Description
“Created to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the maison, 21 is a harmony of pure and mysterious elements blended to create a strong, energetic and sensual character.Perfect mix of luxury and simplicity, 21 is a balance of white pureness and deep mystery, the most intriguing contrast.”
Top notes reveal unexpected accords of pure milk and saffron. Orange blossom blends with cashmere wood, amber and musk with accents of vanilla, labdanum and cedar wood.
The bottle is pure white like the box, with a touch of grey in the logo. Available as a 30, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum.
21 was launched in 2007. 21 was created by IFF and Juliette Karagueuzoglou.
ctd193Bessinepome – :
Among the perfumes I have, this wonder is the most absurd! It’s warm? Is it cold? seems to change second after second but the point is that saffron is an exceptional touch! One of the most special and good fragrances ever!
alex2109698 – :
21 di CoSTUME NATIONAL rimarrà fra i miei preferiti a tempo indeterminato. Così buono che mi mancano le parole per descriverlo. Rilassante e avvolgente. Lo zafferano è presente ma ha una base dolce più che speziata, persino il saldalo è molto cremoso … patchouli e ambra molto morbidi e leggeri.
Credo che il latte leghi queste note in modo armonioso.
Sicuramente nell’ insieme mi sembra molto dolce ma mai stucchevole e decisamente Unisex.
Mi sembra indicato per i mesi più freddi o inizio primavera, sia di giorno che di notte.
Una durata immane 12+ e un Sillage importante.
Un capolavoro. Bravissima Juliette Karagueuzoglou anche se poco conosciuta.
La mia personale valutazione è 11/10
LSD004 – :
Costume National 21 – one of my favorite scents to wear around the house . Very relaxing , smooth sweet, saffron and a creamy sandalwoody drydown. One of my favorite lactonic, milky scents which is fantastic when I wear it right before going to bed- it’s like a warm glass of milk.
At the same time, it’s also a very sexy scent due to the saffron, sweetness and creamy sandalwood. Very unisex as well.
Something about it reminds me of vintage Guerlain Heritage( maybe the sandal and caraway).
I ran out of a 3ml that I had been using very sparingly so I just got another 5ml. That should last me until I bite the bullet and pay retail for this gem. Hard to find discounted( if anyone wants to sell me a bottle, pm me).
Check it out it’s a fantastic scent!
hakas19rus – :
If I lived in scandinavia, this is how my wolf would smell like
after he came back from his playful expeditions in the snowy birch forests
I will then make a fire, and he and I sit quietly, one hand in his fur, the other around a mug of warm milk.. enjoying the sight of neon northern lights
7vlad – :
Tried it today. It reminds me of Lapidus pour Homme! The old school power house!
Well, Costume National 21 is more refined and smoother. The dry down is really well done: lush and warm.
Not my cup of tea though. It is very old school and just not my taste.
6/10
Jackiea – :
bookofhours, I’m pretty sure the clear bottle is the eco deodorant version of 21
Embaraprah – :
This is premature as I haven’t actually received my bottle yet (it’s on the way) – but this was one blind buy that sounded so intriguing I just had to take the risk. I’m a bit obsessed with milky spicy fragrances at the moment and they don’t seem to appear often, so holding my breath! Given how positive most of the reviews are though, I’m surprised that there aren’t more of them in general out there. I’m wondering if it’s a brand that’s slipped under people’s radars for some reason? But I’m new to Costume National myself – only realised since a few days ago that they have had a fragrance line for quite a while.
Review to come…
EDIT: So my 30 ml arrived and I have to say I’m disappointed but am wondering if I received a turned perfume or fake. It didn’t smell like what I expected – which was ambery with milk notes. No orange blossom. The closest I could describe it to was a little like Amouage Epic or Memoir, almost herbal. After 45 mins it is completely gone. What I noticed straight away upon opening it was that there was some oily film on the outside of the box but within the cellophane (but strangely not inside the box) and the liquid is a amber yellow (I bought the 30 ml in the clear bottle) – not at all like the photos I’ve seen where it is almost colourless.
I’d like to return it but the policy is that beauty products that have been opened can’t be returned.
So I’m wondering – has anyone bought the 30 ml in the clear bottle who an tell me what colour the liquid was? Mine is similar to Obsession EdP…
Владимир-VEN – :
I like this one. It’s sweet and salty and kind of nasal if that makes sense. It reminds me of kissing someone with a cold. And also that Bjork music video where androids make out – all is full of love?
intemnJeona – :
It is very seldom that I stumble upon a fragrance that I really like. This was such a fragrance. It is complex and well blended. To me this is a extremly sexy fragrance, and its totally unisex. Im a man and have no problem of wearing it. As another reviewer also noted, there is something mysterious with this perfume. Its like I have smelled this before, but I cannot put my finger on what. Almost like a code in my soul that is activated. Its difficult to explaine how this parfume smell like, but I love when flowers and woods are mixed in a good way. It also have a prominent anis/mint vibe that I love. Gives it a fresh, nostral opening effect. And a smooth vanilla drydown. 21 is signature scent worthy.
Image I get: a rich, confident person pass you at the airport. You turn your head and start to imagine the perfect life of this person. Where does he/she live? What is her/his name? How much money does he/she have? How is his/her life? You are left with a mysterious feeling. 21 represent this feeling. IMO.
Its a love from me! Amazing scent. Maybe a masterpiece?
8,5/10
kuriran – :
E’ un ottimo profumo l’ho comprato leggendo le lusinghiere recensioni e non ho sbagliato; profumo complesso con note naturali e di sintesi molto interessanti e non tutte identificabili, mi piace come persistenza, come dry down, come proiezione ed evoluzione. Acquisto solo profumi di nicchia ma questo, pur essendo un commerciale si distingue ed è superiore a molti profumi di nicchia; ottimo acquisto veramente.
Morzan – :
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!
mydruk – :
This is really nice. I do love spicey fragrances but this is heavy on the saffron and has quite a dry feeling. Its warm and a little sweet. Im not sure if I get milk tbh. Its almost like a less intense, slightly sweeter, slightly less spicey Andy Tauer Moroccan desert air. A less intense version that is heavy on the saffron. I think its the amber that provides the sweetness. Its not patch heavy and Im enjoying the caraway note. Surprisingly for a spicy creature the sillage and longevity are no more than moderate. Id say it was very unisex but almost edging towards the feminine.
Ingward77 – :
I have one word for this:
Glögg. Nordic people should be nodding their heads right about now.
naruto3d – :
Tried on today and let me say I want this perfume in my life. Amber, milk, saffron, patchouli, what else one can ask for? Smells like heaven.
Too bad it’s pricey.
On a side note: Does anyone smell the leather I am smelling?
pashka.zava – :
Toned down A*Men? This is luxurious. The previous comment on cashmere is right. Perhaps a bit sweet for me, but nevertheless a seamless scent. Very approachable, and not engulfing like A*Men. I’m thinking winter, late night out in the city with friends? Nothing great, but well made. Pass.
messi197 – :
This is really, really nice. It starts out with quite the spicy top notes, which are soon dominated by the rich and creamy scent of saffron. I love the base notes. They are distinctively milky in a way I have never encountered in perfumery. The drydown smells like amber and cream! Yummy in a way, but at the same time very inedible. I don’t think amber would actually taste good (?).
On the whole, 21 reminds me so much of L’Air du Desert Marocain. I am not saying they are the same thing, but it seems like someone who loves LDDM might also enjoy 21. Both are amber and soft spice perfumes that are very smooth. Not like Opium with its strong cinnamon and cloves, 21 is more of an aromatic spice perfume. This is a love for me!
adattersove – :
This is AWESOME!
ExpeseWessaph – :
Mmm this smells like fresh out of the oven warm cinnamon buns.
One spray is just enough and preferably on lower body areas as it is a bit overwhelming when overdosed or worn on cleavage.
I bought this as a blind buy bargain on ebay after reading about the notes and reviews and I was surprised but not dissapointed. Keep in mind that it is nothing clean as the color of the bottle might fool you to believe but if you can handle a heady scent you’re in for a fun ride. Dosageing is key with this one and I would not wear this daytime to work.
Me and my boyfriend share it and he enjoys it as much as I do.
кики – :
A cool, modern, spicy-milky-amber scent. It is chic and wearable but still has an avant-garde quality from notes like caraway, saffron, and milk. It smells very warm and sexy on skin and could be worn by anyone. Would work beautifully in winter or colder autumn weather.
PETKIN-DIMA – :
To me, this doesnt smell white at all.
A color that comes to mind is medium brown.
Its starts out very smooth and milky, like there is a rich, thick sandalwood involved. A dash of spicy cinnamon as well claiming to be saffron. A peppery caraway note comes in after about 30 minutes ala Cartier’s Pasha.
There are elements of vanilla and tonka roaming around that also remind me of Hanae Mori’s HM EDP. I tried on the HM EDP side by side and its not as close as I thought, but there is a passing resemblance, however CN 21 smells much more natural.
I’d like to say its Pasha meets HM, but its not.
There is a thick, dark patchouli and vanilla that ends this concoction, which is Juliet Karagueuzoglou’s signature.
Interesting, a bit weird, but still wearable if you can handle Caraway popping out for about an hour in the mid.
IMO this is not a Woody Floral Musk. Technically its a Chypre.
This would be a risky proposition for work situations since it is quite tenacious, and not clean smelling to appeal to the masses.
Longevity is very good. Best suited for cool evenings. Casual.
It would have received higher marks if the vanilla and caraway were scaled back and some good quality sandalwood added to keep the milky texture going throughout.
To me, the milky tone is what makes this fragrance unique, too bad its only in the top notes for 30 minutes.
Good.
Weird, wearable but not white.
Very CoSTUME NATIONAL.
I wish I had the same enthusiasm for it as other reviewers here.
sergutso – :
Oh , I love this one! It is one of the best amber perfumes out there, I wish I could find it in my country. It smells oriental, sensual, like a spell, like a magical Word! I think it can indeed be considered unisex. PLZ, anyone WHO has this and want to swap it,send me a message.
It reminds me of prada amber intense, although this one is anything but intense.
dimon2101 – :
Strange and strong opening .. after 5-10 minutes for a soft,mysterious .. pepper beginning to feel in the heart notes gives the “hot” to the smell .. that evolves slowly and enters the Caraway ! at this stage develops creamy enough, the notes begin to join … in dominating the patchouli base notes that, along with vanilla and tonka bean blend the fragrance and make it warm and elegant! … Night and urban suitable for walking in the city … I think it’s a unique scent, which stands. Complex parfum and well done! I recommend it for the cold months .. I will use it in Winter! ;). The projection is moderate, and longevity is great (8-10 hours on me) .. Recommended !!
Sillage: 7/10
Longevity: 8.5/10
Scent: 8/10
Overall: 8/10
starlinger – :
The composition starts with a cacophonic orgasm of lactone / amber / citrus that is very distinctive. More notes comes in an intriguing background, and the overall impression is synthetic and sharp (not a bad thing).
Modern feeling, different of the usual generic perfumery. It has a niche concept imho.
Then it settles in a nice sweet ambery, by far more common. But still very nice and wearable.
I like it mostly because of his lactone note and unusual overture.
Obviously a different perfume that will catch attention of perfumistas like me that already owns 100+ frags 😉
Precise work than deserves admiration.
OnekHeins – :
Odd effect, this scent. Seems to be more appearent for others than to the one who holds it. Smells strange, almost not pleasent at all in the beginning…but it changes over time… sophisticated, different…are the only words I can come to think of right now.
slepmaydigos – :
A friend posted on Facebook that she’d tried this and liked it, so I wanted to smell it for myself. My first impression was of a cupboard of cooking spices; the David Jones staffer who was serving me remarked that it smelled Christmassy, and that she’d wear it in winter when she was home in Scotland.
It dries down to a pleasant woody smell like a cedar chest. It’s not to my taste, but highly recommended to those who like spicy aromatic scents (Prada Amber is one that comes to mind).
dpk161speagoessenda – :
Sadly I can’t smell it, because after an hour or two it disappears on me. My boyfriend loves this perfume and says that it lasts very long and even after 8 hours of working day he still says that it’s very noticeable and it’s a very nice scent. I’ve never seen him so enthusiastic about any perfume thus – checkbox, it’s stays in my collection! 🙂
olga borisovna – :
CoSTUME NATIONAL 21 is a complex, creamy slightly dirty amber. It’s smooth, not a sharp or sweet nose burning amber type fragrance, more powdery than anything.
There’s a little hint of spices in the opening prehaps from saffron and pepper? It’s a really nice opening too, complicated and exciting.
The main spice is cumin and it takes a moment to develop as it settles down. I like this scent, because it’s a real amber accord not like Scent or Scent Intense which to me is not a typical amber despite what other people say on here. 21 does it’s own thing and is not like the rest of the stuff from this house which tends to be cool, fruity, musky and a bit odd.
I lost this fragrance in the middle somewhere, it’s just not my thing, the major decision I make when it comes to fragrance is ‘Would I wear it?’ and sadly this is not one I have any desire to wear.
Still good stuff though.
RomeoCV – :
It smells quite smoky first 10 minutes. Then, during an hour I get the best of it – milky amber and caraway (Unfortunately, it was hard for me to detect any patchouli on my skin). In this phase, the scent is quite spicy but sweet at the same time.
In the end, woody and milky notes disappear and I am left with a very synthetic peppery drydown. On my skin, it smells exactly like Celine Fever – sweet and not expensive vanilla with just a hint of wood plus pepper and nothing else. So generic! It is such a disappointment as the opening was very very promising.
volchonok007 – :
Costume National does amber that I can wear and enjoy. It’s a powdery, slightly bitter sort of amber with a touch of pencil shavings. Not thick, sweet vanilla/benzoin rich amber.
I personally do not detect patchouli in this fragrance, but I do smell moss and vetiver. Also sage and bergamot at the opening, but they fade and 21 becomes milky and musky. Well, the sage actually does stick around but sort of comes in waves.
On my skin, 21 is not as intensely spicy as one might expect. Although sniffing the bottle and the first 5-10 minutes feature a semi-acrid cumin note, that definitely dies down. I love cumin, but it’s a bit much even for me.
Entirely unisex. I’d say it’s a skin scent due to it’s musky, slightly animalic qualities. Not a skin scent in the sense that it sits close to the skin.
lektor10 – :
Great fragrance. I get about six to seven hours with four sprays.Good spillage.
Ryabko_Anutka – :
was a blind buy, its nice, but more masculine rather than feminine, the fragrance is quite sharp, and with my chemistry – saffron overpowers other notes
xa0tic – :
This was another blindbuy. I think it´s more masculine than feminine. It´s not really what I was hoping for.
edlab – :
What a gem. This was one I first bought back in 2009 for $90 from Lucky Scent for a 50 ml bottle and didn’t regret it. I struck gold considering it was a blind buy. This is a rich, creamy and lush fragrance. A little goes a long way and it projects like a monster. I’m not good at describing fragrance notes so all I can say is that this is freakin’ sweet and a combination of rich creamy ambery vanilla. It’s just a seductive and sexy fragrance.
SNUFF – :
I received a bottle a few days ago, which I blindbought after reading the positive reviews here. After all I find myself looking for “the ultimate fragrance” for me, and kind of hoped this was the one..Up till now no one beats Alien, and I have to say that this one failed too.
Its a warm, spicy scent, and I think the spices is a bit overwhelming, and was hoping the amber would play the main role here. I think I tend to like amber perfumes with a bit of flowery-smell to it, combined with vanilla..mmmm.
It is absolutely wearable, and suitable in the fall, but a bit too masculine for me, so maybe my better half will adopt it.
hnr505speagoessenda – :
It reminds me of Balmain Ambre Gris, same mix of amber and pepper. Delicate, sweet, almost creamy with a hint of spice. I thought it will be strange and unwearable but it’s comfortable and beautiful. When I finish my decant I definitely will buy a full bottle. Give it a try!
Edit: Am I the only one smelling honey?
mazi77 – :
Why does this remind me of l’air du desert Moroccain? I thought I’d enjoy the milk note, but I don’t. It’s not working for me.
lqliko – :
I got a sample from a great swap. This is a unisex beauty: creamy amber+patchouli with a touch of soft spices and fresh orange blossom. The opening is strong, earthy and clean, leaning more towards the masculine side, the most enjoyable part to my nose. This was love at first sniff and I was about to start searching for online stock. However, 21 seems to be apologetic about this impressive opening that it determines to tone itself all the way down, and loses much of its shape and edge along the way, to an overly creamy and feminine, much weaker that almost ethereal woody scent with modest tonka and vanilla sweetness at the background. Such a shame. It’s like you hold a pretty shiny crystal ball in your hands then drop it and now all you get is shattered opaque glass. I don’t even mind it being linear but I do wish the spice and floral notes could last, even the woodsy notes could’ve been stronger. It’s still a good fragrance though, I like it a lot. If you want a nice, polite but still standing out, easy to wear woody scent for all seasons, give it a try. 2.5/5 for sillage and 4/5 for longevity. I’m very happy with my sample but don’t think I’ll buy a bottle.
andreystrogov – :
Overall good sent, I get a strong amber musk after the dry down. I recommend this for a cold, raining day, or a day to day wear for a man or women 40+.
7/10
Stunts – :
I like this frag-spicy and cosy which comes from the pepper, cumin and milk.It is also very sensual which I find very important for a perfume.CN21 has its own character,although, it is true, that it reminds Nu/YSL/,but 21, is much stronger and more complicated.Very long lasting with moderate silage, 21 is suitable for cold and foggy days bcs it warms and gives you a sense of cosiness and pleasure.For me this perfume is a pure delight!
bolshiki – :
The milk, patchouli, amber, orange blossom and saffron in 21 totally made my day.. I LOVE this. Strong without becoming over-bearing, perfectly unisex and extremely versatile, this indulgent offering from CoSTUME NATIONAL epitomizes comfort.
alishka_4u – :
i finally received my sample of “21” and i am very surprised: it is a dead ringer for YSL “nu” EDP (the original one in the round silver hockey puck bottle)! so if you’ve got “nu”, you don’t need “21” in your wardrobe. that said, both are spicy and sensual. in general, i am all for gender-bending fragrances, but this unisex absolutely leans towards the masculine side (too much, for me). all in all, worth trying but not the amazing fragrance i expected – even less when you consider it is so similar to an existing, albeit hard to find, perfume.
gorloder2008 – :
Just wow. I love this so much! The silage is great and it’s very long lasting, I wore it to work today and it lasted all day. Also, got compliments too I guess it really is unisex, i put some on my b/f and liked it on him too 😀
s443917 – :
Let me put this straight: I am NOT a fan of spicy perfume. Incense – infused, monumental compositions which fit best at churches are so not my style.
If you look at the ingredients there’s hardly anything here that would be up my street.
Conclusion: this is heavenly.
From the first sniff I want nothing else than have a clone and cuddle myself. It’s so huggable in a non-obvious way, in a slightly dangerous way, it pulls you in, gently but firmly and you. are. hooked.
It lasts for hours and is very powerful.
I’m glad I ordered two samples of this and I also believe this could be pulled off by a man. For perfume reference it’s like Diesel Plus Plus Feminine meets Wild Musk by Coty meets 8 88 by Comme des Garcones!
Yes, please, come closer, you know you want to.
abellilelvild – :
I just realised that this one reminds me of Baileys in a sense. 🙂
spidercola – :
Mmmmm….I’m in heaven. This smells like part Serge Lutens Arabie and part Theorema which I LOVE!! Very incensey, comforting, spicy, warm, and uplifting.
litvinson_off – :
Testing a sample:
Cedar. This is the first frag I have ever used where the cedar was totally easy to pick out. Its there from the start and all the way thru dry-down. I personally love the smell of cedar, so I’m good with that. I think this might be what folks are calling the “masculine” aspect.
The dry down is a pleasant ambery/vanilla/tonka… not too sweet… the cedar actually feels like it is the sweet note here. Sharp and sweet if that’s possible.
A lovely fragrance. I can see why there is a lot of love in the comments for it.
I just ordered a bottle of the deodorant. Mostly cuz its price point is phenomenal comparatively, and supposedly has a much stronger longevity which this little sample I have lacks. (2-3 hours and then it becomes very close to the skin). But I was dabbing from a small vial, so the spray could be totally different.
I may be crazy about this whole deodorant spray thing. I tried to google reviews for it, but found none, other than a little something about “perfume deodorants” in general being much more concentrated. So, I’ll check back after it arrives and I sample it. Might be a big disaster! But at least I can use it for my pits if nothing else!
BymnFandDaymn – :
When I go to heaven I hope it smells like this perfume. I would recommend it to anyone with a nose. Avoid if u dislike masterpieces. Bliss in a Bottle!!!!
addww1 – :
I tried this yesterday, since Im not a fan of spicy perfumes, I was pretty sure that it wouldnt be a perfume for me. I particiluare dont like pepper as a note. Anyway, with no expectation I sprayed it on my wrist. At first the spicy pepper striked me as very heavy and overpowering, but I could still find some creamy feeling in the top. In the early stage it was VERY masuline. This day I felt like wearing a masculine scent so I didnt scrub it off and I also wanted to see how it would develope later on..
When worst “pepperbomb” have calm down a bit, the other spices starts to show, also the milk. The milk note and I guess the vanilla gives it a soft and creamy smell as well, this blends good with the hard spice. I think it continues about the same way, a spicy, masculine perfume with a creamy and soft toutch blended. It has great sillage, my boss told me that my perfume smelled in all the store, so thats a great thing! Also the lasting power was very great! Lasted for more than 7 h, and smelled a lot all the time. This is a perfume that really will complement you, specially if it suits you and you are wearing something speciall and a little bit “raw” think it goes best with a raw and “hard” outfit, a cool leatherjacket and skinny jeans with some heels. I really think it was a unik perfume, yet masculine, but its a buy for me since I dont have many perfumes in this category. It sure stands out in the crowd.
And yes I almost forgot, would recomend this for fall, winter , evening or nights out. I wouldn’t want to smell this in too hot weather. Too overpowering. And spray with a light hand. Its more intresting when a little bit is used.
lampne – :
Finally received my sample of this one today. Upon first sniff this reminded me very much of Tauer’s L’air du desert marocain (which I cannot wear at all) – ie a massive dose of ‘incense’. Thankfully, 21 is a little less brutal which meant I didn’t have to scrub it off and could wait to see how it would develop.
Within 10 minutes or so that initial incense cloud quietens down and I get a distinct minty note with a somewhat sweetness just poking through.
This combination is pretty much what stands out on me though I have to say after an hour, this has definitely softened up and a few more notes are coming in to play making it more rounded, warmer and sweeter which is also giving it that creamy feel for which I was hoping.
It is such a unique scent and very hard to describe, it truly needs to be tested by the individual to fully understand.
I am enjoying the dry down but on the fence as to whether I can see myself wearing this. Will have to test a few more times and see how we go.
kvc-domino – :
This is exquisite. I get the orange blossom and cedar wood right away, then it seamlessly blends into a close-wearing aura of creamy spice. Difficult to describe, but wonderfully unique and beautiful.
Definitely a fall/winter scent. I don’t think it develops well in warm or hot weather.
Edit: I just wanted to add that I also think is a unisex scent, wonderful on anyone.
babushka – :
Got this one blind after geting it sugested to me and reading the reviews. I’m a bit lazy and live in a medium size Scandinavian town. Won’t regret it for the world. The sent has it all and manages to balance it of. It has saffron, amber, pachouli, woods, it’s warm and comforting yet sexy. It lasts long and stays close to the skin. It develops with out merging. It says that its wearer stands on his or her own two feets. It is my HG, the funny thing with that said is that I think the ad with the partly hidden white androgynus girl is genious because it mysteriously captivates the essence of the perfume. It can be used by any one, but I don’t really want that because this is “my precious” ….
vitalya_1987 – :
I hate to agree with everyone, but this is a really nice scent. Complex, would be a great one word description. Each note plays together like a Chicago Symphony Orchestra for your nose. It starts off smelling acceptable and improves considerably as it drys down. My nose can’t detect any particular note, it only recognizes the combined effort of near olfactory perfection.
4.7/ out of 5
11bolshak22 – :
Some scents just defy all reasoning for why you shouldn’t own a full bottle, and to me, 21 is hands down one of them. By the time this dried down on my skin, I bought a full bottle on thE bay, and I never do that because I promised myself to spend time with using a whole sample of anything before ever buying. I just couldn’t resist with 21… it really is that good.
21 combines the best of many of my favorite scents–the spiced incense of Tauer Marocain, syrupy oakmoss tarriness of Prada Prada, the bold patchouli and labdanum combination of Prada Intense, the deep, dark but soft spiciness of Gucci Eau de Parfum, the earthy woods and saffron of Lancome Magnifique and the mystery of oud in Montale Red Aoud. Overall, smooth, rich, soft, a little sour, and gently sweet; spicy, edible, huggable, at times aloof; full of pauses, muffled exclamations and other contradictions. Never loud, yet 21 is very present. On every level, it teters on a perfectly delicate balance.
There seem to be some notes missing from the pyramid too. 21 is named so because it is a composition of 21 of the designer’s favorite notes being bergamot, milk, orange blossoms, saffron, cumin (although I smell caraway), pepper, cashmere wood, royal jelly, moss, clary sage, patchouli, olibanum, amber, sandalwood, oudh wood, cedar, vetiver, labdanum, tonka bean, vanilla and musk according to a retailer’s website–and oh, how all these notes blend so well! Floral woody musk it states here, although I’d most definitely also classify it as Oriental woody.
A modern composition of ancient ingredients that culminate into a comfortably sensual experience that doesn’t demand, yet humbly commands attention. The experience of 21 feels like being gently blindfolded by a stranger with a soft white chiffon scarf, then hearing a deep, warm, whisper in your ear from behind that says “I want to smell you all over,” sending you into a soft undulation of hypersensitivity. Oooohh, I just gave myself goosebumps rereading that…
Okay, time for me to go be alone with my sample now while I wait for my full bottle to arrive.
zzzz603 – :
Of all my fragrances, this one gets me the most compliments. To me, its a complex and sophisticated creamy woody scent – perfect for winter and cold days. Its warming but not at all overpowering. Very special. Oh and it lasts ALL DAY.
bocman005 – :
Love love love this! I have been trying so many perfumes lately and nothing is grabbing me by the collar and saying Take me! But this one did! Gorgeous sexy smell, it has my favourite note in it – milk, but it’s 100% sexed up with spices, patchouli, vanilla and all those other notes which make it totally appropriate for dirty nighttime rendezvous!! No but seriously, this is NOT a sweet milky scent, although I do love those too, Im so glad Ive come across something with creamy milk in it but in a sexy sophisticated concoction for when I dont wanna smell like a lolly, but I still want to be eaten!! 😉 The best thing about it is that no one note takes over here, everything is blended to perfection. I could kind of describe it like something similar to Dior addict, that strong spicy scent which you can’t really escape from, but with milk rounding it out. Also I sprayed this on my wrist and I still smelt it on my clothes 2 days later. Amazing staying power!
fantom) – :
Every now and then, smooth and creamy fragrances tend to appeal to me. They’re my answer to the ‘clean’ fragrances where soapiness and sharp citrus fail to impress.
Costume National 21 is positively amazing. It smells like sweetened milk, vanilla and spice. I think I was in love the first time I smelt it. It’s a touch ambery and sweet at times, however the white creaminess of this fragrance is what stands out the most to my nose.
This is the kind of fragrance that I find very relaxing. It reminds me a little of Diesel’s Plus Plus Feminine and Emporio Armani White for Women.
Costume National 21 opens rather creamy and luscious, in some ways innocent and pure. Towards the heart there is a touch of pepper, rich amber and caraway seeds, which later rounds out to a deliciously smokey vanilla incense.
I’m amazed that I have rarely heard this fragrance mentioned on our forums. I feel that I could praise it to the moon and back. Although having hardly anything in common, Costume National 21 evokes the same soothing and cuddly sensation that DK’s Cashmere Mist is so famous for.
The longevity and sillage are equally impressive, being strong, without breaking down the intimacy created. I strongly recommend this fragrance.
CERBER57 – :
sour propolis, milk cream, and mix of spices.
“Royal blanc”
dvr12 – :
Now that the autumn already begun in Germany I wear this a bit earlier than I thought I would…
I really have to wonder how anyone could perceive this as floral-woody-musk?! It’s spices and powered woods (cedar and amber I can single out), with a bit of mellow single cream added. It is classy but playful and anyone who adores spicy orientals without musk and animalics should really try it!
Ascestbritbat – :
This free sample was included with some other things that I ordered recently, so I decided to try it yesterday evening. It starts out as a spicy, slightly fruity oriental fragrance, heavy on the labdanum. To me the opening almost smells like ripe peaches spiced with cardamom and cloves, on a heavy amber base. I can’t smell milk in it, which is a very go