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dropdead1992 – :
sandalwood, iris, orchid, nutmeg, spices
dimionpav – :
Like Vivavoice, I have a vintage gift set on the way that I purchased for a song on Ebay. The set has full-size EDTs of Casbah, C’est Moi! and Perle Noire. This was a blind buy based on fellow Fragranticans’ reviews and I can’t wait to get them! Feedback to follow.
jhr983InsuffBooni – :
I was very intrigued by this one, the name, the pretty bottle, the promise of sandal, iris, and spice. This smells very similar to Toujours Moi, not as harsh in the opening, but a very similar powdery woods. I would say that Casbah is prettier, and more interesting. I have to update to add while this sits pretty close it has lasted ALL DAY and the drydown smells faintly like Kenzo Jungle L’ Elephant
mrdurabiliti – :
Having noted that many reviews here noted similarities to 2 of my favorites, I picked Casbah up for a song on Ebay. I take reviews with a grain of salt and never expect ‘reminds me of’ to mean duplicate – but still, when a fragrance has many ‘reminds me ofs’ I can ordinarily see *some* resemblance. I found this to be a bit similar to Byzance (like, if I closed my eyes and tried hard) for about half a minute and nothing like Samsara. I don’t dislike Casbah, but it just doesn’t strike me as anything very special either. I know that people loved it, as I’ve loved perfumes other people weren’t madly in love with – it’s not a *bad* fragrance, though not for me. It’a a little powdery with a hint of very mild spice at the start, but, sadly for this powder lover, it never came near being a powder bomb and quite shortly settled into a semi-musky, warm, soft, almost fruity, sweet, inoffensive white floriental. Good longevity and sillage.
LIION2006 – :
Based on Fragrantican’s posts (Thankyou for sharing your knowledge and experiences!) I bought a vintage lay-down flagon of Casbah on Ebay, for a reasonable price. Yum! I I have a novice nose, so I can’t comment eloquently as some, but here’s my take: First minute or two was LOUD, though I could tell it would become good. Then the powdery woods and dusty floral composition wafted out into deliciousness. If I put my nose close to my skin I can detect the smoke, and just barely detect whatever it is that some have labelled as petroleum or rubber (is that the Iris?). However, in the sillage of goodness that wafts from me as I move, and that radiates from my body heat even in stillness, all is perfectly blended into a smooth and sultry accord, with no single note blaring out. This is what ancient harems would have smelled like, in my imagination.
Keerryornadly – :
Just bought this on ebay as part of a three set of minis. It includes C’est Moi and Perle Noire. All blind bought based on reviews here. I trust you perfumistas! I am in heaven wondering what they all smell like.Can wait!
Klaus709 – :
Just bought a bottle off Ebay as this used to be my signature in my late teens and I remember loving it and missing it when Avon stopped selling it. On first sniff I can tell it’s “vintage” as it has a definite 80s vibe. It is also strong! I found the smell quite OTT at first but it has settled after ten minutes or so into a beautiful powdery spicy slightly smoky PERFUME (capitals required…this is full on!) Beautiful and dark and captivating!
Davamilioner – :
Thank you Nectazee, for your generous and beautiful giveaway! I might never have tried Casbah otherwise and you are so great do so this!
Casbah has one of the most beautiful boxes I’ve seen, in an exotic blue and gold pattern.The Iris note instantly reminded me of Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleue and other quality iris fragrances such as the greener, spicier XOXO Kundalini and fresher Yardley Iris.
The notes listed are a good representation of what this is like, except there is no grapefruit. Sandalwood and iris dominate, with powder and rose rounding it out. A musky, earthed-out base holds the rest of the notes together as a graceful whole. The spices are part of the light powder and musk, but although I usually am blissfully distracted by nutmeg or cloves, they are so well mixed in I became completely absorbed in the soft iris and sandalwood.Yum!
Good longevity and moderate sillage. This is going to make summer lovely!
Noittyboovish – :
I bought a sample vial of this at a garage sale several yrs ago and tried Googling (what I thought) was the name as the print had wore off the vial. I am SOOOO excited to have found that it truly does exist! And shame on Avon for discontinuing this rare gem~!
sistfilsons – :
Wow. Where to start?
This is Queen of The Casbah. Unearthed. Bottled goth. Straight up.
I stumbled across a 1.7 for a steal. Avon pulled a true *sookie sookie* with this scent. Though I have been equally impressed with Avon as disappointed, Casbah is a trippy scent and I am impressed. If you love clove and nutmeg with a strong disposition towards fine ancient spices and heady orientals of the middle and far east, chances are you will love Casbah. I am one of those women, so greatly appreciate the smell of powdered iris, smoky clove and nutmeg wafting around. This is a very unusual treat for me, as the only big clove bomb I can think of right now is Dana Tabu, and Casbah smells nothing like it or Samsara, which was mentioned somewhere here. I can rarely detect nutmeg in a blend but in Casbah it’s there. This blend is off-the-chain ancient. Ancient unleashed!
I agree with roseombre’s unfavorable phrase words “ancient” and “coffin”. It does smell of what I imagine a mummy Queen would be embalmed in and I think it is a beautiful, very interesting smell. Certain aromas of ancient times fascinate me. The smell of this fragrance smells of the time in which perfume was BORN and I’m diggin’ it! (up). It is mostly dark iris, spicy clove with a hint of nutmeg; dusty, almost musty but not quite. The powdery note The Master Nose chose for this frag is spot on Royal Egyptian Mortuary with all its finest most glorious florals and spices, nailed it right on …. into the sandalwood coffin. I find that brilliant and quite beautiful. The soft powdered floral is present; sweet but not overly so, and the old clove is positively present and remarkable mixed with a good sandalwood. Casbah is one many would cry “old lady” on; a description I detest. I have smelled dank, matronly perfumes and Casbah is nowhere in that category. It is ancient in the exotic, true, old world spice way. Softly elegant, spicy, rich, even sensual.
Despite the morbid imagery it conjures, it’s an unexpected softy, perfectly executed, that will scare the hell out of gentle-clean-safe-white floral girls and the tooty fruity florals girls alike. Casbah is purely gothic as it gets. It’s a dare, which smells nothing of today’s perfumes. It is “once upon a time, in a land faraway…. a long, long time ago” extract. A must-have for collectors of fine and unique blends. A connoisseur’s delight. 🙂
Now, if I wanted to be snarky which is, of course, so far beneath me… *wah!* I would say a few great names for Casbah would be “Ruins L’Iris” “Nile Dust”, “Royal Ehumation”, or something on that ‘note’. Jokes aside, this Casbah is an obscure blend. I have never smelled anything like this, feel I have unearthed the treasure of the ancient queen’s favorite smells personally adored so much by her she chose them for her burial… and I am Rockin’ The Casbah. (Yes!) ….and I don’t care that “Sharif don’t like it”.
The Clash – 1982
Pogrebos – :
There is a slight undertone of petroleum… But it wears off and the resulting mysterious , middle eastern feeling comes through. Bottles available on eBay retain the original fragrance…. It is dressing table quality in appearance. It is unique. A great fragrance for cooler weather…. Long lasting as well!
embeshyPrashy – :
I bought Casbah because I liked the name, typical for me. And because of reviews, which convinced me its spicy sultry little gem
It has faaaaaraway similarity with Byzance for exact 3 minutes at the beginning and has nothing in common with Samsara at all.
And its absolutely not spicy-powdery on me) I would never guess there is nutmeg in it.
I can blame of course that not knowing fresh Casbah, I judge upon possibly slightly turned juice, that I bought on ebay, but still its nothing special to me at all. I believe people who used and loved it in past might want to have a bottle for sake of sweet nostalgie. Otherwise, its too simple, sweet flowery, almost fruity-flowery on me, too strong on orchid and on jasmine, where I would prefer more iris and clove, for example. I just don’t get this fragrance at all, even though I was prepared to like it a lot, not Avon girl for sure, no development here, – same peachy syrupy orchid blast from start to finish. Sorry, guys.
Asnik – :
I discovered a mini sample of Casbah. This has always been on my radar since I love Byzance and Samsara, which it gets compared to the most. Frankly, I find no comparison to either.
Its definitely a “floriental” that focuses on iris. You get an immediate powdery effect. I tend to find powdery very wealthy and luxurious. The spices are subtle allowing the jasmine to become the prominent. The woody musky closing notes appear early on. Overall this is a very nice perfume.
Avon over the years produced some classics. This is one them. Then came “perfume-ageddon” in 2000 and the face of this classic brand changed like everything else. If you get the chance, sample this lost gem.
alefpar – :
Ancient Iris. Coffin’s iris.
the powdered toilette room of a ultracentenary grandmother.
similar to Iris by l’Erbolario and then Villoresi’s teint de neige but more musty.
tvs004Unlogrere – :
I agree with action! Starts out very much like Byzance, but quickly morphs into something much closer to samsara. I actually like the opening MORE than byzance. But , again, the opening is so short lived, and then quickly turns from a love to a like for me. Making Byzance the better choice …. but oooh the opening…. to die for, beautiful, First sniff ….I was like …”byzance who?”
very arabic
Aidendaunreat – :
A most Beautiful Fragrance – I still have some left – I shall be sad when it is gone – I amm now a little older – not much wiser but as enthralled with this fragrance as ever
tishinant – :
Sultry, intoxicating, heavy with so many spices. Jasmine pierces into you with an immediate animalic sense, Iris packs an earthiness while nutmeg and cloves spice this musky mix that bewitches and spellbinds. Casbah is a fully potent woodsy scent that needs to be worn carefully. A sweet mixture of heaviness, wear this lightly in the colder weather or sparingly on pulse points.
I envisioned Rita Hayworth wearing this as she danced her Caribbean sensual moves in Fire Down Below with Robert Mitchum watching her lasciviously. Rita Hayworth was a Hollywood beauty who graced the big screen with mature sensuality. She knew who she was and dictated it easily with the arch of an eyebrow, the look in her eyes, the toss of her hair. Casbah transforms you into that type of woman. A woman who can captivate and Casbah does just that.
Casbah heats up and radiates stronger with the heat of your body as time goes on. A little does go a long way with this fragrance. I dabbed a bit on my wrist only and I can smell the aroma many hours later.
Casbah is a sexual magnet, a fantasy perfume. Such a shame it’s been discontinued, but it’s still available on the secondary market, thank goodness.
smignee – :
This one is ok. I smell a rubber or gasoline undertone in the base, that really put me off. The top and middle notes are nice, though.
BAKINES – :
I wish if AVON bring all the old staff like Natori , Sunny Skies, and all the old gold staff
Carlabad – :
Just received a bottle off of eBay and I do like the soft powdery scent not bad for the price…
orxandata – :
Wore this when I was sixteen. lovely warm scent. Wish Avon would bring it back.
sesaro112 – :
Casbah was one of the best Avon perfumes of its time. I owned it and I was disappointed when Avon discontinued it (like they do with most of their better products).
Casbah was one of the only perfumes with a predominiant iris note that didn’t smell dusty on my skin.
I’d like to find another bottle of this. I remember it was very long lasting on the skin and had good sillage.
rvf256elipseskism – :
Casbah is my first love…and the most precious treasure in my collection.
I was 13, when I smelled first this beauty in 1992.After when it’s came out to the market I’ve got a tiny little sample from my ex-classmate whose mother was an Avon-lady in the 90’s.I guarded this tiny purple sample for long years in a small jewelry box.:)After 18 years (in 2010) finally I got a full bottle on my hands.
Casbah is about powder and spices. For those who in deep love with powder, musk and orientals-Casbah is the heaven itself.
No doubt, Casbah has the typical late 80’s vibe, it’s absolutely reflects the animalic and oriental floral features of this decade. Similar scent are came out in the middle 80’s as 273 Rodeo Drive by Fred Hayman and Bijan Bijan.
Casbah is a powder bombshell..in a good way.Sultry and captivating.Rich and bold floriental twisted by warm spices..Seductive marriage of the notes,hazy yet intensive combination of iris and musk.Rose, sandal and spices makes the heady accord rounded and deep.It’s becomes more intimate as the skin’s heat pulses through it.
Intoxicant and mesmerizing..
The durability of the scent is amazing…as it ingrains into the skin, this beautiful smell just lingering around me more than a day!!Well made quality perfume is this.
I’m a proud owner of this splendid fragrance.
Casbah is infected me in the past and it’s seems that I will never recover from this “illness”…but I don’t even want to be…;)
skisuraArorry – :
Es un aroma muy especial persistente con excelente estela aromatica dulce y oriental.A la vez se siente fresco y limpio creo que es facil de llevar en cualquier lugar se hace notar de una forma agradable.
Una composicion aparentemente inimitable.
88888 – :
Somehow I missed buying Casbah and have always regretted it. Recently, my Avon lady included the tester bottle of Bohista from the past in a clearance bundle. Very nice. Both products were created by named Noses. Waiting for Delcroix Nuit here in Texas. Waiting, waiting, waiting…
awairmbruinia – :
It was my favorite for a long time. Great scent.
NikolaAkola – :
This perfume starts out like à sister to Byzance, but it turns to the twin of Samsara.
Love them both so an Avon favorite for sure!