david
Well-known member
- Jun 7, 2005
- 4,267
- 301
On a recent trip to my native Wales I discovered a chemist/ perfumery that had loads of "ancient" stuff on offer.
There are a few things I personally always hated and think I will never warm to, for example Insignia and Turbo.
...but as far as most of the other stuff is concerned it is definitely a case of " My god - I had forgotten how good this is ! "
This was the case with Mandate. I find this an amazing and sophisticated lavender based fragrance, (shame about the unimaginative name) Classic old school, very well structured and always incredible value for money. As a teenager I detested it for the very fact it was so available and affordable. Times have changed, I have changed and I now appreciate its beauty. Judging by reviews here on basenotes and on fragrantica I think others do too.
Among the other treasures were Chique, Aqua Manda, Pagan, Blue Grass, English Blazer and many other Yardley's and Bronnley's.
They all seem to have a depth, structure and life that many modern, (including niche) fragrances don't have. I recently bought Tea For Two from L'Artisan which seems (to me) to use flat, dull ingredients from the food and flavor industry, rather than essential oils that bring 3-dimension to a perfume.
Which older drugstore fragrances do you recommend ?
There are a few things I personally always hated and think I will never warm to, for example Insignia and Turbo.
...but as far as most of the other stuff is concerned it is definitely a case of " My god - I had forgotten how good this is ! "
This was the case with Mandate. I find this an amazing and sophisticated lavender based fragrance, (shame about the unimaginative name) Classic old school, very well structured and always incredible value for money. As a teenager I detested it for the very fact it was so available and affordable. Times have changed, I have changed and I now appreciate its beauty. Judging by reviews here on basenotes and on fragrantica I think others do too.
Among the other treasures were Chique, Aqua Manda, Pagan, Blue Grass, English Blazer and many other Yardley's and Bronnley's.
They all seem to have a depth, structure and life that many modern, (including niche) fragrances don't have. I recently bought Tea For Two from L'Artisan which seems (to me) to use flat, dull ingredients from the food and flavor industry, rather than essential oils that bring 3-dimension to a perfume.
Which older drugstore fragrances do you recommend ?
