Description
Jicky was created in 1889. It is a classical fragrance and, despite the age, it is timeless and still very modern. According to the legend, the perfume was named after a girl Aime Guerlain was in love with when he was a student in England. It is more likely, though, that this perfume is named after his uncle Jacques Guerlain’s nickname – Jicky. This was one of the first perfumes created with addition of synthetic materials (the first was Fougere Royale Houbigant, 1882). The top notes contain lavender and citrus (bergamot, lemon and mandarin), which perfectly match the cold, metallic orris and rose shaded by vetiver. The cold top and middle notes are an elegant counterbalance to the warm base created of patchouli, vanilla, amber and musk. As Guerlain has always paid a lot of attention to design of flacons, this bottle is also attractive and original: it is designed in a shape of 19th century medicine bottle with champagne cork shaped stopper.
jisappeaf – :
Emma0714:
“Screechy and unpleasant” opening?
The Jicky created by Aime Guerlain begins like the best Mozart concerto: No dissonant chords, no flaws, and nothing not to love about it.
It is all harmony, elegance, ecstasy…
I’m sorry, but the batch you tried must have been damaged or altered somehow.
Medod949elipseskism – :
A grand Fougère with a semi-Oriental side and blatant sensuality… An astounding masterpiece of modernity, audacity, and refinement. The extract, before the infamous reformulations, was one the most exquisite and sensual things you can ever imagine… Today if you want to experience the real Jicky, will have to visit the Osmotheque in Versailles, or the Champs-Elysees boutique in Paris (by appointment only)… Or, if you get lucky, you may find a well preserved vintage juice on Ebay. 🙂
dodatko1979 – :
Like most of Guerlains fragrances, they almost always start with a soundcheck before the orchestra stars playing in harmonies. And the soundcheck of “Jicky in D minor” is especially screechy and unpleasant.
First spritz of this is literally feces, morningbreath and some kind of meat boiling with cloves, cinnamon and tomatosauce.
Then some sort of kaleidoscope action starts to happen:
First turn: The shards fall to form a dandy- ish barbershop fragrance, and letting out pleasant wiffs of dried lavender and lemon zest.
Second turn: The vanilla and leather kicks in. The shards form a familiar pattern of a bottle of Shalimar.
Third turn: Pears original soap! And… warm breath. And human.. crevices..
Maybe that is what make it so sexy. It actually smells like a naked body at the end of the day. The musky notes of the perfume left closest to the body that you can only feel if you are buring your nose in naked skin.
Jicky is like almost all Guerlain classics, some sort of performance art! Guerlain makes perfumes that actually feels alive on the skin and developes like no other.
And just thinking about that this originally was formulated in the late 1800’s blows my mind. It’s like I get to FEEL a bit of history.
zoro – :
Classic, very French, absolutely timeless. Like Marie Antoinette’s sunny hamlet, lavender and grazing sheep, Guerlain vanilla drydown. Still smells great after all this time.
Aerohoplenericca – :
Jicky to me is what perfumery is all about. Nostalgic and a beautiful mix of notes, blended beautifully. Shoot, Jicky was not even created in the 20th century. So it is definitely an oldie. A treasure. A classic. Having said that, Jicky probably won’t appeal to many of the millennials or the young ones. If you love the classics, you will likely like, love, or even appreciate Jicky. This is not really a powerhouse, but might still come off as rather strong to some noses.
I can’t really pick up specific notes, this is more about the accords for me. Very aromatic, definitely fresh and citrus, with a soft spiciness and a soft woodiness. There is a clean-ness to this, and yet there is also an earthiness. Not a “perfumy smell” and not overly feminine, but still absolutely lovely. I find kind sort of a comforting vibe when I wear this (likely the lavender, but the lavender here is subtle for me). The woodiness comes out even more on the dry down for me.
Jicky is one of those rare beauties that you rarely come across but when you do, you know she’s special and different in the best way possible. People will remember this scent (in a good way!); it will not fade to the background like a safe fragrance. Having said that, this might not be office-safe or crowd-friendly.
I see this as a nice fragrance for place of worship, a night at the theatre, a classical concert, a play, the ballet, dinner at a high class restaurant, that sort of thing. Somewhere you kind of have to dress up, as this is not really a casual fragrance. But as always, wear what you want, where and when you want!! 🙂
All day longevity, and not room filling, but I would say still go easy when applying. Two sprays I find is plenty for me, and it lasts a good 12 or more hours.
jolobense – :
Dusty and powdery lavender with hints of complexity: I can only really pick out the suede note in the drydown. Testing from the new beehive EDP bottle, and my only complaint is that I wish Guerlain didn’t turn all their fragrances into a generic beehive (I like the bottle, but miss the old version). And I remember smelling this before the reformulation, and from memory, I did like it better. I feel it projected better and stronger.
This is still a really nice scent, complicated and well blended. I’ve always gotten decent performance though this stays close.
ARABICA 123 – :
Jicky eau de parfum in its current form is not a strong fragrance but it is a rich one. The dry lemony spicy opening and the sweet powdery glow it gives to my skin makes me think of the perfume’s long history but it is still very easy to wear today. The combination of lavender, rosemary and vanilla brings Caron Pour un homme to mind but Jicky has a more dandyish feel today.
Jicky is old fashioned but easy going. The scent has its dirty facets but the old fashioned feel is mostly created by the powdery sweetness, cologne like vibe and complexity that is lacking from many sweeter modern scents. It is very far from the minimalistic masculines of recent times but also doesn’t veer towards overstuffed oriental scents. All is in perfect balance.
The edp doesn’t project strongly but it stick to the skin to the point that I could clearly smell it on my skin after a long swim. The scent itself is very moreish like Caron pour un homme and I love to layer it up heavily. The sprayer is like the spread gun from Contra and that has lead to accidental perfume tasting sessions on two occasions.
My reaction to Jicky initially was a disappointment. I was expecting something animalic and characterful but instead I got something quite relaxed and soft. The scent reminded me of bits and pieces of other Guerlains. In the end those qualities still turned out to be positives. Jicky might remind me of Shalimar for example but I find it considerably more easy to wear as a man. I find it to be a very human smelling perfume, not too clean, not too dirty and very comforting. It is a lovely piece of living history.
sasha_himy – :
I treated myself to the EDT of Jicky on a good sale/price.
And I’m surprised to smell it’s an actual lighter EDT of the EDP. Both current bottles, however the EDT is the NEWEST in the redone white boxes (bee bottles). My EDP of Jicky was bought in the last 1-2 years, but had a gold box.
What the EDT does– it removes that THICK Guerlainaide vanilla/powder. so the EDT is lighter and fresher, less heavy. However– that means without the vanilla/Guerlainaide– this is rather masculine instead of toeing the line between genders. AND– I get a bit more old man breath in the EDT. Once you sniff that halitosis- you don’t forget it. I think that comes from the citrus, spices, and lavender.
I wear Jicky in both forms for myself. I think it’s fun to wear/pretend to be old fashioned. I call my vintage/old scents “time machines”. Because this is def Victorian and old fashioned- but fun.
My EDT was just a tissue test so far, but it had huge sillage and the tissue still has a light soft smell. Kinda linear tho. Almost like an echo. It starts out HUGE and then just dries down- not really changing.
If you like Eau D’Hermes- Jicky EDT is a fun similar scent. I find both those ^^ to be rather masculine, so Jicky EDP is my fave/recommendation.
marikuna – :
I love Guerlain fragrances and own many, including Mitsouku, L’Heure Blue, Shalimar, L’Instant, Vol de Nuit and Samsara. They are all beautiful and distinct. Jicky is no exception. The lavender is done very well – the only fragrance that does it better is Chanel Jersey. I enjoyJicky, but the initial burst of citrus is not quite me. It sets a cheery, chatty kind of tone. I imagine a very extroverted, bubbly and kind-hearted college girl wearing it as she rounds up other students to try out for pep squad. Don’t get me wrong, she’s smart and classy, but she’s just not quite me. The EDT in the bee bottle is weak and, when I do wear it on bright, super green Indiana days, it needs to be reapplied every few hours. It will not get you through your work day, but it would get you through brunch with 5 or 6 of your most chipper besties.
OrdedeNumdamb – :
I really really wanted to love this one, but I will have to settle for “like”.
When testing this, was deciding between Jicky, Shalimar souffle de parfum, Coco Noir and Mouchoir de Monsieur (which my local shop sadly didn’t carry!)
Immediately after spraying, you get that “dirty” lemon/bergamot scent the other reviewers mentioned. It is distinctly citrussy, but there is no lightness, sharpness or anothing you would naturally associate with citrus notes. It is a warm lemon, with a bit of that Guerlinade and “vintage” that you would also smell in Shalimar.
That “dirty” lemon lingered for a good 2 hours on me. It deepened up and the vanilla and leather undertones came to play, but they were always flanked with a distinct bergamot note. After a good 3 hrs you don’t notice Jicky anymore, and I thought the scent had disappeared on me. My SO could still smell it so I think this is just me, or is the nature of the perfume.
We are now a good 17hrs after applying and all I still notice is a deep, soft vanilla with a hint of powderiness.
This is a fragrance with personality, one that needs to match who you are, how you dress, and what you like. If you love dark polished antiques, velvet drapy curtains and old-timey movies, you will love this scent. It is unapologetically different and vintage. I love the Oriental notes in it, but that lemon/bergamot “top coat” dulls the shine of the vanilla and leather for me.
sherem90 – :
I tested the eau de toilette Version in a perfume shop today in Oslo. It reminds me of Shalimar, but not as good. A Winter perfume. I could have this in my Collection even though it’s not a love. It is a legendary perfume.
DJ_BAIZIL – :
Jicky Eau de Toilette. On my skin I get a mix of Chanel no.5, Shalimar and Coco. Warm and spicy. A great scent for cooler weather, I think.
GaRik83 – :
Jicky is a fragrance of summertime sadness. It´s like a beautiful dream about dry rosemary, fading red roses & lavender fields dying in the summer sun. An unforgettable dream about a powdery, dusty, smoky & sweetly herbal scent.
Calming, charming & timeless gem.
darkside5 – :
A love of mine for many years. Recently I had to repurchase a bottle. Meaning it’s the newer formulation, also the new packaging. As I adore Jicky thie newer formulation is not as good as the vintages, but no matter what, it’s still exceptional, and breath taking. It’s a fragrance that stands the test of time. Elegant, classy and more. I always find myself sniffing myself through the day. It has a Shalimar vibe, but less powder and vanilla. With the newer version on initial blast I get heavy citrus. Very fast it subsides. It then moves into a vanilla, Lavender with herbs. I get a balmy feel in the middle. It’s creamy and smooth, slight civet some incense and of course that guerlanaide. It’s whimsically magical in every possible way. This fragrance is very unisex. I would say it’s projection in the newer formulation is moderate and longevity on me is a bit above average.
ForJulie – :
Lavender, vanilla, and halitosis. This is fresh on top of skank in the worst way and I’ve tried the new formula and vintage. Try before you buy because it smells like bad breath and cheap cologne. And I really dig Shalimar but this stuff is just gross.
katomi – :
I have the new EDP, and I’ve not smelled any other formulations. I find it relatively light, which I don’t normally like in a fragrance, however I liked that in the reviews of this formulation only because I was concerned it could be too much to wear out and about in its original strength. My initial impression is that it’s very like Shalimar EDC. I get the leather and vanilla and then the uniquely Jicky herbal and lavender notes that I find in place of the big iris of Shalimar, so it’s less powedery I find. I really like it! I think it will be nice to enjoy this spring and summer where I wouldn’t wear Shalimar in the warmer weather. I’d love to smell the original formula, for comparison sake.
SatBrassy – :
What are they doing at Guerlain with their new bee bottles EDP? I tested Jicky this afternoon before going to the cinema and after the movie the 4 heavy sprays had just turned into a skinscent, a ghost…
nurlanbz – :
A great classic.
Jicky EDP (the recent batch) smells remarkably similar to Shalimar EDT. Replace the leather with lavender, and add more herbs instead of that inviting and heady Shalimar-particular incense.
The lavender here, while potent, is not that pleasantly and characteristically ‘dusty’ smelling lavender. It is different. This is quite dry, yet extremely lovely. Perhaps the dryness of the lavender substitutes for the dry incense in Shalimar. Hence the overall similarity.
There is high quality citrus, there are some herbs, there is that heavenly gender-neutral vanilla… and there is a certain liveliness and optimism that this potion projects. I love it, because I also love Shalimar like no other.
It is unisex, but I’m afraid the modern customer will deem it categorically masculine nowadays. It is certainly not gourmand even with all that vanilla. The lavender blooms late in the drydown, so the scent lingering on your skin does smell slightly on the more masculine side, I’ll admit.
If Shalimar is the sumptuous gardens of India, then Jicky must stand for the gardens of South of France. This kind of breathy lavender makes it decidedly French.
Guerlain recently released a new fragrance fronted by the actress Angelina Jolie that is using more or less the same notes called ‘Mon Guerlain’. Did not have the chance to test that one, but I am imagining that’s perhaps the more-conventionally-and-smootly-feminine interpretation of these notes; again crafted with the prestigious Guerlain edge.
For me, Jicky is flawless. It is quality and decadence housed in the gorgeous bee aligned bottle. I wish it lasted longer, but it is what it is.
atosik7 – :
This is a blind buy, empowered only by the Guerlain reputation, and what I’ve read about this scent. I love the composition and find the scent intriguing, classy and classic. But. ……
Let me give you a bit of context: I’m over 40, tall, with cropped red hair and my clothing could be called old school – oxford shirts, pants, cardigans, scarves. Perhaps this gives a masculine vibe. But I’m not masculine.
That said, the unisex of Jicky is kind of male on me. I love the scent but the signal it is sending on me is just not the message I want to send.
I’m going to try softening it up with something a little girly. I know – it’s blasphemy, but that’s the way I roll.
hip1 – :
GUERLAIN JICKY, a Fragrance for Women and Men.
(The version I have is the Eau de Parfum.)
I would say that while Aimé Guerlain created Jicky for a woman, there are reasons why Jicky soon was recognized as an early unisex fragrance.
This is the most challenging fragrance in my collection. Even though I have loved old-school Guerlains at first sniff (Habit Rouge, Vetiver, and Derby), compared to Jicky these guys are young bucks!
It’s the lavender, citrus and aromatics on top of a woods and other deep foundation notes that loosely create the fougère structure. But that is the skeleton onto which is hung the Guerlinade accord: spices, amber, vanilla, tonka, leather and benzoin.
I think the reason it’s taking me longer to understand this classic is because the notes I always love in a Guerlain, while definitely here, are dialed back and taking a supporting role to the stars, which here are clearly lavender, citrus, green notes and synthetic aromatics. The backup notes create a powdery haze, and the citrus and lavender and synthetics can give off a contrasting clean and dirty vibe.
The powder and clean/dirty vibe is challenging. My strategy for getting to know her is a simple one: I take her to bed. 😉
Literally. Nights when I’m by myself I wear Jicky to bed. Scandalous? She loves it! What does she expect with that clean/dirty thing going on? 😉
We’re becoming acquainted. She’s slowly letting me into her mystery. She’s a mysterious, intriguing vamp, to be sure.
Valeratv – :
I could have imagined this perfum was made with inspiration from Amelia Earhart – but she was not even born when it was made.
She is the type of woman I would imgaine wearing Jicky in those days – fresh, herbal, animalic – and finally warm vanilla.
A fabulouse perfume with many facetts.
kuss-tik – :
To MAX LOGAN – If it is cat piss you are smelling the perfume probabely has turned. Meaning it is to old or have not been handled with care. Try get yoursel another one from a place where you know it is fresh. Good luck because it is a fabulous perfume !!
jibladzea – :
Jicky, a perfume I haven’t owned since the 90s, is a joke in EDT. This is a recent formulation and there’s no lavender in it. What is there is a bit of hawthorn, similar to that in Apres l’Ondee and a simple lemon pledge.
“You’ll love Jicky” I told my husband, he of the Rochas Man, and Caron Pour Homme. Well, my reputation has gone down in flames, with that of Guerlain. Poor show, old boy.
Semit – :
Came upon a sealed rosebud bottle that contained about half the contents. I pondered whether to open it and finally decided yes, I had to. This is mesmerizing, I smell lavender as clear as if I had cut the bouquet myself. Also a note of citrus is coming and going. It is strong and I feel I am on the very edge of a headache. I’m going to have to come back and write more as it dries down.
SoyhomeHomhen – :
EdP is softer and more feminine imo while EdT more unisex, maybe for the aromatic effect and fresh opening. I believe most Guerlain fans prefer EdP over EdT. These two are different indeed. Even if you don’t really enjoy EdP, you might enjoy EdT much more then you can imagine.
edit/ EdP is a lot heavier and that “heavy softness” is what makes me stay away of most Guerlains. With Jicky I am willing to try..
doodls – :
I’m so sad to admit, that I dont like it 🙁 May be its benzoin, but dry off smells like a cat’s piss. Terrible. One of a few perfumes that give me headache.
embeseAiderse – :
I’m not exactly sure about how I feel about this fragrance but I do not like dislike it, it just caught me of gaurd as it was not something I am used to at all. There was something green/earthy and herbaceous in it that I could not figure out what it was when I first smelled it. Then I later realized that it was lavender! The lavender is kind of hidden though, you cannot tell it’s lavender (at least I couldn’t) I just knew there was something herbacious and familiar in it as I am a big lavender fan. Somebody told me they like to wear it when they feel adventurous and that is probably a good way to describe it. It is unique! That’s for certain and it is very unisex. I could see a lot of men enjoying this fragrance on themselves. If you are looking for something super feminine, this is not it in my openion.
alleks – :
Zesty, classic, a bit dirty, but still refreshing. One of my favorite lavender, perfumes and still very unique. I definitely get lots of lavender and rosemary and other aromatics, and the vanilla base makes it a bit warm and smooth but not too sweet. I love this for weekends since it’s casual yet elegant. So glad to have this in my collection.
oncinemaonci – :
Dirty lavender with a dash of cinnamon (edp)
asochi – :
Classy, mysterious, makes you stop and think. Draws comments. Best for evening but not heady. Think a million bucks and high heels, a night at the opera, movie stars.
VOLCHOK1 – :
Sexy garage mechanic in oily overalls (wearing an old school lavender cologne from who knows where… that big, tan Lab who’s just brought a duck for you from the ol’ swimming hole… Old Stuff, vintage and not for the weak of heart – absolutely stop ’em in their tracks, animalic, but with that weird twist of lavender and other florals…. so sexy, so weird. So Great.
Some that I’ve given a bit to to test have told me that they couldn’t imagine wearing Jicky. I understand. But I do want to tell these folks… wear her… expect the time of your life! Jicky. For adventurers, or those who would like to be.
vitt – :
Jicky is unique. The first ‘Unisex’ fragrance. A million people can wear it and not one person would smell the same wearing Jicky. A favourite of the original James Bond 007, Sir Sean Connery. Fresh, herbal,citrus, lavender and vanilla dry down. The early version before Jacques Guerlain added a large amount of Vanillin and created his masterpiece Shalimar. I have managed to find 24 bottles that I have collected so far from the Guerlain Grand Classics and Jicky is to die for. A huge thumbs up from Decodawn. The perfume extrait is richer as the edt is like an eau de cologne. Very masculine wait at least an hour for the dry down as it settles. Strong silage longevity is very good. I own a large refillable gold bee atomiser. Just fabulous.
setoleg85 – :
Tried this myself ,and at the time I didn’t know it was for women !
I feel this definitely suited for men aswell ,the sharp vetiver ,the rose arising from the shadows ,the herby aromatic aroma !
There is a somewhat metallic dry citrus smell at the start on me too!one that I love and may convince myself to buy !
Валя – :
I received this perfume yesterday and was so excited to wear it, especially since the bottle is so beautiful! At first spray I am blasted with citrus, more than anything a heavy lemon. Sadly the only middle note apparent on me is the lavender, but the dry down is a faint smell of spice. My only complaint is that this older sister smell of Shalimar isn’t strong enough to command my attention.
boo1804 – :
I received a sample of this in a swap from the generous Perseia. I don’t know whether is’t the vintage version or not.
To me it’s the typical refined, slightly powdery and resheshing Guerlainade scent which is also present in the Shalimar family (of which I have a few), but more herbal and androgynous because of the lavender, rosemary and basil.
I can see that Mon Guerlain was inspired by this, but of course that’s more contemporary (=sweet) with it’s emphasized vanilla. I don’t get much leather from Jicky. I think Jicky suits all ages and genders, it’s a timeless scent indeed. At some time I’ll add this to my collection for sure! Thanks Perseia for letting me try this!
Eli4-vredinka – :
EDP current formulation: Pleasant enough. Honestly I was underwhelmed sampling this fragrance. I was expecting something grand or more old school cologne-like from the house of Guerlain. Perhaps it’s something to do with reformulation.
The lavender to open is fresh and therapeutic. Then it becomes dreamy, foggy, with the gentle sweetness of vanilla. I also pick up some prominent opoponax (sweet myrrh) and geranium. Rosemary is well blended but has lost it’s distinct herbal bitterness somewhere amongst lavender’s crushed blossoms, sweet rose and geranium. Bergamot is subtle.
Benzoin and orris make Jicky EDP a little powdery, diffusive, adding to the light floral vanilla fog. It reminds me of Australian brand Urban Rituelle’s botanic Vanilla Blend. I daresay I even prefer Covet for lavender and greens.
The finish is more like a light Oriental vanilla than an Oriental fougere. Phul-Nana is exemplary in this category of perfume for women. Interestingly both were released within 2 years of each other. Perhaps the EDT of Jicky will tantalize my senses more and give me a truer taste of what this aromatic legend once was.
killer92 – :
And finally my first Jicky arrived. I was really looking forward to it. It was quite difficult to buy it in my country. But this season all these old Guerlains appeared in shops and I immediately started to order them. I read a lot about them but you must try them, so I was really curious. Jicky is really what I expected. It is very close to my beloved Shalimar, but of course with nice lavender added. I adore it, very addictive. Now I´m expecting Vol de Nuit.
iofiil – :
Jicky – EDT
This fragrance is fougere for sure!!
I can smell the rosemary and the lavender but the leather is more like tobacco note on my skin.
Definitely UNISEX or let me say it is a masculine and better suited for men.
It reminds me of some vintage After Shaves with not the aquatique vibe but the classic, strong ones as Brut.
I would not buy a bottle of it because even if I wore men’s perfumes it is rather strong and I’m not sure I like the fougere ones!
Thank you Bubu del Fiore❤ for giving me the chance to try such a vintage gem!
Cheerioz…
V
perfotraktor – :
This makes me think of Heritage, which I absolutely adore, except in this I find the lavender much more pronounced. It’s also quite herby. I totally get the sophisticated, dapper old man vibe – complete with natty waistcoat, discreet but interesting bow tie, and immaculately coiffed hair. There’s something deliciously cool about this – I could just imagine spritzing this in the heat of summer, after a refreshing dip in the pool or a nice cool shower. I asked my husband to have a sniff of this, and he said that it makes him think of Morocco, because of the spices. I like this, a lot, but not as much as Shalimar.
Enurnsiliv – :
My first review was for the EDT, this one is for the reformulated Jicky, but the EDP.
Now this is as familiar to me as the Jicky I remember from the ’70’s, but somehow with a harsher lavender opening, which thankfully dies down to a wonderful aromatic citrus with a wash of sandalwood. Sillage quite strong and longevity a solid 6 hours. I know it’s not Oriental, but I can hear Scheherazade playing in the background.
Beautiful and elegant and quite reminiscent of the version available in the ’70s. Make sure you select the EDP and not the EDT which is nothing like it.
Yra1986 – :
I absolutely adore the pure parfum, but find the Eau de Parfum much too difficult to get along with. It opens in an almost headache inducing way, much too loud and brash. The parfum is smooth all the way through, which I really love.
keef – :
Recieved spray sample today. First spritz….UGH !!! Sour/bitter/herbal-ish. But…WAIT….it started to develop….patience,patience…blending with my chemistry….ok…..yes….something is there that is very different from anything I have smelled before…interestingly good. Still on the fence on this one. I get lavander “light” after it settles,cannot figure out where the other notes fit in….yet.
In the dry-down…I find it a light scent…??…thought it would be stronger….Will have to explore this some more.
EDIT: OMG….I let this rest and ply on my skin….AND….wow..wow…I could not stop sniffing myself….It is a weird scent…in a good way…Full bottle on my wish/want list 100% decided. Another reason to “explore” the scent on YOU…and let the scent “explore” your chemistry….Patience is required is these cases. Like sometimes your in a store sampling scents…and you spray one…and say “OMG…I love it ! ” …..Then you go around the store ..whatever….and then awhile later you smell your wrist….and say…”UGH”
In Jicky’s case…it was reverse of what I just wrote….
Time…Patience…and a little Luck helps…
Cheers to Jicky…
Александер788 – :
Kind of souerness i love Gierlain for absolute … classic for a woman who knows who is she…
Zlodei – :
I like Jicky. (I left MY review already)
But yesterday, I put it on when I got home. It wasn’t a hot day…. more like 50s/60s and rainy… but I worked up a sweat cleaning out a spare room. My body heat must have worked up my Jicky.
My husband comes home and says WTF STINKS UP HERE?! He said it smelled like a musty old man with halitosis. He said it wasn’t my perfume, but I knew better. Because of the reviews here… lmao…
I still love Jicky, but perhaps I prematurely bought a back up 100ml EDP? Haha. I have to somewhat agree with him that it did smell pungent like bad breath (and I could TASTE it!) but that isn’t how Jicky is normally, and it’s not a super nasty smell IMO and I can tolerate it. Instead of thinking “bad breath!” I go beyond that… I know the notes and the history of Jicky. I can get past that part of Jicky. But I found it hilarious that he mimicked pretty much 50% of the reviews here… haha… and trust me– he’s never been on this website.
I guess I will never need a Pure Parfum! Haha!
I then layered with Chant D’Aromes EDT and later Vol de Nuit EDT. That seemed to work.. haha…. but by the time I went to bed, only the Jicky was left.
Artem_1990 – :
Jicky, the first modern perfume. Abstract in that it did not try to replicate a natural smell but instead to stir the emotions. In this way it seems like a precursor to the expressionist movement that was soon to follow in Germany and France, while maintaining an Art Nouveau feel.
The fragrance opens with a rosemary-lavender-citrus accord which is soon counterpointed by a warm, velvety tonka-vanilla-sandalwood-amber base. The contrast between the sharp cold topnotes and the oriental base gives Jicky its beauty. At the beginning the lavender is discernible, but this is a well-crafted fragrance, and so it soon becomes difficult to disentangle individual notes. There is that Guerlainade shared by Shalimar (it’s the vanilla and other base notes); one can certainly trace Shalimar’s ancestry back to Jicky, yet they do not actually smell alike.
The drydown of Jicky feels like a fresher, sportier Shalimar, yet not Shalimar. It has a quiet spiciness. A beautiful contrast between cool and warm. lavender and musky vanilla. So much better than 99% of the new stuff out there today.
Aime Guerlain of course was the nose for Jicky. Classic of all elegant classics. Even if one does not enjoying wearing this, one needs to have experienced Jicky to be educated in perfumes.
robertloh – :
I met Jicky when I first became infatuated with all things Guerlain. So, let me get some “technical” issues out of the way: I remembered Jicky warmer, with a more distinct Guerlinade accord. Honestly, back then, I was not very impressed, and like I have said many times on this forum, time always tell a different story. The current Eau the parfum maintains some of my recollections, and there is a common point: silage and longevity are not the best.
Onto Jicky… my nose immediately detects a very herbal lavander in the opening, immediately followed by the vanilla and a very subtle sandalwood. Make no mistake, these are quality ingredients used here, specially the sandalwood. I’m sure is not the Mysore kind, but still quality.
It’s hard to understand how revolutionary Jicky was when it first came out, and how it could appeal to both sexes, mainly because Jicky has become the blueprint of so many to try to replicate. Creed’s BOP, Caron’s 3d Homme, PDN New York, Chanel’s PM among many all owe a nod of recognition to the amazing Jicky. And yet, Jicky remains so distinctively Guerlain, and distinctively French. Jicky is the scent of a gentleman’s gent, refined, cultivated, well mannered. Jicky is a nod to the Belle Époque with an eye to the not so pleasant future that laid ahead. Jicky is the beautiful flower of a steel and cement garden.
Absolutely beautiful.
Smell great my friends.
arajan83 – :
Amazing scent. I ended up on the Jicky path after reading that Sean Connery was rocking this back in the 60’s and 70’s. This was also the reason I acquired Habit Rouge, which I fell in love with. So, intrigued by the scent and the image of Sean Connery’s chest hair coverage while using this scent, I thought, “Let’s copy Mr. Connery again and get Jicky”. Wow, let me just say, this is an amazingly uplifting scent. Completely abstract, no, I don’t think nature produces such scents that we could use as yardsticks and say, “Oh yeah, that smells like such and such a thing”.
Jicky is a microcosm, to don it, is to enter it’s atmosphere, it’s worl