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taxist194 – :
Update: longevity is about 7 hours.
ekmzyf – :
Review is for 100 percent version.
A wonderful oriental, available in Walmart stores dirt cheap. The initial blast is harsh, by after 10- 15 minutes it settles down to a smoky woods dominant oriental with a touch of powder. The intense raspberry at the outset greatly diminishes during this time, so if you are not a fan of sweet fruits don’t let this concern you. Longevity is at least hours and heavy sillage.
The key to wearing the 70-80s “bludgeons” is light and strategic application. Two light sprays are plenty. These classic “mature” scents can be worn successfully and without attracting negative attention if you are mindful of what they are.
You can’t spray this on with wild abandon as though they are soft Jessica Simpson/ Oscar de la Renta citrus florals. You anoint yourself with Ciara.
Chernokrylay – :
Man this is good. My cup of sexy female tea, especially in cool weather. Smoky leather with citrus floral musky notes.
Aldehydic start is a blast for a short while, then its a seductive warm and uplifting drydown.
Simple in construction, or at least in the result. Yet sillage wafts in and out with body temperature. Its feminine. Bold, yet intimate up close. I am a fan forever as its indicative and reminiscent of early quality Avonesque creations. it evokes early joyful perfume experiences. A keeper for sure.
serg_smite – :
Ciara was one of my mother’s favorite perfumes back in the 70’s and 80’s. She wore it all the time and my sisters and I hated it. She even gave us each a bottle for Christmas one year and we were horrified. LOL! It’s definitely not a fragrance for younger girls. I knew I wanted to revisit this fragrance and bought the 100% strength for a super low price. I really like it now. Very warm and comforting. It’s smoky, balsamic, and powdery with smooth leather, woods, and a bit of raspberry. Great sillage and longevity for a cologne concentration. I’m so glad I decided to try this classic again!
S_U_K_A – :
Bal a Versailles and Bijan had a baby in the drugstore and it pooped out raspberries but no one minded.
Chung2030 – :
This one is a kooky, charming throw back knockout fragrance that is absolutely endearing to me.
Look at all those notes—it seems like someone threw notes in a big floppy hat, pulled them out on a whim, and cooked up Ciara. I think it works though, a bit like finding a fantastic ensemble in a dusty old secondhand shop.
Alarmingly, at first it smells like dollar store dryer sheets. In a few minutes it blooms into a sweet powdery incensey oriental with a bit of leather and a surprisingly charming raspberry overture. The raspberry and creamy tonka-vanilla-amber sing on my skin, and I think it softens the whole tone of the fragrance.
It does seem very vintage, very seventies to me—I asked my mom, who came of age in the mid seventies, if she remembers this scent, and she said she doesn’t, but complimented me profusely when I wore it around her.
I would want to wear it with a vintage Gunne Sax peasant dress in sunset hues, platform sandals, and huge sunglasses. That’s not everybody’s thing, but I dig it.
*I have the 100 strength version, by the way. It was less than $10, a great bargain in my humble opinion, especially if you like incensey orientals or that retro-fabulous vibe.
Piograrvego – :
This one was one of my few blind buys, inspired by the good reviews and reputation it has here on Fragrantica. It is strong and powerful, and also has a kind of dated vibe, that some of us are able to pull off With Our body chemistry anyhow, and thus it smells modern or lean to a persons preferred type of scent family. A little goes a long way. It is Smokey, incencey, sweet, balsamic. Its definately for oriental lovers. I didnt use mine so much, it has a very distinct “beeing”. It was darker than I had expected, but the drydown is sweeter and more pleasant. I understand People who says it is overpowering. I was Lucky to find a buyer so I’m not stuck With this bottle the rest of my days…!
djtianrongg – :
Ciara was my mom’s BFF Clara’s signature fragrance, I’ve literally known this fragrance my whole life. I’m very biased towards it because it’s a happy memory scent from my childhood.
I can’t smell it without picturing Clara in my mind. She was a big woman with a big personality. Colorful clothes, impeccable makeup, lots of bling, and a joyful laugh that sounded like music.
I own a bottle of the current “100 strength” formula, and wear it fairly often. It’s completely recognizable as what “Mrs. Clara” wore back in the 70s, but much gentler and softer. It lacks the “bite” the old formula had.
I smell wood, amber, heavy sweet flowers, and incense mostly. But get a bit of the raspberry and citrus up front. After the initial dry down it reminds me a lot of Nag Champa incense. It’s soft, warm, maybe a bit powdery, resinous, and sweet. There’s definitely a vintage feel about it too.
Sillage is heavy, staying power is strong. Ciara is one of those fragrances that announces itself when you enter a room. So apply accordingly.
It’s definitely a drugstore treasure.
gvj254bedyWelty – :
I tried this and did not like it at all. Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to trash it so I kept it for a bit- continued trying to find something redeeming about it. Still nasty to my nose. Had to finally throw it away.
Park1995 – :
This blind buy was a slam dunk for me.. I bought the 80 strength and it is lovely if not a bit light for my liking, so I have the 100 strength and a 200 strength Revson on the way and I’m so excited! This fragrance is gorgeous but I’m a go big or go home kinda gal when it comes to my perfume so I can’t wait to try the amped up versions!
I know I have smelled this before somewhere.. this scent takes me to another place and it’s nearly indescribable. It has a vintage feel of a bygone era, it smells nostalgic like antique stores and reminds me of scratchy old records, old books, 70’s shag rugs, autumn colored furniture, and dusty Tiffany lamps. Indeed my grandmother must have worn this because when I close my eyes and whiff this I can see her eccentric little Hollywood apartment very clearly.
Ciara is so well blended I can’t pick out individual notes but I do find the fruity raspberry aspect adds a tartness that individualizes it from Shalimar, Bal a Versailles, and Habanita, which it reminds me of quite strongly and are all favorites of mine.. 🙂
Edit: Now that I have the 100 strength and the 200 strength, I can add a little more to this review. 200 strength is very, very strong. Too strong for even my taste. It is heavy on the oakmoss, it has a decidedly herbal and bitter quality to it that I feel self conscious about when wearing it. 100 strength, however, is perfect. I can see myself using my little 80 strength bottle as a purse spray for a mid-day touchup since it’s weaker, but the 100 strength might actually last all day.. even on my perfume-eating skin. 100 strength is a bit more leathery and rich but still has that tart fruit note.. it’s basically like taking a photo of 80 strength and messing with the saturation setting to make the colors more vibrant. They are the same but 100 is just.. amped up!
Hartaddemia – :
I bought a bottle of the 80% spray very cheap at Walgreen’s during Christmas. At first spray, I do not like it very much. To me, it smells rancid and I’m not sure what note is responsible for that. At no point, do I ever detect raspberry or vanilla despite them being listed as notes.
After drying a few minutes, that rancid smell subsides and it begins to smell so good. It’s all woods, leather, and incense. One of the ads shown on this page state Ciara is ‘the thoroughly female fragrance’…not anymore. I think this is unisex bordering on masculine. For such a cheap fragrance, this smells upscale and refined. It lasts forever and the longer it wears, the better it smells. So if you’re cheap, but want to smell expensive, try this. Good stuff.
Korvax – :
I have a new appreciation for Ciara in winter. Previously I thought it was a fruity-meh-Dial soap scent, but I def get Ciara now! It’s like Bal a Versailles-sweet-incense. In fact, they layer amazing together. (BaV vintage cologne gives my recent 100% Ciara cologne an animalic skank that I love).
On ebay, I got a deal on an 8 oz, 50% strength, vintage Charles Revson cologne splash. I was on the fence about the 50%-ness… so I hope it’s not that watery. Being vintage and Revson, I’m thinking it will be just fine. Anyone have reviews on the vintage 50%?
I don’t get any of the amazing base notes in the current 100%, so I’m hoping the vintage is different. I ADORE leather, incense, myrrh, sandalwood, vanilla, etc… My current Ciara is just a nice dated strong SWEET incense with a bit of flowers and raspberry. Ylang Ylang is easy to pick out for me because it’s so sweet and waxy.
EDIT– So my 50% strength vintage Revson “skin splash” is here, and it’s gooooood. Sadly, on my skin its very very faint/weak and delicately true to the recent formula I own (sweet incense). But… holy moly…. on tissue, with a liberal “soak” it’s DIVINE! Animalic and leathery, skanky, musty and SOOO GOOD. I’m getting the opening notes, citrus/neroli but no raspberry yet. There is something spicy floral so I smell carnation too. Def woody too. I am going to keep my eyes open for Revson in the 80 or 100 now. The vintage def has the “old” smell I WANT! <3
When this dries down (and lasted DAYS on my pillow!) it def smells like the raspberry incense the current formula has. However, I still prefer the stages and layers of vintage. Hell yeah! AND, I just got a couple cheap 100 Revson bottles. YAY!
Dzudocu – :
An amazing fragrance! attractive, sexy, I’m asked what I smell! I had but I did not appreciate, I had to buy again, a good choice, I feel incense, the skin the best for me, black dress and Ciara t a good duo of secret and sex appeal. Total unisex nowadays for everyone, I agree with our friend Deutsch100 @ that it’s a great fragrance, I have 100% strength bought on notino.com. I also love Dana TABU. Very long lasting! I would recommend! KISSES!
txx630speagoessenda – :
I have all three formulations of this fragrance. They all are spicy but different. I feel like two notes are missing from this note breakdown: carnation and/or geranium as well as oakmoss.
In the 80, the forumula is a little sweeter, woody, spicy, powdery floriental that is a bit sharper, edgier and spicier than the other two versions. This is NOT fruity but the tart/sharp raspberry note is more developed and visible than in the other versions.
In the 100, it’s like the 80 but smoother and creamier with the leather more prominent.
In the 200 extrait, it’s like the other two but oilier and VERY oakmoss. The mossy/herbal quality is pronounced in the drydown.
I think 100 might be my fave but I could seesaw between than and 80 depending on the day, mood, event.
Every lover of spicy florientals needs this in their lineup.
kbm603speagoessenda – :
Current drugstore version: imagine wearing a vintage leather jacket whose previous owner was a heavy smoker and wore tons of pressed face powder and lipstick. In the same vein as Tabu, which I like better.
hgennadiy – :
If your bottle is less than 15 years old, you will not experience this scent as it was originally – an absolutely gorgeous incense!! Not powdery, not chemically, or any of the other nasty descriptors I see liberally sprinkled throughout the reviews.
Perhaps you should pay a bit more and experience the vintage, the real perfume as Charles Revson created it.
It is unfortunate that the ugly reformulations are so prevalent.
waa814intitytek – :
Total fail on me. Smells absolutely horrid. On me, it smells chemically… I smell plastic fumes, and rubber… with the powder & super sweet on top. Cant get rid of it fast enough. Luckily this was super inexpensive so no great loss.
talaflart – :
I grew up kind of liking this scent, I did wear it( though only out of the house, my mom hated these types of scents). It is a hazy balsamic warm scent yet it smells somehow cheap at the same time. I mean, it is inexpensive but it’s not something to be mistaken for high end fragrance. It’s very easily recognizable. I think if they had a body cream it would be a lot more to my liking. Youth Dew, Opium etc are too much for me in perfume form but the lotions are nice.
Jocelyn_fromAF – :
If Ciara is not the Queen of Powder, I don’t know what is.
All the prominent notes voted on above are there, but they are couched in the most luscious powder imaginable.
Have patience, though, because it takes about 10-15 minutes to morph into its true self, which is classic drugstore perfection. A more complex, serious, grown-up relative of Heaven Scent. I have current formulation.
Edit: Full disclosure: While I enjoy smelling this fragrance, it’s not really my cup of tea for actual wearing. The powder is a little TOO classic drugstore for my taste (while it’s exactly what others crave).
777lil777 – :
INCREDIBLE fragrance. So overlooked and this is such a sad loss for so many of us! While this debuted in 1973, and Revlon now makes this and not the original Revson…the scent has basically stayed the same, and this is a VERY good thing! This fragrance is made in 80, 100 and 200 Strength. I have never smelled, nor seen the 200 Strength. I have the 80 and the 100. To be honest, they smell about the same…yet I always reach for the 100 Strength. I do not find the 100 “stronger”, but it does last longer and yet I always feel the 100 Strength is softer, more rounded and just wears incredibly well throughout the day (or night).
Ciara is spicy, warm, sexy, smooth. If you like scents like vintage 1977 Opium, Shalimar, Youth Dew, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, Tom Ford Noir de Noir, Original CK Obsession, Tabu, Angel…you will FLIP over Ciara.
It might be one of my most favourite and cherished scents. It lasts and lasts, and you really need 1-3 sprays MAX!!! My formula is one spray on my bare chest, 1 spray on a wrist and then gently touch my wrists together and if I want it to really last and project I will do 1 spray on the back of my neck (on the skin). For daytime, I usually just do my wrists and chest!
I genuinely cannot recommend Ciara enough. If this was sold in Department stores, and had a nicer bottle…it would easily sell for $100.00 usd. The box it comes in is beautiful, but the bottle and cap is very generic and kind of cheap…but very functional. This is available on Amazon, and many times stores like Walmart, Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreens and sometimes Target carry it. I order my 100 Strength on Amazon, whereas most stores only carry the 80 Strength!!!
slavka123 – :
Wonderful fragrance!!! I wish I had picked up a bottle years ago. It’s very heady and full of smokey, woody and leather goodness making it just right for Fall/Winter. This is definitely unisex to me and I would highly recommend other guys give it a spray and check it out.
Skyline20000 – :
This blind purchase should teach me to check for the raspberry note thoroughly next time. Which I like in Habanita but not here, in such a dense and busy composition.
There’s also a functional clean laundry smell to it and I’d say that if you’re not sentimentally attached to Ciara, it smells a bit like a special edition fabric conditioner.
I get a feel ofa late 80s chemical powerhouse from Ciara, rather than 70s hippy chic, but it might also be my nose trying to work out everything that’s going on – I even got a whiff of Lulu for a moment.
bobe – :
This fragrance is such a classic, I’m surprised I had never tried it before. But when I saw it on sale at Ross for $8.95, how could I turn it down?
At first whiff…too masculine! I definitely picked up on those leather/woody notes and thought it smelled more like after shave than something intended for such a delicate flower as myself.
But…once the scent settled in, hmmmm….that’s more like it. That’s when I could detect the patchouli, sandalwood and incense, all of which made this feel more wearable for me.
I was impressed with how long-wearing it is. Any time during the day when I feel stressed (like when I’m dealing with L.A. traffic!), I can hold my wrist to my nose and that Ciara fragrance is really calming and comforting.
I like to layer it with Bath & Body Works A Thousand Wishes body cream for a little extra sweetness and oomph.
Ciara….it’s a classic for a reason!
july – :
Adding another quick review – just tried Shalimar for the first time recently and I was wondering what it reminded me of… and it’s Ciara! I had the 100 formulation – not all of it, but the leathery note in particular is very close to Shalimar. Of course Guerlain uses much more expensive, high quality ingredients than a cheap (but awesome!) fragrance like Ciara but the two are pretty close!
Драго – :
I’ve not smelled Ciara until just now. Our Walmart had a big bottle in an opened box. And POW! It’s as strong as it used to be. But not exactly as I remember it. Very smoky and also sweet. I still like it.
kwq604speagoessenda – :
Well, I’m guilty of another blind buy of an old classic oriental. I opened the box today and smelled the cap. It smelled fruity. I thought “Noooooooo!” I’m not the biggest fruit fan in fragrance. Then I sprayed it in the crook of my elbow. Thank god, the spicy opening was there. Then 15 minutes passed and it turned into an incensy powder. I love it so far. I bought the 100% version online. I’ll update my review once I get to know this fragrance a bit better.
Edit 10/28/2017
Holy this lasts for ages! This fragrance doesn’t have a nuclear sillage, but it lasts forever! I sprayed it on in the early evening yesterday, and it lasted until I woke up this morning! I love this beauty! Another exquisite oriental added to my collection. I am head-over-heels in love with this genre of fragrance, and the majority of my fellow millennials feel that these frags are “old lady”. Well, more for me then! Oh, I forgot to mention the price of this gem, cheap cheap cheap! $20 Canadian for a 100% bottle, what a steal! It sure doesn’t smell cheap at all! Thank you Fragranticans for showing me an amazing array of oriental classic gems!
gusnik1 – :
@Albertos:
Sir, please wear anything and everything your heart desires. Though this is marketed to women, you may very well like to wear it yourself. I just encourage you to not allow marketers to limit your experiences. Frankly, if I smell this on a man, I’m going to follow him until I can find out what his Fragrantica name is!
Happy perfuming!
If you’re in the US and want a sample, PM me.
klmn555 – :
I never heard of this perfume before until this forum then I thought it was named after the singer ciara until i actually came to this page so glad i never said that to anyone before LOL!
this smells like the actual nag champa incense stick, no burning it, not the smoke, the actual stick when you take it out the box its pretty crazy that a liquid can smell exactly like a stick lol. like others have said, wait a few minutes after you spray it it has to evolve in itself and then you can smell the powdery incense stick.
AntiptJiz – :
I picked this up at a chemist in the 80% strength. At first sniff I thought this was not for me, but like Shalimar I soon realised just how wrong I was.
Give this one a minute to develop and chill out and the result is Amazing. Definite shades of Nag Champa, once you get past the initial raspberry, which is quite synthetic smelling. For the price this is insanely good. I wouldn’t think twice paying 100+ dollars a bottle.
This to me smells like the heady days of my misspent youth, when I was dating men who burned incense rather than showered and I smoked cigarettes like it was going out of fashion (hint: it was!)
VarAvalaGracy – :
Hello! Can it be Unisex? smells of Nag Champa incense? please reply.
mtycrkfk – :
Ciara by Revlon is very nice. Smells great on me.
Elegant.
tim4ik – :
This is a wonderful oriental, and I agree that it reminds me of Nag Champna. It is sweet, slightly powdery and more on the woodsy than musky side. When I first purchased a bottle in the 80’s, the saleswoman told me to buy the 100 strength. I was not even aware of the 200 strength! The 200 appears now and then on EBay for $200 plus. Awesome during cold weather, and a great excuse to go Bohemian from head to toe. It was my experience that men like this on a woman, or at least on me! The incense comes through loud and clear, but the florals are quite timid. I have two very old bottles which are still lovely after all these years. Men, I do think this could work for you too, especially with the touch of leather.
BuyAnafranilOnline – :
I have to agree with the reviewer below who said the drydown of this reminded them of Nag Champa scented baby powder… I am not sure if she meant it in a good way, but I do mean it in the best way. lol On me it’s VERY powdery. It actually smells a lot like a incense called “Super Hit” which is basically Nag Champa with heaps of vanilla added. And that’s this… powdery, vanilla, incense. It’s warm and sweet in a completely non gourmand way.
It’s classic smelling for sure. There’s no doubt about it. But it’s one of those old school fragrances that I feel can still easily be worn today without being screamingly out of place. It smells retro, hip, vintage versus unwearable, outdated, musty, yuck-vintage. I am not crazy about many fragrances from the 70’s, but this one is nice. So far it isn’t a love, but I do like it and I can definitely see it getting some use this winter. I also like that this is from the days when bottles were not bulky, impossible to spray, odd shapes. It’s simple, functional, and even lightweight enough to toss in my purse. Not beautiful, no. But practical.
This is a great buy for its low price. I chose the 80% version because 100% is a absolute BEAST and while I usually prefer a enormous silage, This one in particular wears a lot better with a softer, more subtle aura than an aggressive cloud. I’m serious, easy on the trigger or it will be gross! The 80% is perfect for that modesty if you use like a half a spray. I think I paid like nine bucks for it! For that price even if you absolutely hate the stuff, it’s not a huge loss! I imagine it’s a easy swap too since it’s still so well liked in the fragrance community. I am constantly seeing it listed in “Best Cheapie” topics and really, they aren’t wrong. I don’t know that I’d call it the “best,” that’s super dramatic, but it is a Great classic fragrance for a extremely low price! And again, please remember when trying your first time, hold the bottle a good 6-8 inches away and press the nozzle only halfway down. Let that light misting settle for a few minutes before smelling. If you blast several close, full sprays and smell right away I can almost guarantee you’ll hate it! I just cannot stress it enough.
Tuzenbah – :
Oh I miss this perfume, can’t by it in Sweden anymore.
My children always said to me that I smelled so good, like candy.
Ska1net – :
Nag champa scented baby powder. Best ever!!
belash591 – :
I am glad I tested this in my skin before buying it.
It’s strong (100%), long lasting, woody and burnt like smell that smells horribly on me. I am not sure if neroli or gland-ylang is the cause but I had to come home and wash it off
I do have Opium and this is nothing like it.
Madeline_fromAF – :
Dainty–
I am sorry to hear that Ciara disappointed you as a blind buy. That happens sometimes . . . individual chemistries and tastes and expectations always differ. Many people love Calvin Klein’s scents, and personally, I can’t abide any of them. That doesn’t make them terrible; it means I have to look elsewhere. Similarly, citrus fruit scents don’t blend well with my chemistry, so I am cautious when I try them.
Your review left the impression that you are younger, fragrantically inexperienced, and perhaps a bit petulant: “I didn’t like it, therefore it’s awful, and all of you are crazy or really old if you do like it.”
A scent that has been around for more than two decades and continues to sell is not awful or for really old people. It’s called “classic”.
As my very proper southern Grandmother used to tell me when I forgot my manners, “Moderate your tone, darling.”
Ciara is a perfect snapshot of a time and place, which is perhaps why some who don’t understand its context don’t like it. It is the 1970’s women’s lib, I-am-woman-hear-me-roar scent. Like Enjoli, Charlie, Tabu, etc., this was Not-Your-Mom-the-50s-Housewife’s perfume. This perfume is all about straight up, in your face attitude. Love me or hate me, but get out of my way, with a puff of cigarette smoke in your face. It’s not feminine — it’s womanly. Confident, self-aware, and comfortable in your own skin. Longevity is astonishing.
I once wore this scent to a dear friend’s bachelor party. I sprayed it without planning ahead, as it suited my mood that day. But as luck would have it, the bachelor party was at a steak restaurant with a private humidor, and cigar smoking. Much to my surprise, I was the Belle of the Ball: a lone woman guest at a bachelor party with a bunch of guys smoking cigars that did not overwhelm my Ciara. The simple black dress and heels complimented it all perfectly, and I had a delightful evening. ‘Nuff said!
ksa8010 – :
Ciara (I have the 100 strength) is basically the embodiment of confident elegance. Ciara is rich, opulent, and complex and belies the crazy-low price tag (though the 200 strength can be quite pricey).
I imagine Diane Lockhart (the Good Wife) entering the board room and every head turning to look her way in respectful, appreciative silence, her power and femininity equally prominent and riveting.
If you’re a little shrinking violet, unsure-of-yourself wallflower, this is absolutely not the fragrance for you. It has too much presence and makes no apologies for being either female or powerful.
However, if you are a confident (assertive, not brash) woman who knows what she wants and can provide it for yourself without apology, this will go quite well with your -pencil-skirt power suit, silk charmeuse blouse, and patent leather stilettos.
machin – :
Myer had this in a box of other Revlon sale items today, so I sprayed a generous amount on my arm and roamed off around the shopping centre. Oh dear, not for me, it’s reminiscent of incense combined with a cheap air freshener on me. I eventually washed it off three times soaping up and rubbing the sprayed arm, rinsing, drying. I could still smell it hours later. I truly wish I could love this as its sooo cheap and mega lasting.
Longevity 10/10
Sillage 9/10
david19770622 – :
In 1973 I started wearing Ciara. Wore it for YEARS! As I made more money I ventured out to try some of the higher end perfumes (from France). Yes I found a few that I really liked and even fewer that I loved. Recently I found a nearly full bottle of Ciara in my perfume collection…..yes, you guessed it. I am now wearing Ciara again. I had forgotten how much I love this perfume. I have a little left of the 200 strength and a full bottle of the 80% and 100%. I see that the 200% is going for top dollar, over 200.00. That’s okay, the 100% strength is good and at least reasonable in price. I love Ciara now and then and always. It’s the perfect scent for me. I also love Coco Chanel, Shalimar (various versions), Givenchy Indecence, Opium, Dune and other perfumes (I have near 100) of various natures. Ciara is feminine and it seems it draws compliments regularly. In my old house I sprayed Ciara on every day, when I moved, my friend bought my house and said she could still smell my Ciara which reminded her of me. (I had moved out of state). So yes, it was my most favorite signature perfume.
galym6 – :
I did a review for Ciara last year when I first got it. I wasn’t bowled over with it but I persisted and thought I’d found it to be useful in layering.
A colleague where I work wears it…she only wears Ciara, day in day out, no matter the season, it’s her signature scent, turning her nose up at some of my “luxury” fragrances like Shalimar! I didn’t dislike Ciara on her so I decided to try wearing it again. And just like my experience with Tabu, in no time at all I found myself reaching for it all the time!
Now, I’ve developed a great love for Ciara. She’s like a confident woman with a great sense of self, but isn’t pushy. A strong exterior but feminine on the inside.
What a fabulous fragrance! It’s been around for ages but hasn’t dated. And it’s incredibly cheap. If it were in a fancy shmancy bottle, with high end marketing and a price tag to match, I’m sure it would be revered as a great vintage style fragrance. I think I’m going to stock up!
kirill 29 – :
Damn I would like this a lot better if there was no ylang ylang in it. That flower note always turns to hot-dog beefy smell on my skin, I kid you not. One time I bought a small bottle of the essential oil and only a few drops I smelled like a backyard cookout all day. I just can’t wear this, good thing it was only a small, inexpensive bottle. Air freshener in the bathroom I guess.
Каорина – :
I have the 80 strength. The first few minutes i get patchouli and a touch of citrus,not my thing.
But once it settles into my chemistry, it transforms into vanilla incense with a little powdery softness. It doesnt stay strong and cloying on me. Instead,it softly snuggles me all day.
This is a fragrance that either loves your skin or rebels against it. Fortunately,Ciara and I are good friends.
jin762InsuffBooni – :
Charles Revson version in perfume concentrate.
The initial fruity candy opening startled me a bit when sprayed it for the first time. After couples of wears, it does not bother me as much but is still quite sweet to my taste. Luckily, the opening quickly goes away and becomes a powdery floral which lasts for a long time. Clearly, it is loaded with orris root. After 8 hours, it dries down to one of the most beautiful incense accords. For me, it is what I have been looking for as a perfect incense. It is not sweet at all and not bitter or harsh either. It has the right balance of myrrh, sandalwood, musk and opoponax. The vanilla gives it a smooth and round finish. I wish this stage would last much longer. Overall, I enjoy wearing it.
patron115 – :
A bottle from my mothers friend who passed away is now in my possession.
Its a splash bottle from the 70’s with a black lid and a considerable amount still left.
It actually smelt very sweet at first. I got citruses and orris root and after a while the leather and opoponax came through and i finally started recognising the scent that I smelt on my mother all those years.
Now that it has been about an hour the sweetness has disbursed and I’m getting a touch of bitterness.
Such a wonderfully classy, rich scent.
I will probably pass it on to someone who adores it more though.
idespible – :
This is a review for a vintage bottle. How can something this cheap smell this good? This is a fragrance that works backwards on me – at the start I get all the base notes, the woody, incensey, oriental blast, but with something in it that makes it smell entirely unique – I have never known any other fragrance smell quite like this (what IS it?). I wore it to go to bed, and by morning, it smelled like heaven (about nine hours later!) – wonderfully sherbety and vanillic, like a fabulous sweetshop. It’s still with me, now 11 hours later – powdery, sweet, vanillic, nag champa. A real powerhouse fragrance – apply with caution.
jam1377 – :
Charmingly old-timey lemony soapy in the opening, extremely feminine. Like Chantilly dialed down from caricature levels. Shortly transforms to a more becoming and freshly-fruitily uplifting pleasing presence that’s still grounded in something woody or fibrous, almost tar-like but with absolutely no smokiness. Smells like a nice potpourri. I really like it.
Xpert – :
When I was in high school in the late 70’s a lot of girls wore Ciara (or Jontue or Love’s Musky Jasmine). I remembered Ciara, but it didn’t really make much of an impression on me. I smelled it and thought “it’s nice”. Then about a two weeks ago, I was at a flea market and thi