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romabespaly.ru – :
I blind bought this on amazon a while ago and it was the best decision I ever made when it comes to buying fragrances. On me this is opoponax heavy with some vanilla and citrus notes coming through every so often. The only downfalls for me are the sillage and longevity. It starts out strong but dries down rather quickly. I still consider this to be my signature scent though. I have the reformulated version. I would love to compare it to the original one day if I can get a hold of one. All in all I absolutely am head over heels in love with this scent. Definitely a 5/5 scent despite having a couple of downfalls.
langford214 – :
This is quite heavy and unpleasant during the first few minutes, but then it tames down and it smells amazing. The unpleasant heavy, thick, incense-y note that hits at first disappears and a sweet balsamic scent remains. The sillage is medium to poor, the longevity is also poor, the scent resisting only a few hours.
pavelurinyov – :
If you are interested in vintages read on, if you are not, please skip this review.) Emeraude (1921) is invariably compared to Shalimar (1925), but when you are dealing with perfumes with nearly 100-year old trajectories, comparisons are complicated. Perhaps a very specific comparison would be helpful? Some time ago, I applied two dabs of Emeraude perfume to one arm, from each of my two bottles–a very very vintage one (1930’s?) and a fairly vintage one (1960’s?). I put some 1980’s Shalimar extrait on the other. First, I perceive that the citrus openings are different. A juicy, almost mouthwatering bergamot note fairly explodes from my ancient Emeraude, which fell into my hands in almost perfect condition. I get the same bergamot in my 1960’s Emeraude, but it is not quite as delicious as my older one.) In contrast, the citrus opening of Shalimar is more astringent and lemon-y, although I believe it is still bergamot. Then, the starkest difference emerges, in what I always think of as Shalimar’s “gasolina” phase. Some people perceive this note as leather (but not me). Shalimar’s petrochemical vibe almost put me off completely, but I have learned to stick it out until it softens and turns into a smoky quasi-animalic counterpoint to the florals, vanilla, and myrrh that both perfumes possess. I’ve read that Shalimar’s gasolina may be due to Jacques Guerlain’s conscious selection of a less purified synthetic vanillin, and if that’s right, it does seem like a real stroke of genius, and more evidence of Guerlain’s ability to beat Coty at his own game, because it makes Shalimar a much more compelling, alluring, and provocative perfume than Emeraude in the long run. In contrast, I always feel a bit prim and proper when I wear Emeraude, no matter how much I attempt to evoke the intense glamour of the ladies depicted in the vintage Emeraude ads. TL;DR: Try both, vintage fans.
forzheka – :
One of my mom’s favorites. She said it’s her “everyday” perfume, while Shalimar is for “nicer” occasions. To me, this is spicy powder. I normally *hate* powdery fragrances, but the spice redeems it a bit.
kafke – :
Thanks so much for your fantastic review, Labaloo. The way you have placed Emeraude in its historical setting means it makes sense when I smell it. Even a few months ago I wouldn’t have been able to get my head around Emeraude. Now, if there was room on my top shelf in Fragrantica, it would be there.
I received my blind buy of the current formulation last week and thought it was unbelievably beautiful from first sniff. This is an Opoponax I like. The Amber, vanilla and sandalwood sweeten the whole. Sometimes I find sandalwood a bit cloying, but it is gorgeous in this.
All I can add to Labaloo’s review, is to suggest is that, with fragrances which fall outside current trends, keep trying them from time to time. If a particular vintage fragrance continues to be a firm no, fair enough, but you might just (re)discover a gem in the future.
Lana8160 – :
If I had smelt Emeraude just a few years ago, I would have immediately disliked it. It is “removed” even from my sense of taste in fragrance which was molded by intense exposure while growing up and coming of age surrounded by the big chypres and aromatic fougeres of the ’70’s and ’80’s. To my nose, they were very “modern”, while scents like Emeraude and Shalimar were of another era. Not even my grandmothers’ era (1940’s-50’s) of scents like Chanel #5, but my GREAT-grandmothers’ era.
But they were young once, too, just like all of us. Imagine being a sophisticated “modern” woman of the 1920’s, when arte nouveau and high Victorian was still clinging, and art deco was emerging as its own, distinctly “fresh” style, touching everything in fashion and architecture. And times *were* changing rapidly back then… Going to movies was all the rage, playing card-games and mah-jong with friends and the radio playing swanky jazz, and for the very-boldest: sneaking into speakeasies for some bootleg martinis with the chic crowd. Women finally had the right to vote, and many were embracing their own independence and powerful sense of femininity.
These are the images that come to mind when I spritz on a little vintage Emeraude nowadays. The younger me wouldn’t be able to “connect” with that long-lost time, but now I do so with fascination, and great appreciation for the lives my great-grandmothers lead back then in the roaring ’20’s when they were young women coming into their own.
obrazz-t – :
My sister once broke a bottle of this in our room as kids. It was something she’d cajoled our grandma into giving her. Long story short, I cannot bear the smell of this—on anyone. For months it’s all I could smell in my room! Thick, choking powder, toxic aldehyde, sour fruits/bugspray. Oh my goodness. It’s probably the most atrocious thing ever to assault my olfactory senses. No offense to anyone who loves this, I’m simply stating my honest opinion on the fragrance. It’s absolutely awful. I don’t understand the love for this one!
xXxXenusxXx – :
Vintage Emeraude, you surprised me! Assuming your scent would match your color I was surprised by citrus and a little spice. A green oriental! Blind buys are risky, but this one’s an affordable treasure. Not too strong, just strong enough, I love to reapply this scent throughout the day. A little old lady fragrance, in the best way possible. So glad to have found Emeraude!
pustovaya – :
LOVE it. Warm and slightly spicy! With an undercurrent of voluptuous powder! Such an outstanding bargain and perfume!❤️
I have both current and vintage,love them both! Wafts wonderfully.
Just a note,my current new one seems a bit skankier than my mellow vintage one!go figure!
mekshoon – :
Emeraude is the very first perfume I was given as a young girl. Between its reputation as a classic, its easy drugstore availability and its low price, I don’t think it was associated with a particular age group at the time. (Mid 1960s.) It would not have been unusual for mothers to “pass on” to their daughters a scent they remembered wearing themselves. (This multi-generational perception was falling out of favor by the 90s, as can be attested to by my mother-in-law’s nostalgic gift of Emeraude to my very modern teenage daughter, who was simply mystified by it.)
It was certainly pretty in the bottle, but I didn’t feel any particular connection to the scent. Citrusy and woodsy? I can’t recall a clear impression, but if I got a whiff of some today I’m sure I would recognize it, which might be an interesting memory jolt.
drozd324 – :
I’m sorry but in my opinion it’s the worst perfume ever made. The name is pretty though and I like the green juice
About 4 years ago I worked with a co-worker that wore a perfume that nauseated me.I bought this perfume blindly and low and behold it’s that perfume my coworker wore. I don’t like it one bit. After I sprayed it I immediately recognized the smell and tried to wash it off but I could still smell that nasty old dust funeral home smell. I’ll be giving this big bottle away. Absolutely repulsive smell for me I’m sorry if I offend anyone I’m just saying this perfume is death in a bottle.
lalin – :
Yeah, I can kind of see the similarity to Shalimar; this has the smokiness that Shalimar has, but definitely not a dupe. Emeraude at first spray on me has an unexpected slight sweetness, and then a soft smokiness comes out. Not overpowering like I kind of anticipated, but then I only do about 1.5 light, quick spritzes. Boring bottle, but at the inexpensive price point, guess ya can’t complain. Lasting power is all day, sillage is moderate to heavy, depending on how many spritzes.
kitanin – :
This is a softer, warmer, simpler, less astringent version of Melograno by Santa Maria Novella. I own both and would be satisfied in just buying Emeraude from now on. They both satisfy my want and desire to smell like a barber shop (even though I’m a woman, and I love them both for it). I’m not sure if this comment will be moderated or not, as I have found that if you search online for any mention of a similar fragrance to Melograno it yields no results (really, on the ENTIRE internet? seems fishy)… But I can say with confidence that Emeraude and Melograno are at least cousins, and you can buy Emeraude at the drugstore. It is such a beautiful fragrance for the price.
bonoonello7521 – :
I have a couple of vintage bottles of Emeraude pdt stashed away. I can see the comparison to Shalimar – they share some notes – amber, oppoponax, vanilla, etc., but they’re not really that much alike, to my nose. Emeraude has a top note like a freshly broken citrus rind when its oil is released in a tiny spray. I looooove that part. And there is a sandalwood component, too, I think, that I don’t get in Shalimar. I never wear Emeraude out anywhere. I feel too shy to smell like this in public, making people sneeze and complain. I don’t wear it at home either because Houbigant Chantilly is my at-home scent. Maybe I could wear Emeraude for Mardi Gras or Halloween, an occasion to be costumed.
blodyMarry – :
I bought this in an EDC, the “vase” like glass flower bottle, about 1.8 oz I think. It was nice.
I then tried an vintage EDC in a huge 60s/70s? 8 ounce bottle. And I like it more.
I don’t get Shalimar tho. I get more L’Heure Bleue powder/florals with a tiny bit of Shalimar, all watered down to an EDC– which is still decent in terms of lasting power and sillage.
There IS something green/emerald to this, I just can’t tell what it’s coming from.
L’HB to me smells like FANCY white toilet paper— the best money can buy. Charmin has that powdery smell. Emeraude has that powder too. I really don’t get the base notes or anything chypre/spicy/patchouli/woody. But I enjoy it for what it is. You can find the HUGE old 8oz colognes for under $20 on ebay, and I say DO IT!
Emeraude to me is a SCENT that can’t be picked apart note by note. Just enjoy it. I love the vintage cologne for bedtime.
Pessockie – :
My mom wore this in the 1970s when I was growing up. It gave me headaches then. I bought the current formulation at Walgreen’s for nostalgia’s sake and find it to be very wearable, light, powdery, with fresh citrus facets. It’s not as heavy and cloying as I remember. A good, cozy bedtime fragrance. I think it is different enough from Shalimar to justify owning both (and I do). Emeraude may not be as complex, but sometimes that’s what you need. It’s a love for sure.
wlodek-kw – :
Mine arrived today. I can’t believe as a teenager I disliked this so much. I misunderstood her. Most young ones did not know the value of these wonderful fragrances because the majority want sweeeeeet candy carmel,fruity scents. But I know there are some youths who would try this. These are the ones who want to stand out of the crowd. As the years went by, I appreciated those fragrances that were heavy orientals, ambers, leathers, chypre. This is an art form for those who are NOSES in the perfume business to put these liqueurs together.
Now to get back to why I wanted to turn the clocks back as regards past perfumes. They don’t make them like they use to! Regulations, restrictions, folks with allergies and the like has cause so many changes. So I started to look for “old” vintage discontiuned perfumes.
Even though you may find an old perfume, sometimes the ump is a little strained but it has that quality that can’t be duplicated by synthetic scents. So I hated Emeraude because my boss wore it everyday! I did not appreciate her. Now I do! Found the parfum in a dram. Oh the heaviness of her. Wow! I finally love her!
VTLS – :
Got a lrg vintage in a swap and this is GLORIOUS! Just so good, much better than shalimar to me,,because it’s lacking the leather! Oh yeah,,it’s gooood!
yilmazc6 – :
Emeraude and Shalimar favor each other a lot! Almost as if they are cousins. I do have both in my small collection of fragrances. Both of them have been around since the 1920’s so that should tell you something right there. They are a classic and have stood the test of time. Lots of people are still loving and purchasing these fragrances today. The price is very inexpensive…how can you go wrong with a classic.
Juras85 – :
I love the vintage fragrances in late fall and winter and Emeraude is not disappointing me. I sprayed some on tonight after bath and it is soft powder with a balsamic quality. It is comforting and mysterious at the same time.
I think this was too mature for me when I was young which I am no longer. I can appreciate it’s loveliness in a way i could not.
arcadii – :
Emeraude has been in production since the 20’s.
Another fragrance that is still well liked by many.
Elegant.
FASAN76 – :
I wore this as a preteen, it’s always reminded me of Christmas candy. A very different perfume compared to others affordable to the average young person at that time.
vov4ikFear13 – :
A lighthearted Shalimar with extra powder, I think this must have been terribly popular in the ’70’s because it reminds me of the office I worked in back then.
I would happily wear this anywhere, it’s lovely, slightly oriental and powdery, and a huge bargain to top it all off.
matrixtoll – :
UPDATE: I was not overly thrilled with this when I first purchased it; but now, it is a Love. I guess all the perfume in the sprayer just needed to be used up. First blast was citrus/powder, now it is a vanillic powder with just the slightest bit of resin. I still do not agree that this is Shalimar’s clone (or vice versa). I still love Shalimar but Emeraude is quite beautiful in its own way, too.
This was an impulse buy, as a new perfume is definitely NOT something I absolutely needed right now lol. I bought it fully understanding that it has been reformulated and I was expecting the “vintage-y” scent.
I will admit that I was curious about the resemblance to Shalimar (one of my favorites). As others have stated, I can see how Emeraude used to be, and it deeply saddens me that it no longer retains its beauty.
Is it a bad scent? No, not at all. It is a soft, slightly spicy, slightly balsamic, powdery scent. It’s just that I can smell ghosts of the strength and richness that once belonged to it running through the bare-bones reformulation.
Emeraude would be a best-seller again if Coty would reinvest the time and money to bring back what it was. As it stands now, it is a pleasant, easy to wear fragrance. It just lacks the depth that would transform it into the extraordinary.
Wowana – :
I have this perfume as well as Shalimar and I can see the similarities. To me Emeraude is just the top notes of Shalimar were shalimar develops into a smokey ambery warmth this one keeps the citrus through out which makes it brighter. So I can wear this during the day even in summer whereas Shalimar is reserved for more formal events in cooler weather. I know this is an “older” perfume and some of the younger women might be afraid to smell too mature but give it a try at the very least you will smell UNIQUE among all the fruity florals and citrus girls out there. Im 24 and always get complimented on the older formulations Emeraude, chantilly,white shoulders. No one is ever able to guess what im wearing because no one in my age range seems to wear it.It is intriguing to men and women.
EDIT. Maybe more people would want to try these more often if these had an update bottle design. I can see why people think this is the most ancient thing ever, the ugly bottles. Look past the bottle because the perfume inside is still fresh young and lovely.
max4743 – :
I dont understand why everyone keeps saying this is similar to Shalimar. Dates say this was before Shalimar, so i think should say Shalimar is similar to this. Along with the other classics Guerlain made similar to Coty frags.. Im a big fan of Guerlain for sure, but starting to get into other vintage Houses and Coty is rising to the top for my searching. Lol
jeospetunsony – :
Dix_DeVandeux – no kidding. Me too. Exact person and memory.
mydafon – :
To lisirish, you are entitled to your opinion. The beauty of Fragrantica is that you can state what works for you and what does not. Also, with this site, you are free to look up the notes and identify what it may be that does not work for you. We all have different chemistry and a nose or temperament that seeks out certain fragrances we can be comfortable in . It is good that you were honest. Emeraude and Shalimar continue to be saught after because to some us the mix works well. A friend of mine said she was walking on campus one day and a young man came up to her, squared her at the shoulders, then stuck his nose to her neck saying “you are the one wearing Shalimar.” Then he walked away. Now that is female power, and for a lesser price women can have that with Emeraude which is a touch more powdery than Shalimar but still quite alluring. So, maybe someday you will have that experience, and too, some of these frags just are born to radiate with the seasons. For some, perhaps Emeraude and Shalimar are better for them in winter or fall. That factors in as well. All of my Emeraude is vintage now and I still like it. Cannot speak of any reformulation that I know of, and Coty is still a fine house.
ilya4171 – :
I’m going to probably get lynched for this but,
This is hands down the most wretched smelling Perfüme. My first encounter with it was probably in the very late 1960’s, early seventies. I saw the pretty bright green bottle in the bathroom on the guest vanity, I loved the name “Emeraude” and (what little girl doesn’t like Emeralds?). Anyway, … It was so awful, so strong I could NOT get the smell off for days. That’s when mom taught me about spraying Perfüme properly. However, the smell of Emeraude was so awful it traumatized me and stayed with me for years. Up until today. Yes. It was That bad.
Well, forty years later I came across it again… after reading the notes in it, …I started thinking, why not? Well, … I Sprayed, I was Nauseated, I Gagged, I got a headache, I Hated it. Gave me a blasting headache that lasted for an entire day. I don’t typically get headaches. There’s a reason this cologne is only $7.a quart. It smells like it.
I’m sorry to offend those that love this one. But, it’s brass, sharp, over powering, spicy, and strong. Reminds me of the cheap Jovan musks for men back in the 1970’s. I have always wanted to try Guerlain’s ;”Shalimar”. But, I’ve read here in these posts that Emeraude is a ringer for Shalimar. If that’s the case. I’ll skip trying Shalimar. I don’t think I could handle the ride.
I don’t mean to offend anyone. But, this one is definitely not for me. Absolutely Gastly. Yuk
МихаилVS – :
Emeraude was my paternal Grandmother’s signature scent, and as a child, I used to think it was the best smelling perfume ever. My associations with this fragrance are that of warmth and comfort–inviting. In my mind, I feel the fragrance might be somewhat dated; however, if it’s gone through any reformulation and been toned down some, it could be pulled-off by a more mature woman (30+)–or perhaps a younger girl, with an old soul, could rock Emeraude if she used it in moderation–in fact, I should like to make her acquaintance.
irenko-kisulya – :
To me it’s copy of the route sur de Mexique… Shalimar…. shalimar Shalimar…..
Loves dont pay too much Guerlain… this thing is a sister twin of Shalimar !
vovavova555 – :
This is very similar to Shalimar but the current version of Emeraude does not have the same level of quality that Guerlain has maintained with Shalimar. Honestly, that’s not really a bad thing, IMO. If anything, it makes Emeraude much easier to wear. Because Emeraude isn’t as heavy or long lasting as Shalimar, it’s more suitable during warm weather or casual outings. I can wear Emeraude to the grocers or doctor’s office at 9:00 a.m. and not feel like I’m drawing unnecessary attention to myself; I can’t say the same about Shalimar. Now, having said that, I’m unlikely to wear Emeraude for a very formal affair whereas I wouldn’t hesitate to do so with Shalimar. Overall and particularly for its price, Emeraude is a very nice perfume that I’m happy to have in my collection.
herringboness – :
A dear fragrantica friend sent me a decant of vintage Emeraude and the similarity to Shalimar is astonishing. I was not expecting it to be THAT close! The only difference is the citrus top notes are lime instead of Bergamot, and there is no leather, it’s not as animalic. the vanilla is every bit as delicious. I have to remind myself that Emeraude came first 😉 I don’t think I could buy a new bottle after smelling this, I would probably be sorely disappointed but I will definitly be looking into purchasing a vintage FB very soon.
vpi – :
Question: Does anyone know if, kept in a hix, this one might still go bad? I remember this fragrance from my childhood, (1980s) so I picked up a bottle at Walgreens. I wound up taking it back because the cap was busted, but I spritzed some on my arm before I went back in the store. Turns out, I wasn’t too upset about it because it smelled horrendous to me. Not at all what I remember, which was much more powdery.
дед Мазай – :
Emeraude (1921) by Francois Coty is a refreshing aromatic Oriental vanilla a predecessor to Shalimar by Guerlain. I don’t care for the comparison and I wear both frags and love them both equally. Epithets like ‘drugstore cheapie’ or even worse ‘Shalimar dupe’ which it most certainly isn’t, are not necessary. Through the good people at eBay I purchased a vintage Emeraude and not the reformulation which sells in drugstores. The vintage is a splash bottle made of glass in a fitted box. I had a girlfriend whose mother used to wear the reformulated Emeraude in the green cardboard box and I thought that scent, too, was pleasant. She often wore floor length maxi dresses avocado green or moss-green colors with a green headband. This was the 1970’s. When I first smelled it on her I assumed the fragrance was created in the 70’s because it does have a green is good floral green aroma that was quite common in the decade. Sometimes, too, the scent reminded me of a more luxurious car freshener, you know, those pine tree thingies you hang up next to the driver’s seat to scent the car with. The reformulation sells today and has been the epitome of cheap perfume for the longest time. Cheaply priced that is. The scent is out of this world and far more expensive in it’s composition. The nose behind this fragrance was Monsieur Coty himself. After wearing the orignal Chypre (a winner if you haven’t experienced it you should) I thought I’d check out the vintage original Emeraude.
Emeraude was one of the innovative new category of perfume at the dawn of the 1920’s. It has more in common with Guerlain’s Mitsouko than with the later Shalimar to which it has been likened. It opens with hesperidic citruses that recall the Shalimar opening. Bergamot orange oil, pungent lemon and straight up orange. There is a medicinal quality to the opening. The citruses are quite sharp and I would not call them very fresh. For me the opening was as green as the color of the liquid and the packaging, the whole emerald theme. How did Coty do it? How did he evoke that specific color and jewel? This is a dark green fragrance, emerald-green, with an elusive flame of light within the depths. Green she is but not in the style of a chypre though it has those elements as well. Once those citruses settle down, the scents that reach my nose are the rosewood, sandalwood, patchouli and Evernia Prunastri as in oak moss. Herbal, aromatic, green plant leaves, vines and shrubs wrap you up, entangled in a deep jungle. In this sense it does smell of a chypre but there’s more.
The floral notes of ylang ylang rose and jasmine come through but they are not soft whispers of flowers. Rather they are heated and smoky like the breath of a dragon. Smoky floral notes as if to evoke floral incense. The rose note is certainly a Turkish rose oil kind of scent, with an incense in the background. The Oriental floral nature of the perfume is unisex, not feminine. Because the incense and subsequently the sandalwood and musk give the scent a hefty and deeper darker Gothic air, this is totally wearable for a man. I would advise the gentleman to use only a small amount of the perfume so that it won’t throw out the atomic energy it has which might come off as loud old lady Church perfume. In smaller doses, this is a much more relaxed and soothing green tea scent without having any such note as green tea.
The dry notes in the denouement of Emeraude appear to be sandalwood, amber musk and vanilla. For me the vanilla was noticeable but it is not as pronounced as the vanilla in Shalimar. In Emeraude the amber musk and woods are front and center. This is as much an amber based fragrance as it is a green musk. I would have to describe that musk as a leather, a green leather, and has a definite civet sort of bite. This is powerful stuff. It smells of ancient jungles, temple incense, and like other reviewers have accurately described in their reviews, Emeraude is a fragrant description of India. That would make sense since it’s an Oriental fragrance and like Shalimar it’s meant to whisk you away to an exotic locale like India. For me it takes me back to one of the most exotic of my own travels in my lifetime – the Ellora Kailash temple in Maharashtra India. Emeraude has that ancient temple in the jungle type of scent. The fragrance is citrusy, aromatic, herbal, floral, warm, nocturnal, musky, green, woodsy and smoky. It’s best worn at night with evening wear, formal, very formal, black tie affairs and fancy dinners.
Absolutely beautiful. The original vintage is hard to pull off as it is a big splash of moss and musk due to age but the new formula is best worn in the autumn and winter months. The scent is a warm amber and wood, a smoky burnt vanilla. Thus, the fragrance lacks the sweetness and freshness of summer or spring season scents. Highly recommended to vintage fragrance fans, gender-benders, and serious perfumer students who are interested in exploring the older classic formula notes that contained this mixture of citrus, florals, incense, vanilla animalic notes and amber. Emeraude has something for everyone. I also like to layer Emeraude with Shalimar to really give off a jungle aroma! I wear this to dinners but usually the right kind of dinner like a Thai restaurant or any Asian or Indian food restaurant.
ddi385InsuffBooni – :
I just bought a bottle of Shalimar, and I knew it was reminding me of something from my childhood. I’m almost certain that Emeraude is what I’m remembering! My mom kept some extra Emeraude lotion my bathroom and I remember wearing it from time to time after a bath. Now I know what I love to wear Shalimar to bed after a hot shower. So comforting.
Redaarenrynus – :
This one is most desirable to me because it is so soft. Definitely not one of the ‘beat you over the head’ perfumes. Drawbacks include the green coloring in the actual juice. Not sure I could get over that.
sergey-ss – :
Honestly, I can’t see a woman wearing this in its current incarnation. However, I could totally understand an Old Spice-style gender switch. This is pure barber talc in a bottle, and really adds a fresh, masculine vibe to the wearer. In winter, it’s a steady go-to.
clomidnow – :
A warm, cozy cashmere blanket of a fragrance. This is Shalimar after she takes off her heels, takes a shower, applies lotion and powder and slips into bed. Still the same personality, but even a femme fatale needs a cozy blanket. It’s old fashioned without being dated, evocative of an era bygone but not out of place in a modern setting at all, just like Shalimar. Hard not to love! Btw, I find this ageless. I’m in my early twenties and have been wearing it since my late teens (albeit mostly at home and before bed back then). Now I consider it more of a daytime/anytime Shalimar that still retains the characteristics of Shalimar that I love, unlike most modern Shalimar flankers. No disrespect to those either, I love them, but they don’t give me that sex goddess feel, or in Emeraude’s case, more casual sex goddess feel. They feel far more safe and ladylike. Emeraude may be softer and cleaner but it still screams roaring twenties to me, but in a way that still suits modern tastes. Like Shalimar, Emeraude is a true timeless fragrance.
bbgggdeerrr – :
It smelt like cat pee soon afterwards. I am sure there is civet in there. The body-powder was better but it has talc which I stay away from now. Seeing people compare this with Shalimar which is another one I don’t like now I see why.
katushka – :
To declare Emeraude by Coty reformulation smells cheap is to say the iris is an ugly flower. I’ve heard it said of both to my abhorrence. They are both beautiful.
Emeraude doesn’t have iris in it but has that powdery dry down that reminds me of Guerlain Shalimar Parfum Initial. I love the large bergamot opening the note that stands out to me in stark contrast to the rest that mystify identification. Emeraude is soft and stays close to the skin.
Very feminine and so unlike the bombastic fragrances of the 80s, though I love those too. For plus-minus $14, you can have a historic perfume. I’m glad Coty still makes Emeraude, even if it’s not exactly the same as 1921 version. I imagine this might have been a fragrance my grandmother wore in her day — it is reminiscent and cheerful. But it is not old lady.
What woman, or man, doesn’t like emeralds?
ppj292Diobtetty – :
I think mine is a very familiar tale, we smell Emeraude and memories wash through all the times in the past our loved women in our lives have worn this. Mine, like many, reminds me of my grandmother.
My grandmother wore Opium most of the time in her later years but I confirmed with my mother that she did continue to wear her former signature scent, my memory of her was right. The current version available in all of those convenient online and drugstore locations smells just like I remember, especially in the dry down after the scent had softened over the course of hours.
Emeraude is almost a linear fragrance, not too many notes competing for attention and changing after dry down. Not truly sweet, it is not tart, nor sour or pungent but balancing those aspects. She will not throw musky animals on your skin nor toss giant chunks of fresh cut wood, Emeraude prefers to wrap everything in her fashion with a silky bow.
A gentle wind carrying the blooms of an orchard and a carefully tended garden with woods and earth warmed by the sun. Gentle but present, not imposing, timeless, comforting and confident. A woman that views age as experience and feels avant-garde wishes to wear her and make her one of many when she already loves who and what she is.
There is no comparison perhaps, Emeraude is her own woman, but she greets Poison Tendre and Jennifer Lopez Still as her younger kin.
Today’s version has taken some of the giant boldness and turned it into an easier to wear memory in a bottle, suitable for almost any occasion from office to evening.
frosteld – :
I bought a small bottle of the current formulation (so I can’t speak to the original or vintage version of this). I was hoping to love this, but within minutes it smells identical to baby powder on my skin, which just isn’t one of my favorite scents. I’m sure vintage Emeraude is lovely!
harri – :
I know everyone compares this to Shalimar but I have to agree with those who feel it has a Chantilly (by Dana) vibe to it. Especially in the opening. Cheap and Chic y