Oscar
Oscar de la Renta (1977)

This, is for vintage Oscar...

A fragrant potpourri / kitchen sink of mixed flowers and a blend of spiced, oriental goodness. A classic - if you can find it in vintage form. I've not smelled any newer / reformulations, so I cannot compare.

As jtd pointed out in his perceptive article below, Jean-Louis Sieuzac straddled the 80’s and the 90’s with Dune, but it wasn’t the first time that he’d crossed the decades.
With a sweet debut of orange flower and tuberose, Oscar has the elements of an 80’s honey monster - full and heady; but underneath that, there's a dusty green base that recalls the charming Vacances by Patou.
Oscar is both a bit brash - and lovely by turns, and this is one reason why it has been overshadowed by its big sister Opium, also 1977, and also composed by Sieuzac (et al).
Where Opium is a juggernaut, Oscar is made of two parts - and doesn’t have the same force. It’s a liminal scent that spans the decades and pulls in two directions, forward to the brave new world of Margaret Thatcher, and back to a romanticised flower meadow.

Review of a sample miniature EdT

This is for the new version - black cap as shown in the photo. I remember it as being a bit different back in the '80's, but I might be wrong about that. I like it. It is a spicy floriental - very much like Coty's L'Origan or Guerlain's L'Heure Bleue, but not nearly as complex or deep. But, it can be had for a fraction of the price of Guerlain. It has that distinct 'airspun powder' scent of L'Origan. I don't see violet anywhere in the pyramid, but I do get a strong violet note in Oscar. Oddly, I don't get much tuberose, which many of the other reviewers mention. All in all, Oscar is a very nice, somewhat derivative, safe blind buy for fans of florientals. While it is an 80's-type scent, it is not very 'dated' or a huge powerhouse like Opium or Diva. Oscar can be a safe office scent, a safe blind buy, not at all gourmand (despite cinnamon/clove notes) or aquatic. If you like L'Heure Bleue, you will like Oscar.

Scarlett O'Hara sits alone. And her boudoir sits in smells of her old well -worn leather purse, a vase of not fresh carnations, her favorite lipstick, and the powdery scent of her body, soft Mozart piano. She is wearing a white and green printed silk-organza dress with green velvet trim, topped off with a straw hat. She waits for Ashley but he never comes. She watches the rain, and wonders why. Oscar is melancholy and gloomy, slightly gothic, but retains it's sensibility and elegance. The fragrance of a woman's cherished reminiscence of someone once loved. By the bluish light of evening, the remembrance of a treasured love, silken sheets, a secret longing, memories, and warmth of the heart's flush.

Such a legendry scent. Perfume of the solitude and romance. Perfume of intimate spirituality. mysterious, powdery and soft. Strong but at the same time subtle and dreamy. Unforgettable, yet light. Like your softest velvet pillow with all the feathers coming out in a soft breeze of wind, while you are surrounded by violets, irises and other mysterious powdery florals. Sweet floral opening with iris, a little soapiness and powder but the dry down is incredible with a hint of creamy vanilla and elegant musk makes it mysteriously carnal and smells of desire and sends the wearer into another world. The absolute of femininity, inner beauty and richness. A fragrance for the person who loves the smell of vintage cosmetics. Timeless, bewitching and intoxicating.

What we have here is a beautiful, elegant classic from the 70's! I get a bitter lemon opening with lavender & some floral arrangements, it is sweet, not sugary sweet.

There are herbs to cut out some of the sweetness. It is for a classy individual more so for an adult because I do not see this type of fragrance appealing to the younger gals. I owned a vintage EDT that I acquired but only kept for nostalgia reasons.

One day my granny came to visit me & I gave her my bottle of Oscar & she absolutely LOVED IT! She was happy to have it & I was happy she enjoys it! This is ideal for fall/winter wear as that is where it shines. It projects nicely & it last at least 8 hours on me. This was created in the 70's yet it does not smell dated! Enjoy!

My husband bought this for me before we were married in the mid 80's, and I wore it everywhere. After many years I remembered it when I saw a bottle, so I bought it again. On me it is a soft floral - light and delicate - with a decent longevity to it. I am not sure why it reminds me of carnations, and even though I dislike fresh carnations, I like this scent very much and wear it often.

Interestingly my husband doesn't remember buying it for me at all, ha ha.