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BUYLASIX – :
This was a beautiful green floral fragrance which the late actress Zsa Zsa Gabor (who passed away in December 2016) modeled for and promoted for Dana Perfumes back in the 1960’s. I haven’t worn it in years until I got a little sample of it the other day via an old friend who still had it in her wardrobe. This is such a nostalgic and emotional fragrance for me. It has a lot of depth, though not too complex. More than anything it throws out a green aroma chemical of citrus and lemon grass, bitter orange, tarragon and patchouli. The color and theme is definitely green. It is serene, and pleasant and not one of those more aggressive greens or chypres which smell of grass like Chanel No 19. This is rather subdued in comparison.
The opening is a lemon and citrus bowl. Lots of oranges and a sharp and almost medicinal kind of smell. It has a lot of citruses so if you like citrus based perfumes this won’t be a problem at all. It smells very fresh and embraces very few flowers, namely white flowers of jasmine and perhaps lilies. Slightly soapy like a bar of green Irish Spring soap. The dry down is of simple patchouli leaves. It has excellent longevity and speaks of day wear, simplicity, casual coolness and tranquility. This can be worn with casual wear. It is terribly old fashioned by today’s standards but it still attracts attention and gets me compliments. For me this is a beautiful green fragrance, one of the most unassuming but perfect green scents. At times it makes me visualize a soft green lawn with lemon trees all around. I would say that this scent is chiefly suited to wear in the spring and summer months.
So many notes in this scent that bring out a unique greenery unlike other perfumes I’ve worn which can also be classified as greens (Ivoire de Balmain, Chanel No. 19, Aliage). The two dominant notes in this thing ends up being the citrus and the grass note. The white florals are minimal and so it’s not really as heavy as other multi floral fragrances but there is powdery iris and orris root to make it very feminine. The dry down is pure patchouli and herbs. The overall effect is that of a spicy, green, citrusy fresh and grassy scent of nature and the outdoors. This is also passable as a unisex scent. If you’re a male that enjoys green grass scents give it a try. A most remarkable fragrance.And yes rest in peace our beautiful and beloved Zsa Zsa Gabor.
GorNorman – :
R.I.P. Zsa Zsa
lapygin – :
My Mum still has a bottle of this that she bought on ebay several years ago for 99p, barely taken out of the box. You used to be able to get 100ml bottles of this very cheaply in the UK. It could be found in bargain bins in shops like Ethel Austin. It’s harder to get hold of now and so it’s a lot more expensive to buy online. I won’t tell my Mum this as I want to see if I can get her to donate it to me. Waste not, want not!
When I first saw it in that bright box, I thought it was an 80s or 90s fragrance aimed at teens or younger women, like Moschino Cheap and Chic. I had no idea it was from 1949. It doesn’t smell like it’s from 1949, either.
It smells overwhelmingly aniseed/tarragon (they are similar notes) and tart citrus, with a hint of basil. The floral notes and the patchouli/orris base aren’t very strong. It would be good to wear in very hot weather during the day. It’s not an amazing perfume but it is very unique, even ‘quirky’ I would say (although that word grates on me).
I would recommend those who are curious about it buying it before the prices increase further – or maybe it’s still sitting in a bargain bin out there somewhere.
зелёный – :
Zig Zag, as it sold in the 1960’s by Dana, was the fragrance my mother wore as her signature scent as a bachelorette on Long Island. To her it smelled of summer on Long Island. At that time, Zsa Zsa Gabor was the face for this fragrance making her the very first actress to model for perfume advertisements. It was not very successful and it was soon discontinued only to return again in the 90’s. Both versions the vintage 60’s and the reformulation are the same scent. My mother kept her old bottles around in the 80’s and I remember the smell. I was never allowed to wear it, and I couldn’t even try on her Avon perfumes. So what I used to do before I was old enough to wear perfume was just to smell, smell, smell and keep the fragrance in my memory. Zig Zag is long gone but through the trail of years and even after my nose has experienced countless of fragrances, Zig Zag is still there. It also helped to have bought a bottle from ebay out of nostalgia. First of all, this is a huge orange scent. I don’t like citrus in perfume and so I can never wear it myself. I can’t imagine how it smelled on my mother when she was just a teenager or fresh out of high school/early 20’s but I’m sure it worked with her body chemistry. My skin is very sensitive to citrus and can’t stand it. Then you get some green notes and white floral. The white flowers are lily of the valley, gardenia, jasmine, tuberose, your usual bouquet of white flowers that are in most fragrances. It’s at the heart so you do get enough time to smell them. But then the white flowers are overwhelmed by extremely spicy notes of tarragon and patchouli. I love patchouli but this one is foody, like culinary herbs. It smells of something you’re using on an Italian meal. My mother is of Italian extraction and grew up around Italians so that makes sense that she’d see the connection. This smells good, but it’s not my type of fragrance. I will surprise my mother with this fragrance for Christmas so she can remember and relive her youth through Zig Zag. If you like classic vintages this one is for you but you have to be big on citrus and white floral scents. I love white flowers but the citrus ruins it for me.
imre – :
I agree with Lizzie,there is def some fennell in this.
A gorgeous,simple fragrance,apparently discontinued and now very desirable.
Used to be sold on Ebay as a Houbigant/Dana cast off for 99p,now is very desirable.
Houbigant/Dana have switched their frags. over the years,especially with the “Herb-range”
wawus – :
What a pleasant surprise for such a cheap edt. Its perfect to keep in the fridge and spritz in hot weather. Ok, admittedly we dont get much of that over here in the UK. It is quite potent though but it rapidly dries down and it really comes into its own. I particularly love the tarragon and basil notes. It makes it that bit different.
poocuoush – :
smells like avon eau givree, la perla, o de lancome sort of a smell but avon no longer do eau givree and a lot cheaper than the latter two 🙂
French smelling and summery!!
Bandelok – :
It is pleasant for a cheapie. Not sweet. The main note I get is fennel. It is unobtrusive and fades fairly quickly. There is something refreshing about it in a herbal sort of way. Very little patchouli. Just enough to give a faint base note to anchor the whole thing.
CrywheceReerb – :
I adore Zig Zag. I bought up half a dozen bottle when it started getting harder to find, and I’m so glad I did.
It is completely unique – I love the citrus hit that dries down to that aniseed softness. I share this with my husband, as it is a perfect unisex scent.
I often have a little spritz of this just before bedtime, so it has become my ‘sleepy-time’ scent indulgence.
arwis – :
Zsa Zsa Gabor. Maybe the “young’uns” here don’t know it, but today’s over the top Gabor was once the epitome of fresh faced loveliness and quiet elegance. Surveys conducted in the 50’s and 60’s revealed that more women wanted to look like Zsa Zsa than any other celebrity — and this was the heyday of Liz and Marilyn! So perhaps it’s not surprising that in 1949 La Gabor became the first celebrity perfume — “Zig Zag”, launched by the French house Houbigant. Like the woman, ZZ was not very sweet or very ladylike. It was exciting and different, a unique blend of notes(Reportedly, Gabor choose them herself). ZZ is dominated by pepper from beginning to end. It is there in the opening along with ripe, lucious citrus. It is in the heart with creamy white roses, licorice, and anise seed. And it is there in the drydown with pungent green notes like tarragon, basil, and a tiny bit of rosemary. Zig Zag never became a big seller. Perhaps it was too different for it’s period. By the time it’s distinctive notes were acceptable the image of the woman famous for quips like, “Dahling, I’m a wonderful housekeeper. Whenever I get divorced I always keep the house!”, was too outdated for the hippie/women’s lib generation. Houbigant discontinued it in 1969 and sold the formula to Dana. Dana sat on the fragrance until 1999 then relaunched it. It didn’t set the world on fire on it’s second go round either and was once more discontinued. But plenty is available on ebay at very reasonable prices(I recently got a 3.4 ounce bottle for $13.00 and that included shipping). Get yours and a back up before this gem is gone forever.
1771q – :
Having used up my first 100ml of ZigZag during the heatwave we have recently had , i looked to ebay to get another. I got one even cheaper than the last time . £3.99 including postage !! The seller has lots of it too.
This is an excellent cheap n cheerful scent for hot weather . Cooling , refreshing and very “Zingy” with the aniseed /citrus combo !! I have yet to smell anything else remotely like it , a very unusual perfume. Cheap enough to carry around for freshen ups .
The weather has gone wet and dull again …While buying this I am hoping for another heatwave so i can use it !
Excellent quirky , eccentric find at a great price.
UPDATE – Very hot humid and wet weather ATM , this perfume is perfect !! Ive gone through 2 big 100mls Btls now…..Very UNDERATED perfume – Its going to go in the top 5 for summer.
pxk710Negeltzex – :
Another pleasant surprise out of the bag of testers i got off a fellow member 🙂
My experiences with Dana frags have been mixed so far. A bit like Avon , for me its 50/50 hit or miss!
I like this one. Different and eccentric yes ! Interesting to read below that it was commissioned by Zsa Zsa Gabour!!
Fruity and fresh with a strong aniseed vibe . Unique and different. I could imagine this could be quite sexy on the right man …unisex and suitable for hot or cold weather . What a versatile surprise from Dana ! Ive certainly not come across anything like it before. I would wear this , and its FB worthy. But I have a sinking feeling its going to be hard to find !!
Edit – Not hard to find after all . 100ml for under £5 on fleabay 🙂
doorhanlviv – :
Definitely a fun fragrance-jeans and sandals.
Illilfumb – :
All I get from this fragrance is liquorice and aniseed. I’d say its definately unisex because of this , but do you really want to walk about smelling like aniseed twists or liquorice allsorts? personally its a no from me …
lcq460Negeltzex – :
I love this perfume and I just can’t find this perfume anymore and anywhere, please help me: is it still available?
лос666 – :
Unisex – loads of bitter citrus.
I also get liquorice and fennel and hot mint although these are not listed.
Upon reading the notes I can get the tarragon. No sweetness , lots of herbal lift.
Works in hot weather.
It was supposedly designed / commissioned by Zaa Zaa Gabour in the 1940’s so an early celebrity fragrance ?
The scent is certainly eccentric and an interesting addition to a collection but for me, more as a curio than a personal statement.