks for the suggestion! Ballenciaga L’Essence is my next to purchase 🙂 I adore it. I love the greenness in it too.
With Feerie I ended up getting the EDP but I also like the EDT for its “fizziness”.
I like the original… I wore it for many years and have super-nostalgic feelings about it. I think it’s not as nice now as it used to be… reformulations. But these days, I do like Esprit better. I think it’s one of the best mainstream perfumes of the last few years. I got my bottle at a song.
breathesgelatin recently posted..Two from Atelier Cologne and a perfumista heresy
I like the original too especially the bath products/deodorant.
I can’t get over just how cheap one can get Esprit! There’s no excuse for people walking around smelling bad 😉
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