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focusnik71 – :
It is a classic, elegant, everyday scent. Bright, feminine and warm. To me it is not a gourmand category, at least not that usual gourmand. I would rather tell it’s a classy fruity-floral. However, the caramel note is intensive, so it could be called as a define gourmand. The bottle is very lovely, like a little pumpkin, so cute. And I also like the liquid color. And of course, the fragrance itself is also really good. When I showed it to my grandmother, she said, that it is the best perfume she ever tried. 🙂
space – :
A winter sweet balsamic and luxury parfum.
Powdery on my skin.
A hard to find one but it is really so
Good and balsamic.
Bottle 6/5 ;))
V
marysya – :
Oh the holy goodness in a bottle! I want to bury my face in my armpit where I sprayed it and never come back out.
I’m going to have to find more elaborate words to describe it but simply, fragrances like these are not being made anymore these days. This is high quality.
It smells feminine, expensive, makes you feel happy. It’s rich and warm and sexy. I’m blown away.
THANK YOU SCARBO!! 🙂
sulimanny – :
Sexy perfume, woody, musky and sweet at the same time. I used it in winter and my husband loved to smell it on me. I can’t find it any more.
windows – :
I received my 30 ml bottle today. I was lucky to score it for 25 bucks, because i do not like Alchimie at all!
I am so, so, so sad 🙁 This was my unicorn, and i pretty much gave up on it, due to high price.
I don’t even know how many times i read all the reviews here, which in turn made me sad that i will never get to try this wonderful perfume.
I tried it today, and it left me confused. It’s not that it smells bad. It’s just that it doesn’t strike me as something unique or that special. Alchimie reminds me of something i smelled on my grandmother when i was 3 or 4 years old. Don’t get me wrong, i am not the one to ever call a perfume “old lady perfume”-there is no such a thing.
There is something familiar about it, like a face cream that somebody in my family used, or a lotion,or even a perfume…
Alchimie is soft, pleasant, but potent enough to be noticeable every time you move. I am just simply unable to isolate any vanilla, or coconut, or peaches in it. Not plum, not caramel.None of it.
I will let my bottle “settle”from shipping and try some other day. Maybe i will get my miracle, like i did with lady Mitsouko.
Vancho – :
Gigi the Fashionista: I’m sure what you’ve written about Alchimie is interesting BUT your review is WAAAAAY too long. Sorry!
ahrost – :
Oh come on!!!!!! Why does this have to be sooooo darn expensive? ????? This is friggen gorgeous!!!!! Ohhhh how I love thee sooooo much! This is like sweet warm peach pie with a vanilla glaze or fresh churned vanilla ice cream, with a whole lot of class. And talk about has some lasting power! Mais yeah, dats some good, cher! (Sorry…This scent brought out a little of my cajun side) lol
vyte12 – :
So happyy!! I have found two treasures: cheap bottles of Alchimie, on a Dutch website that is equivalent to ebay. One EDP and surprisingly an EDT (smaller bottle, and less potent) but still divine. I cannot imagine how I lived so many years without it. i had a bottle when I was in highschool and could never find it since. It now reached absurd prices on E-bay and even so, very few small bottles. Advice for everyone: Check out your national or local equivalent of Ebay, people often don’t know how to use ebay, or dont have credit cards so they simply stay away. And so do their treasures, they fly under our noses 🙂
SKIT – :
This is a much poorer and weaker twin sister of Chopard’s Mira-Bai.
And although it may sound iconoclastic to some Alchimie followers, IMHO, there’s no legend behind it and no alchemy in it.
Just a sweet vanilla scent…
And with my skin’s chemistry it turns out that the sillage and longevity is almost NONE.
Disappointment.
distiniy – :
Thanks to a lovely fragrantican i get to sample this….ive been curious about this for some time…initial sprits my nose zooms in on the mimosa heliotrope pairing…i usually cant tolerate these 2 at all but the coconut blurs them so that i dont scrub…i get the fruityness and the lovely amber caramel facets….yes i like this. Its soft creamy and multi faceted.
rockalt – :
I love all Rochas perfumes, but this one is a bottle I truly treasure..the container is beautiful and it contains a beautiful fragrance-I only spray it on special occasions. Wearing it though feels almost as if travelling through time and being a woman across all ages..universal, eternal. Such a shame it`s discontinued..
777Stoun777 – :
Alchimie is so rare and beautiful that, most of the time, I feel like I’m not worthy of spraying it. When I do indulge in a squirt of this precious fragrance, the feeling I get is pure rapture with each whiff. I feel like Alchimie chooses to give us these elated feelings, and for that I love her like a friend and can see why others covet her as well.
Alchemie is shimmering, yet structured. When I smell it I envision swirling fabrics: Lustrous taffeta in shades of orange and gold with purple glass beading and magenta sequins adorning it. I see velvet in crimson and voile in plum; both fabrics embroidered with gold thread in a swirling filigree pattern.
Sun-warmed fruits (fuzzy peach, smooth plum, firm pear), decadent caramel, and dense, frilly purple florals stand out on my skin, while the happiest blend of sweet-spice (tonka, woods, and a hint of licorice) create a captivating base. The drydown takes all the facets and beauty of the opening and middle and adds a dusting of floral-like powder.
Alchimie is a feeling; a magical genie in a lamp. The bottle suits the scent inside perfectly. I wish it weren’t so difficult to find, but the price is worth it.
waa814intitytek – :
Very elegant and classy floriental scent, enveloping, soft and cozy. I wonder how could the house of Rochas, having such gems as Alchemie, Lumiere and Byzance in it’s treasury, waste them all? Sad story, but Alchemie is still Alchemie! By the way, the juice is very HQ. I have found an old vintage bottle, already used and “forgotten” on the shelf about 15 years ago, but still in perfect condition. Alchemie – what else?!
loginovevgenii – :
After reading of so many of so respected reviews I managed this one in an EDP version to be finally obtained.This creamy -soft-sweety-balsamic concoction evolves on my skin up to the sky and brings me a touch of so desirable sense of peace, calmness, contentedness and just of divine serenity of a soul. Such a beauty… But being so gloriously gorgeous herself she gracefully stays a half-step behind me.. She is surrounding me with this mesmerizing aroma as with an Angel wings shielding from the harsh reality of the outside world… so soft so comforting and so harmonious. Yes, this is an alchemy but of that kind where in its blending process of so many ingredients we witness the birth of one perfect soul which would never lie or betray. A true love I would call this one..
Lexus1809 – :
how warm,sweet and beatyful…it is not special, I have only a miniature, dont know from which year, but it is definitely old, still nice smell, i like it a lot. I love it after bath, in winter, evening, feel so cosy..
taraskin – :
I am so impressed by it. Such heavy notes as caramel and peach and vanilla sound translucent and sparkling due to citruses and perhaps some white flowers. It is haute cuisine of perfumery – the blend of completely different textures, notes, hues creates a harmony and make you fly.
Also I like how gently this perfume gets your receptors – wave after wave, appearing and disappearing – it plays with you.
A masterpiece.
Italmas – :
What a beautifully complex creation! This is a real perfume, not like today’s products which are made of 3-10 fragrant compontents and shamelessly called “perfume”.
They don’t make such creations nowadays sadly. 🙁
Mavrik – :
For those who love Alchimie and have not been able to find a signature scent since it was discontinued… try Givenchy “Ange ou Demon Le Parfum & Accord Illicite”… Please understand that it does not smell anything like Alchimie… but it is just as unique and is very sensual and complex. I absolutely love it!
dobryckiy – :
Alchimie was my beloved, The One Desire D&G reminds of it in the heart notes (caramel, amber and vanilla). At least smth similar if I cannot have Alchimie.
TotoAntip – :
Ι had this gem back in the days and now is so difficult to find. It is totally unique. I cannot think something that smells similar to it. Sad that it was discontinued. All I can tell about it is elegance. I am thinking of a successful woman wearing it at the office. I cannot picture it as inviting or sexy, but as aloof and cold in a nice way. Oh the caramel and peers, along with the vanilla and sandalwood and a hint of orange! So unique, with great sillage and longevity. Perfect for a winter or autumn day or night.
wawnunortat – :
Have a sample and it’s intoxicating in a extremely pleasant way. I put it on when I go to bed on rare occasion because it feels sinful and indulgent …like it will elicit a response from my husband that I can’t afford or accommodate all the time. I have to admit he’s not reacted that way but the fact that it makes me feel that way is enough. It’s the type of perfume that you don’t want to use too much of because it’s so rich.. beyond rich!! A little goes a long way.
The “long way” strikes me as a to be a trip to past centuries where scents were meaningful and part of the whole early 1500’s alchemy experience and way of life experience. I love the otherworldly experience that this scent imparts. I like that it’s a little secret indulgence.
If I could afford it…I might try it on a regular basis but it might be a bit intense for co-workers on a day to day basis. It’s like reading a great historical fiction book..which I LOVE!!
Alex-boss99 – :
Pompous fragrance. Fruits wiped with spring flowers and polished by caramel. Pretty much gourmand on me. Among flowers cassia and wisteria are very prominent, the pollen of lilac made me sneeze few times, coconut leaves deep milky trail, similar with Serge Lutens Jeux de Peau’s one.
Very complicated, but easy-to-appreciate, memorable scent.
medvedulka – :
I have a tiny sample of this, and I am afraid for when it runs out! I’ve had it sitting in my drawer for years!
Alchimie is that perfect fragrance for this time of year, when summer has faded, and autumn is peeking through. I don’t doubt this would be a superb fragrace for wintertime too, but it has such a warmth to it, it feels like that autumn sun trying to warm the chilly mornings.
A warm, calm, fruity, comforting masterpiece. I don’t find it cloying, it snuggles against the skin, and has a timeless elegance to it.
Now to try and get my hands on a bottle of the stuff! *sigh*
Buxxter – :
An oriental, fuzzy, fruity vanilla. Soft, warm & sweet.
The citrus top notes in my bottle have long since turned and upon application the opening is lacking some of the beauty I once knew back when this was gifted to me by my aunt at Christmas, many moons ago. The gift set I received contained a miniature bottle, a 50ml bottle and a shimmering body lotion – all contained within a lovely glittering golden box.
This was a love at first sniff affair and is still one of the most beautiful takes on vanilla I’ve ever known, even now that it’s turned.
The “turned” scent has taken on a distinctly “sun lotion” vibe, like a sun lotion that’s, pardon the pun, sat in the sun for far too long. Once the “bad” notes lift at around three quarters of an hour in, the middle and dry down is almost exactly as I remember. The blackcurrant is lovely here as it’s very subtle and doesn’t overtake the floral notes at all, so when I say to myself that this is a “fruity floral”, I’m not really including the blackcurrant note. It’s far from being a fruity scent in a dark berries way, but more so from the mandarin, peach, pear and grapefruit – in that order. The plum is subdued along with the blackcurrant and just stops the scent from becoming too citric.
I can’t recall the sun lotion vibe being there when I wore this in the past, but it is probably caused by the mandarin, pear, coconut and cucumber. It actually makes the scent smell a little like Sweet Sun by Dior to me.
When I first read that this was discontinued, I stopped using my bottle and have regretted it ever since. I have this habit of hoarding, and so I refrained from using this for fear of finding myself unable to replace my bottle. I have therefore missed out on enjoying it to the last drop simply because I’m stubborn.
Now it’s nowhere near as lovely as it used to be. However, it is, without a doubt, still very lovely.
I don’t really smell much of the licorice, but I do get smooth caramel and sandalwood in the drydown. It’s very sweet and slightly effervescent from the jasmine & heliotrope, with some smokiness from the tonka bean and musk. (Nothing animalic in the musk here).
The caramel, amber, sandalwood and heliotrope combo makes for a very enjoyable and unique vanilla oriented scent. The honeyed jasmine and lilac take the fore with the vanilla while the other floral notes all play off each other with none really standing above the rest. There’s a slightly sharp edge to the powderiness of this which I think is the coconut, heliotrope and licorice combo, putting me in mind, though only tenuously so, of Hypnotic Poison.
Rather light, but this is a longlasting scent. It becomes a skin-scent after around two or three hours, but can last for up to ten hours on my skin.
A good replacement for this is Cinéma by YSL (PRE REFORMULATION – CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH). It has less going on; is more sparkling and linear, citrussy vanilla, but it certainly has the same aura and contains many of the same notes as Alchimie, not to mention both having the same “nose” behind them. I’m very surprised that almond, or almond blossom is not listed as a note here, given that this note is unmistakably present in both scents.
Actually, today I applied Alchimie solely because I received a sample of Omnia Crystalline Eau de Parfum by Bvlgari. The moment I applied it I thought of Alchimie. The orange in Omnia Crystalline is much more pronounced than in Alchimie, but there’s a very distinct similarity.
Sadly, Omnia Crystalline, like Cinéma, is a far more airy, much watered down version of Alchimie.
So, Alchimie may reign supreme over both, but as it’s almost impossible to acquire these days and is terribly expensive, I believe either one of those could (almost, nearly) fill the gap left behind by this unique and inimitably complex scent.
I treasure my two bottles of this. They’re very dear to me. Over the years I have become eternally grateful to my aunt for turning me on to so many masterpieces such as this. (The most impressive of which was the original version of Yohji Yamamoto Essential, which has remained to this day exactly as it was the moment I cracked it open in ’99! I dread to think what the re-release/reformulation is like!)
This is a beautiful scent, conjuring the image of sunshine peeking shyly from behind a cloud and casting its rays upon rows of sunflowers.
The drydown is truly unlike anything else, and Alchimie contains the best interpretation of blackcurrant that I’ve ever known in a scent.
A real masterpiece from the late nineties.
(Edit – just want to share my joy to discover that my bottle HAS NOT in fact turned! It was just the scent in the spray tube that was a bit “funky” – while the scent in the bottle remains intact and smelling heavenly, still!)
saschkaalex – :
I feel compelled to write another review of Alchimie, as I have just received some sample vials that I bought on eBay and have been able to smell and wear this perfume for the first time in probably fifteen years or more. I have to say that I no longer like it… I love love LOVE it! It smells even better than I remember and is absolutely to my taste. Now to try to get hold of an actual bottle of this…
sosedvlad – :
It is truly orient elixir, deep, warm, totally stunning. Not true that it matches only elder ladies! I was using it in my early 20ties. Felt like a goddess while wearing it:)
Hazard_8808 – :
This is probably my favourite out of the perfumes that my Mum used to wear. I tried it myself when I was younger but didn’t feel that it really suited me. Now I’m in my late thirties I could definitely imagine wearing this. It’s a magical and unusual fragrance that’s both sweet and sexy, just how I like my perfumes! What a pity it’s been discontinued and so hard to get hold of now. Such a beautiful and complex blend of notes. I’m surprised that Rochas discontinued this one, it was very special indeed.
EDIT: Just to be clear, I’m in no way saying that Alchimie can or should only be worn by more mature women, simply that I feel it probably suits my personality now better than it did when I was younger.
vasilyeva.tatyana1 – :
Scratch my former review. That’s right, I pulled my Alchimie outta the closet and gave it a good dusting as it will be a permanent fixture in my rotation from now on;) I’ve somehow managed to fall in love with this.. I refused to give up on it, and boy has it paid off;) Alchimie is remarkable, positively complex, and it gives me that classic, natural vanilla I’ve been looking for. Not overly sweet like today’s concoctions. I’m no longer being bombarded with heady white florals here…though it’s still slightly present, I now get more syrupy pear, black currant, wisteria, and caramel in its place. And ohh, This is so elegant and uniquely powdery; it smells like makeup; like my mom’s old blushes and compacts. I think that’s why I am so drawn to it in terms of comfort. This is 100% woman, an old Hollywood diva. A vintage smelling masterpiece that even the youngin’s will love! Time to whip out the pearls and red lipstick ’cause I’m feelin glamorous! Prada Candy, take a seat.
Игорьпанк – :
I now have in my possession a new 30ml bottle of Alchimie. I LOVE the bottle! The beautiful translucent orange and the shape – lovely.
The smell is not something I would normally go for but I find myself being a little bit seduced by Alchimie.
I bought it with a view to resale, as it seems to be so rare and in demand, but am now wondering if it’s a ‘keeper’… hmmm.
I don’t find Alchimie madly ‘fruity’, at least certainly not in the prevalent and modern sense of fruity.
I agree that this fragrance undergoes subtle changes – at first it s l i g h t l y reminds me of YSL Paris – a very mild version of that with a ‘hairspray’ edge to it.
That sounds horrible but when I sniff Alchimie, I don’t feel that ‘ugh, cheap!’ reaction that you get with a lot of cheapo hairspray-alike frags. Instead, I feel actually, physically, strangely.. lulled by it. Calmed and lulled. And this frag feels PERFECT for the sort of hot Summer weather we’re having (no doubt briefly!) here in the UK at the minute.
I’ve read a lot of online comments from people lamenting that there is nothing at all like Alchimie for them. A few frags come to mind for me when sniffing Alchimie. The above-mentioned Paris, which I think Alchimie shares a facet with – that rose/violet thing, at least it’s that to my nose.
Not saying they’re the same or anywhere near, but another frag I would suggest trying, if you’re mourning Alchimie, is LaCoste pour Femme. They share a fresh but wistful quality.
Also, I find a passing similarity to Yves Rocher Cantate/Cantata, although that is ‘nuclear’ in staying power and Alchimie is much softer and more subtle.
Oh, and don’t be tempted to get Casmir to substitute – Casmir and Alchimie are very different animals! Again, Alchimie is much more subtle for a start. I find the 2 smells very different too and as someone mentioned, Alchimie is much more of a ‘skinscent’ whereas Casmir is a fruit/vanilla POWERHOUSE that you either love or hate. 🙂
Finally, I find Alchimie to have almost an acquatic tinge to it – slightly reminiscent of something like Cacharel Eau d’Eden.
I may be willing to give up Alchimie within the UK, still deciding!
PS – another one to consider; at the end of its drydown, Alchimie smells JUST LIKE Donna Karan’s Cashmere Mist!
Update 13/07/13: I am selling this on Ebay but still wavering over whether to end the auction and keep it! I bought Fath de Fath, based on the similarity votes on here, as a cheaper alternative and it’s nothing like Alchimie – poo!
Arthur_iii – :
Oh I am such a fan of fragrances with a complex selection of notes, I love the changes in the development as you wear them. Alchimie has this cult status because it was one of few perfumes in it’s day that were changing the face of fragrances which for a long long time had been dominated by aldehydes and cloying florals and unfortunately this was discontinued very quickly like a lot of other gems. I had dithered over this one due to the note that another reviewer had pointed out- the cassis/blackcurrant which I also find can have that cat pee aroma- I kept testing it and trying to decide,and then I missed out which I have regretted ever since. I have been lucky enough to obtain a mini and the top notes have just started to turn,so the cassis is no longer present. This perfume is so interesting and uses notes that you would never dream of putting together,but it has been blended so skilfully. To me, the fruit presence is in the opening only with the translucent cucumber and spring flowers, the development then leads more into the florals- wisteria,lily of the valley and a hint of coconut- so unusual,but it works ! I get warmth from the amber and a rich woodyness from the sandalwood and yes,there is vanilla but it doesn’t overtake everything else. I can’t say much more about Alchimie other than this is one fragrance I really do wish they would bring back,as I wouldn’t hesitate to rush out and buy it.I prefer this in winter or autumn and find it has a moderate to heavy sillage and is long lasting. Love,Love,Love !
OrerdrorkTeby – :
I am not into fruity fragrances that much except for a few masterpieces ( e.g. Poison ) and I include Alchimie among them .
Once again I bow to Great Art in perfume creation . When the notes of a complex fragrance are well blended I realize that I love the result even if I would not expect that as the perfume does not belong to my favourite family .
To UrbanBeautiful : I am surprised to read that you find Alchimie so light . My skin is a little dry and fragrances do not last very long on me but Alchimie is one of the more longlasting ones ! It sticks to my skin : I can smell it neatly on my wrists even after dishwashing ( without gloves ! )
So sad that this gem is very hard to find !
From now on I am going to say : I usually do not like modern gourmands but I love Alchimie sweet grace .
Semyonoff – :
This is only perfume for which i can say Love it!
Its my favorite, the best for winter. Too bad its hard to find it these days.
dmitriy777rus – :
On my skin smells just like Houbigant Quelques Fleurs Royale. I just got a bottle and I’m very surprized ( got the original Alchimie to compare ! )
Djalex – :
Well I get headaches easily and this one does deliver that! I thought for sure I’d love this one; I was so excited to get it. I see gourmand lovers who swear by this one(I’m gourmand girl all the way,) but I don’t see the appeal! On me, I got a powdery floral.. A lot of jasmine, and a very small hint of vanilla after dry down. It is sweet, ill give it that.. But it’s too powdery. I love powdery vanilla scents, but this is a powdery, creamy floral to my nose….it’s actually like a dusty feeling, if that makes sense. I keep thinking the more I wear it, ill fall in love like I do with other scents. But to me, this is cloying and I am a girl that loves strong, heavy scents where everyone in the room knows a sweet aroma is coming from me. I was quite disappointed. It was fun looking for a discontinued, rare item– but the novelty had worn away from the scent. Ah. Still all I get is jasmine to my nose.
CoombAmowlLaw – :
I have this perfume and do not consider it anything like Prada Candy. It is a light scent. And my message to people that are interested in trying this, based on the notes, that this isn’t as great as you might think. So don’t knock yourself out about the discontinuation! I think even though most people are rating the vanilla, tonka bean, and carmel notes being at the top of the spectrum in this forum, a new person who was to try this, would not find this a sweet vanilla like concoction like the gormands of the past 3 years. I think this is because when this perfume was first created, gormand notes were not as prevelant as they are today. So now that we have such a slew of these notes on the market today (gormand)…None of the notes pull through to be individual in this composition or are what most people would be able to pull out of this scent. It is more like a soft melange of hmmmm, maybe a bit of vanilla with something going on around it. But it is not the vanilla that would find in let’s say Comptoir Vanilla Sud…It is a very subdued vanilla, that is not syrupy or sweetish..But like a vanilla that has a slight capture of Shalimar…It doesn’t smell like Shalimar, but it captures that weirdness that comes from so many notes…I don’t rate this as a terrific creation. I think there are better ones out on the market.
nakononenko – :
I just bought myself a 30ml alchimie bottle on ebay… it looks quite real (although ive never seen one in a store) and dusty ^^ but the problem is… the scent really is quite nice, but thats it. i kinda dont smell anything at all… its soooo light, really pretty but soooo light. nothing special at all. And I really want to smell all that, but it basically smells like nothing. is the sillage really that light? or do you think ive been scammed?
Tayri – :
It does not have the same strange dusty undertone as Prada. In my opinion, it does not smell anything like Candy at all. I think Alchimie is much more complex and in my opinion, better to wear.
Halaponga2 – :
This perfume was my first real fragrance love, it’s like a warm cashmere jumper and mulled wine in front of a fireplace. I don’t understand why they discontinued this but I still have one bottle, still sealed in its box. I’m torn between offering it for sale (I’m in deep financial trouble right now) and keeping it for myself as I have not yet found a new love after my other favourite scent, Theorema by Fendi, got discontinued too. 🙁
hqz471JeomiWogkig – :
This is my all time fav perfume. I could literally cry because this was no longer in production. After it was discontinued, I moved onto Sensi, which a few years later was ALSO discontinued. Since then (approx 4-5 years now) I have depressingly purchased perfumes without really falling in love with any of them. However, all of that changed this week!! I have been on holidays from work and decided to research until my little heart was content and find something, ANYTHING, that I could fall in love with. I have ended up purchasing two perfumes through the entire process:
1. Givenchy Amarige Mariage is certainly not identical to Alchimie, but freaking close! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. It is not something I would have even thought to try, but if you love Alchimie, drag your butt to the nearest store and give it a try. Allow it to settle on your skin and I’m sure you’ll be surprised!
2. Gucci by Gucci for Her (edp) – which is a lot more like Sensi than Alchimie, but when sprayed with Givenchy Amarige Mariage, I swear to god I have Alchimie again!
I hope this helps mend some broken hearts out there… I know mine is 🙂 xxx
dvh938speagoessenda – :
Loved the bottle, not the scent…
asta8 – :
Prada Candy is the new version of this perfume. I find Alchimie more sophisticated than Candy.
natuev – :
I bought mine from a small and old perfumeshop from Finland (my homecountry) about a year ago for a song… It is in perfect condition and a real treasure for me!
This “fume”, as nyoka from Fragrantica would say, is not about flowers – to me it is a versatile gourmand mixture with a flowery edge. What you get first are peaches and pears and other fruits with a lot of vanilla, some caramel and a hint of coconut.
I have to say that nowadays I am not very keen on vanilla – every other perfume seems to be sweetened by vanilla. And here we have A LOT of that black savoury bean. But what kind of beans they are! Definitely not cheap, definitely not one-dimension cloying and too simple specimens of that spice. They are so delicate, so eatable, so yummy that you can’t but take a good inhale of this creation of Jacques Cavallier, father of many perfumes I really appreciate.
After a while this merry-go-round slows a little when sandalwood steps forward and presents this perfume some seriousness you have maybe even missed. Now this has developed such a great composition that you really have to admire it. Original and intoxicating. Recognizable and long lasting.
I am so sorry to hear that Alchimie doesn’t suit with everybody. But then, what does? We are so different… and thank God there is a huge variety of perfumes, vintage and contemporary, to match one’s own chemistry! I am luckily able to enjoy this amber-coloured gem and I certainly do that – especially in wintertime when it is cold outside and you need something warm and soft to embrace you!
mitinotelo – :
I was excited recently to obtain an unquestionably authentic carded spray sample of this almost universally lauded fragrance.
Unfortunately, my experience was very similar to that of oopsfauxpas. Not only did black currant and jasmine combine to produce the dreaded cat box odor, that smell was quickly augmented by a prominent cucumber note that morphed into the sickly sweet smell of pickle juice, specifically that of a jar in my fridge containing “Bread and Butter” pickle slices. Oy! So totally unexpected and such a disappointment since no Rochas has ever before failed to please.
I am truly jealous of those fortunate folk to whom and on whom this smells delightful.
Defintely try before buying!
Verlioka – :
An amazing scent! I’m keeping the bottle with just a few drops of perfume in it, just to have the chance to smell it from time to time.
I hope I can find it again someday.
hmnu8603 – :
I am also waiting for the return of this great scent!
Wasp031280 – :
Krmarich, wonderful description! I am a fan and i’m waiting for “Alchimie the return”.
niksob – :
I almost forgot, I had a small bottle of Alchimie
years ago from a closeout store. Everything about it was beautiful and exotic. It was perhaps the last big compositions of the 20th C. I foolishly gave my bottle away.
It was more purple than anything-hyacinth, lilac and wisteria waving prettily. It was also very gourmand with cucumber, vanilla, coconut, liquorice, caramel and peach. It was an all ages fragrance that was not childish, by any means. It followed the trend of Lolita Lempica-you can try this to substitute.
It was a very clean springtime fragrance that flirted well. I can understand its popularity and cult following. Sadly it fell victim to “perfumaggedon” in 2001. It was quickly yanked from the shelves without warning. There wasnt time for reformulation. This was one of the more foolish decisions of the time…Perhaps Alchimie will return one day. I see many fans waiting.
Sergey650101 – :
I’m searching this desperately…please, If someone have the eau de parfum and want sell it, contact me!I’m from spain. Thank you!
wanchell – :
I love to put this on in winter and then snuggle up in a cashmere jumper. A sexy, intense smell, use sparingly but then this sort of scent should only be caught by the man nuzzling your neck, shouldn’t it? Anything else would be screaming “hello boys!” 😉
Boss777 – :
This is my first oriental flower fragrance and I loved it. I bought two bottles but now it is disappeared. Why?
obstraktno – :
This is my favorite scent,deliciously sweet and slightly powdery, definitely no cat’s piss smell on my skin, and also no cucumber smell on my skin.
I can smell the scent throughout the day.
My most beloved fume.
lbvf – :
Dearest Alchimie – how I love your soft sweet notes. Your fruit, your florals, your musk and spices interplay