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hmk139InsuffBooni – :
Wohooo… The perfect chypre!
I can’t believe how perfect this fragrances is, just right on the spot! that sharp chypre, citruc, and white floral. I can smell some superb animalic notes but the dominant are the narcissus, galbanum, and the oakmoss beside the musky carnations.
Superbly addictive and indulging my senses! damn how perfect this fragrance is!
BTW, is this “Faye Dunaway” on the ad!!
mherik – :
I felt strongly the blue hyacinth by the spray colon of Norrell Ⅰ. It’s a little wild and intelligent. I felt apricot and peony, so adorable that I thought that the contents are really Norell II. A very gentle sweet scent smelled a little lipstick a little. Both of them are fascinated by me. I think that it is Norell Ⅰ of I that goes well in February of Japan.
dronikun5 – :
I am wearing this lovely Vintage today. There is a green powdery feel to this with the depth many classic vintage perfumes have. Along the lines of Chanel No 5 but with a touch of Fiji. It is elegant and a privilege to wear a fine example of historical perfume. And one I will turn to periodically, but not hurry to source another, as this one doesn’t bring a longing to me to wear and wear again.
Edit: So I was wearing Norell Cologne (a very vintage bottle) all day yesterday. I was cooking dinner and my teenage son came in and said, “It smells like grandma in here”. I twigged it was the Norell and I offered my wrist. “Yes, that’s the smell”. My mother is dead and she didn’t wear Norell, but did wear vintage Rochas Femme in his vicinity and other perfumes of a bygone age. I do NOT want to smell like my mother, although Femme I do wear as I’ve also worn it since my teens on and off. I just gave my husband a whiff of it today and he likes it. So I might not give up on it just yet!
tirtuarve – :
I am wearing Norell, a gift from a younger friend in the 1990s. I was in the 30s when I received it. I remember it from the advertisements in Glamour Magazine in 1970. Billed as The First Great Perfume Born in America.
Today I won an Ebay auction for an almost empty tube of gold Norell lipstick from the estate of Lita Baron, a Spanish born beauty, singer and dancer, who played Ricky Ricardo’s dance partner. She also was in movies and some of the earliest TV jungle films and westerns. The lipstick is a grooved square gold tube with an N in the middle. I am trying to place the year. It came in a velvet pouch with a matching vial of Norell fragrance. The tube is aged. Ms. Baron died in 2016 at 92 years of age. If anyone remembers when this product first came out I would love to know!
GorceFleerm – :
I wanted to make space because I have to much stock. I mean too much perfume. Some I almost never wear like Norell. This morning, I try it again thinking it was maybe my last sniff. Oh no it will not. I just rediscover this beauty. A green floral woody perfume done by Josephine Catapano, the creator of Fidji one of my first perfume love affaire. It’s a keeper, especially when I saw the very expensive price on ebay of the vintage version since the lunching of the new version.
lprussia – :
This my recollection rather than a review. Norell by Norell utterly transported me with its burst of florist-fresh air. I ADORED it, but as a Junior in college, in 1971, couldn’t afford it. Not to be denied, I walked to Saks from my university, and no matter the weather or season, I wore a sweater under a coat, carrying a sweater in a shopping bag. Upon arrival, I beelined for the perfume counter, liberally and heavily sprayed both sweaters, promptly closing both jacket & shopping bag nearly hermetically containing the fragrance. Returning to my dorm, I shoved one sweater in my underwear drawer and another with my other sweaters. I imagined the fragrance trailed lightly about me for weeks until I could meet my paramour and tryst again.
vova.west – :
Fragrance Review For Norell
Norell
Top Notes
Lavender Mandarin Orange Galbanum, Hiacynth Bergamot Narcissus Lemon
Middle Notes
Mimosa Coriander Carnation Iris Gardenia Orchid Arum lily Cinnamon Jasmine Ylang-ylang Rose Cardamom
Base Notes
Sandalwood Amber Musk Vanilla Oak Moss Vetiver Myrrh Cedar Wood
Norell (1968) by Josephine Catapano
My mother had this fragrance in her dresser table at her old Long Island family home. This is still in her collection but she says it might have been reformulated because it doesn’t smell the same to her as it did back in 1968 and 1970 when she first wore it. She tells me over a cup of tea everything she lived through in the 60’s which fascinates me. That is my favorite era in American history. She told me about the way she wore her hair in updos and beehive domes and hair like the Ronettes wore them “Hairspray” hair! She tells me of the way people dressed and behaved in public, how smoking and the cigar scent was everywhere including in the grocery stores. She recalls the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, race riots, the Civil Rights movement, LBJ, MLK JFK and RFK. For her this fragrance is the 60’s in a bottle. Josephine Catapano the nose who formulated this perfume is also the nose who created 2 other vintage beauties I love to wear: Zen by Shiseido and Fidji by Guy Laroche. This is a very beautiful floral fragrance in the style of those other 2 perfumes although nothing like them that is not a dupe for either of them. A fresh green citrusy and soapy floral woodsy perfume of mature elegance, sophistication, lady like ways and tranquility. It gives me the same kind of relaxed clean coming out of a bath scent. I can’t compare it too much to other vintages but if I had to drop some names as far as the category and essence this is in the same group as White Shoulders Evyan Chamade Guerlain Charlie Revlon and to a degree similar to Stetson Coty. If you have worn those type of fragrances, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Soapy, clean, fresh, floral and powdery very conservative and no nonsense. It was probably worn by Lady Bird Johnson. It’s also pretty modest and unassuming, straight forward and mature.
Norell opens with bergamot orange mandarin and a lemon that is rather sharp and a tad sour. The fruitiness does not last long and it goes from citrus to florals fairly quickly. A lavender is present in the opening that comes and goes before it embraces the flowers that make up this perfume. A carnation scent is what I detect most in the performance of the heart notes, but the mimosa and ylang ylang are also present. So this is a kind of carnation and rose reddish flower with yellow floral notes and white floral notes. The white flowers that stand out are the Arum lily the gardenia and the narcissus. For a while the narcissus is the dominant note and it is very soapy, like a kind of flower power scent. It makes me visualize flower print minis worn by young fashionable hippies in Haight Ashbury San Francisco. This is a soapy fresh and sudsy perfume. It smells very leisurely and laidback. It has a dash of spice in it too but it is never too smoky or sultry. There’s ginger for sure. Cardamom ginger. There might be some cloves that are not listed but there is definitely coriander. Spicy floral and soapy floral at the same time. The myrrh seems to only lift up the florals and give them some support.
AS the perfume dries it turns into a very lovely soap and a skin scent, like your own natural fresh skin smelling of this perfume with a drier woodsy undertone. The cedar wood is the big note in the dry down. Very woodsy and yet feminine. Though there is a detectable musk, it’s always feminine. This is not a unisex. The florals are rather lady like. The scent of musk is not too powerful. Finally my nose sensed a greenish note of vetiver a warm resinous amber and sandalwood. Not enough of it to make it even slightly Oriental. The floral note of iris from the heart comes around full circle and the whole thing turns powdery.
Norell is a casual day wear perfume. She matches up with white blouses, dress shirts, long sleeves, buttons, and conservative neutral colors. Nothing about this is glamorous or attention grabbing. She is mature in today’s world of youthful gourmands and fruity florals. She takes herself seriously. This is a great perfume to wear in job interviews and to work in an office. My mother wore it when she was ages 18 through 22 and said it was a very lucky perfume. She got the jobs she wanted every time she wore it. She is also very attached to it and continues to wear it. I am very enchanted by it as a vintage and will wear it from time to time. I love the flowers and the vanilla note that creeps its way into the base although it’s more about the woodsy note of cedar. This is a gorgeous floral for the lady who loves her flowers and her perfume to smell of flowers.
HAF_932 – :
This smells like spicy floral soap. Carnations are sharp and there’s something else with carnations that makes it heady.To put it politely, makes me smell ancient.
vca327speagoessenda – :
VERY complex and BEAUTIFUL. One of a kind. A keeper in my book.
Matador-M – :
I really wanted to love Norell but it just doesn’t work for me. I tried the vintage perfume, circa 1970. Love the bottle but can’t get enthused about what’s inside despite the fact that I love pretty much all of the stuff that makes up Norell.
rubin-b – :
I smiled when I saw RobBob’s review here because I remember seeing Norell in “The Eyes of Laura Mars” too!!! And, to me at the ripe old age of 17, and just having started to wear Norell, I thought that was so awesome! I LOVE Norell and have for almost 40 years. When I was in high school, my favorite Biology teacher; Mrs. Sunny Denes, wore Norell, and I always complimented her on her perfume and asked her a million questions about it. I was lucky enough my Junior year to be an aide to her biology classes and as thank you at the end of the year, she gave me the most wonderful present – my very first bottle of Norell!!! I was so touched and thrilled – it meant the world to me – there was no way that my family or I could have afforded such a luxury. I still have the empty bottle. I was really sad when I could no longer find Norell at Department stores, then it started to be carried very cheaply at drug stores and then it disappeared here in San Diego, CA entirely. I still can’t find it – not even at our higher end stores like Nordstrom…and while I do see it very often on eBay, I’m too suspicious to purchase there again – in 2012 on eBay I bought a bottle of New Sealed In Box Climat by Lancome and it was a total fraud from the Soviet Union and it smelled like hairspray. Sigh…
Ронин – :
The first time that I remember seeing Norell perfume was in a movie that Faye Dunaway starred in called “The Eyes of Laura Mars”. It’s a thriller where Faye plays the titular character who is a photographer. She has prescient visions of who will be bumped off. There is a killer who is after her. So she decides to leave town. She packs a suitcase with clothes and throws a huge bottle of Norell on top. She is being stalked by a killer and STILL she cannot be without her favorite perfume NORELL! I did not know until now that Faye Dunaway was the beautiful advertising face of Norell. So it was also product placement in the movie. Whatever, Norell is a beautiful perfume that is green, metallic and floral at the same time. I love this perfume.
voronlom – :
I just got a 1980s ample at a garage sale. I had never smelled it before and one dab and I am in love. Wow this is a beautiful, sophisticated fragrance. I love Chanel 19 and Jean Louis Scherrer for their crispness but this just tops them all in my book. Not over done, some green, floral, woodsy thing that smells divine to my nose. And did I say sophisticated? Wowsa – I will look for more. Even though I dress like an old hippie most of the time I wear perfume for me and no one else. LOVE THIS STUFF.
Ericjediss – :
I love this. Fresh – green – but with cream. PERFECT. …Peace…
fedtildwlt – :
Testing Vintage Mini 71% perhaps 1960´s or 70´s. Some mentioned top notes have maybe faltered, but I get quite an amazing sort of hybrid between a powdery floral aldehyde such as Chanel No 5, but then there is also a green aspect, but a different sort of green, a soft green, almost like a little Cristalle and No 19 were added.
I use three Chanel examples because I want to mean harmony because to me, Norell is very harmonious. I am not a big fan of Chanel No 5, but Norell is a more pleasant cousin I find. It is fresher, still sweet mind you.
wmikarika21 – :
I’ve read so many lovely reviews but sadly this does not work on my dry olive skin neither does Ch 5. Norell was gifted to me in the eighties but I never liked it. Maybe now that I’m older I might have another go and see if I have changed enough to be able to appreciate it… I can only hope.
OxiltertDrort – :
Norell…WOW. I hoard the vintage stuff whenever I can so I will never be without it! This is my number 2 favorite fragrance, only slightly overshadowed by my signature, Estee. Norell’s composition is complex and sophisticated but still warm and dreamy. I am biased because it has some of my top favorite notes: Coriander, Myrrh, and Cardamom. The strong carnation and rose notes are moderately heavy. It can remind me of Tea Rose (which I love), but Tea Rose is linear and has little warmth. The Coriander, Myrrh, and Cinnamon make this fragrance more pleasantly approachable.
The bath oil (which I also occasionally use as perfume) is slightly sweeter and translates the same as the cologne spray, but lasts on my skin until the next shower. The cologne has good longevity too and 2 sprays lasts through the work day. When I wear Norell, it adds to my confidence and assertiveness and definitely ramps up “FIERCENESS” in my persona. LOVE!!!
I know Faye Dunaway was once the face of Norell, and when I wear it, I think of that scene in Mommie Dearest when she’s meeting with the board of Pepsi and shouts,
“DON’T F*CK WITH ME, FELLAS!!!!”
—Norell :o)
drago – :
Hello, All!!
While I do remember seeing the box in my youth (Gen Xer), I never had the opportunity to smell Norell. Was this still popular in the 80’s?
fishkaX – :
I was happily surprised to read Whit’s comments about a new version of “Norell” being sold on the Bergdorf Goodman site. I can only assume this is a new reformulation and not the ghastly Five Star version of this masterpiece. I consider “Norell” as Josephine Catapano’s best creation ever. Even better that “Fidji” or “Youth Dew” (allegedly created by her). I have five vintage bottles of this perfume. On four of them the sticker at the bottom of the bottle states “Dist by Norell Perfums”. Onkly one of them is “Dist by Prestige Perfums”. “Norell” was made by Revlon who sold the license to Prestige. There is no difference between the Norell and the Prestige perfume. However, there is a huge difference between the Prestige and the Five Star version. Also, the original was a Cologne, never an Eau de Toilette or an Eau de Parfum. If you have an Eau de Toilette or Parfum, then it is a reformulation and not the original one. My most beautiful version is the one exclusively sold by Tiffany jewelers. The shape is the same however the color of the bottle is black and gold. It really looks like a Tiffany gem made of ebony and gold. Let’s hope that the new version will do justice to this olfactory masterpiece.
Semi – :
The new Norell has nothing to do with the original. It is now a bland floral of no distinction.
maksimka_78 – :
This isn’t a review, but I was on Bergdorf Goodman’s site and they have the “new” version of Norell. The notes of the new version are as follows:
Top: Galbanum, mandarin, bergamot and pear
Middle: Jasmine, peony, gardenia and orchid
Base: Orris butter, vetiver, sandalwood, vanilla and musk
Anyways, this is just for anyone who is interested in checking it out. I vaguely remember this scent, but I do remember it being fairly potent. I’m sure the new one probably pales in comparison. But, who knows, it might be good.
димонкпкпм – :
I have worn nothing but Norell, daily, since I was 16 years old. I was introduced to it by a woman in her twenties purchasing it in the drugstore where I worked. She and her roommate shared a bottle, and it was her turn to buy.
To say it is my signature scent is an understatement. I’ve used it exclusively at the back of my neck for 30 years, and can actually hear men inhaling when they hug me. I’ve had so many people stop me to ask me what I am wearing. People whom I know have bought Norell for themselves, but then have noticed that it doesn’t smell the same on them as it does me. Thanks, more for me!
I’m heartbroken it’s discontinued, but just keep taking chances and buying vintage bottles on EBay. The scent just intensifies with age. So far, only one has been counterfeit, and the seller refunded my payment without question. I wish a perfumer would consider producing it again! I will need it for another 40 years, I’m hoping!
морик – :
My mom wore Norell back in the 70’s and of course, my sister and I did too. It made us feel sophisticated and grown up. Over the years I’ve seen the reformulated Norell in various places, but this past weekend I found an almost full vintage EDP bottle at an estate sale. I bought it along with a vintage bottles of Mitsouko EDT, L’Heure Bleue EDT, and First parfum. I sprayed each wrist with Norell before leaving the house to run errands. I could not stop smelling my wrists. I adore this stuff! It reminds me of 1000 and to some extent, Chanel No 22.
gdr364Diobtetty – :
I have Norell in vintage parfum and vintage edt. I remember a bottle of this sitting on the vanity in my paternal grandmother’s bathroom when I was a little girl. Had I smelled this 10 years ago I would have despised it, but a whole lot of perfume experiences in a few short years have helped me aquire a taste for the classics. If you like fresh, fruity florals, stay away from Norell as you’ll find the oakmoss/galbanum/narcissus aspects of this too dense and bitter. But those of you who are classic chypre lovers that haven’t tried this, you should, as you will not be dissappointed. Coincidentally, I was wearing vintage Chanel No. 19 this week so when I put this on today, I immediately thought of that only to see nightmyst’s review just now asking if anyone else noticed the similarites. I wear this now and think of elegant women from the 1960’s and 70’s wearing crisp pants-suits, which is exactly what my grandmother was. Faye Dunaway was the perfect “face” for this scent.
iri919 – :
I’ve been using Norell as my signature fragrance since I was introduced to it by a best friend, erudite, classy, and a fashionista extraordinaire. That was in Saratoga Springs, the summer of 1978, if I had to make a guess — and it makes me cringe today, to hear the fragrance described as an “old lady” blend, or “something my mother used to wear,” although, truth be told — I am probably old enough to be your mother!
My question is, as the formulation has changed, vintage is difficult to locate (and costly), is there another recommendation along the lines of, “If you loved Norell … you’ll enjoy _____.”
Home with a bottle of Modern Muse by Estee Lauder, this scent chafes my nostrils and must be returned.
How does an … alright, I’ll admit it … “old lady” find her way around the perfume counter these days? Nothing seems likeable, and nothing close to the fragrance I’ve loved for so long. Thank you! Temmie
murder666 – :
One of my Mom’s favorites from late 60’s to 70’s it truly was fab! I wore hers occasionally in the 80’s
The new stuff is not as fragrantly feminine nor is it pretty. Vintage blends only for me!
666dima666 – :
Miglin’s Pheromone was my signature scent in the late 80’s and early 90’s. I’ve moved on to a love affair with oakmoss and stronger chypres, a bit more bitterness in scent appeals to me now.. Neroll reminds me of a slightly more floral, greener, less aldehydic Pheromone if that makes any sense. Neroll has enough oakmoss to satisfy my craving while reminding me of my signature Pheromone wear from decades ago. Note to Jake.shouse – Neroll is going for a song on ebay right now. Some of you have mentioned disliking the strength of the fragrance. On my skin it does start out strong but after a while fades to lovely. A forgotten treasure.
said555 – :
The first time I smelled Norrell I was 15 and thought it was too old for me, so I waited until I turned 16 to buy it. Only God Himself knows how many bottles of this I wore or how many people I blew away when I walked into a room. I felt strong and pretty in this perfume and I was in high school. It’s the first bottle of perfume I ever bought for myself–again and again and again. Last year I bought a bottle for the sake of nostalgia and discovered it was in no way the same, which was okay. Truthfully, I could’t wear it again if I tried. I didn’t know it back then, but I smelled of promise and class. Today, at 50, I still feel strong and I still feel pretty. That makes me smile.
kar1719 – :
The great perfume love of my life! An impossibly elegant show-stopper just like the Norell gowns. The imposter of today is hideous. I feel I shall never inhale the true beauty of Norell again.*sigh*
bobyhal – :
Vintage. I like this scent very much for acerbic, aromatic greenery with that resounding bitter note it gives me. I like the scent very much for the flowers peeping through the greenery, as they get softer or louder. Narcissi, hyacinths, roses, and jasmine. They smell very natural to me. And those wonderful animalic notes of Norell… I like it. Very much.
prani4ek – :
Not being a purist about fragrance formulations, last year I bought a bottle of the Norell EDT at TJMaxx. Unlike the reformulations of other well known fragrances, I could find no improvements over the old scent, only very very bad characteristics.
The new EDT opening is so harsh it’s almost unbearable and the opening is very long lasting, over an hour. The dry down is not much better. The original was a beloved fragrance of mine back in the 60’s and 70’s and this new formulation made me question my olfactory memory.
I just had to check my memory so I purchased a bottle of vintage extrait. There indeed was that wonderful fragrance of my past. This led me to purchase a lot of 2 partial bottles of the vintage EDT, one a splash, the other a spray. These were also excellent specimens of the original fragrance. These EDT’s have the longevity and sillage of the best of today’s extraits.
Loving the Alien wrote the most apt description of this divine scent. I had to laugh at the comment about Norell being suited to outdoor activities. I first encountered Norell on my Lacrosse team opponent during a game in the spring of 1969. Isn’t it amazing how often we can recall the first time we smelled a fragrance?
If you are looking to try a vintage fragrance, there is a lot of Norell available at reasonable prices. All of the concentrations have held up well. I’ve since bought several bottles for friends and they all agree that a vintage bottle of this is a priceless treasure!
CHANELsunglass – :
The original Norell was a lovely fragrance and I wore it for years in the 60s. Give me the old vintage perfumes; you can NEVER go wrong with them. If I’m not mistaken, the Norell one can buy now has been slightly changed from the old. Seems to have cheaper ingredients. I have a small round Norell container with the sticky gel-like perfume which is at least, 35 to 40 years old. I’ve kept it in dark spaces and it smells just like it did when new. Much better than the Norell of today. I wear Norell from time to time; takes me back to the 50s and 60s; days of elegance and good manners.
southerngirl
andron#1810# – :
This musky, strong mature scent is a hybrid of Joy and L’air du Temps.
Update: My old bottle still smells fresh, now I notice it to be soapy and clean, like the original Zest soap.
mak222 – :
(parfum, 1st formulation)
This one is an extremely 60s green floral chypre. It is largely a “clean” scent of the 60s genre: think Estee and Climat.
Norell has a brilliant and lifelike hyacinth opening which is just picture perfect. On fabric and paper this crisp delight lasts a long time. It is so difficult to find a good hyacinth note in perfumes but this one nails it. Shortly afterwards a spicy and intensely waxy carnation comes onto the scene with a big slug of yellow forals, a “soapy” overdose of linalool and a touch of galbanum. There is a lot to admire here – the buttery ylang, the beautiful daffodil, and the smooth spices float like a puff of smoke over the golden chypre base. There are other aromas in here that give a hint of golden fruit.
The whole thing dries down somewhat close to Estee, its strange, musk-laden, golden chypre base being unmistakable to me. It has great longevity and is delightful for sunny mornings. It has a distinct sillage that is both airy and implacable. As such, it would be the perfect scent for daytime outdoor activities which conveniently matches its affinity for picnic weather.
It’s very intense, though it doesn’t seem that way when you first dab. Apply less at first for a better effect later on.
qrp892Negeltzex – :
EDC/Vintage bottle
Yum, this bottle of Norell goes on sharp and green and floral, it is loud and strong, the green has a pleasant bitter screechy texture to it. Once the citruses in the top disappear it becomes a darkish floral, maybe a little spicy–is it the carnations? The top and heart burn off in an hour.
The base is quiet and sweet, even a little soapy. There is a bit of oakmoss, a tinge of sandalwood, and some sweet woody soap. Far into the drydown I detect a note of leather. Lasting power all together for my bottle is 3-4 hours.
Norell makes me sad, because I love bitter green oakmossy perfumes, and they are so out of style it’s not funny. If I want to smell fresh and clean I’ll take a shower and shampoo my hair, really!
BlendiMayse – :
Not bad, reminds we quite a bit of Tendre Poison, but more old-fashioned and not as fruity or clean. This one should bring you back to the 60’s, when times were less complex. I had a large bottle that I got for a song, I will have to dig through my various drawers as I am making up a box for the Salvation Army. Not because this is bad, its just boring and non-descript.
skazl – :
LOVE Norell and always will… It’s the biggest bang for the buck you will find… It’s like walking into an old fashioned garden… The narcissus and carnation are dominant on me… You do not need much and it will last all day. It’s a very old school glamorous fragrance… When you think of perfume… THIS is perfume…
fiu210speagoessenda – :
A crazy-strong, old-fashioned green chypre with lots of oakmoss in it. The opening will definitely wake you up – piercingly green oakmoss and galbanum, like Givenchy III or a greener Cristalle. However, give it some time, and it will dry down to a smooth, ambery, decadent chypre. If you’re a chypre lover, then don’t worry about the low price or dated packaging; this stuff is a hidden gem worth trying.
bazzbanny – :
Saw this during the holidays in a two-pack for a song. I couldn’t agree more that this smells like an expensive soap. When used sparingly, it is the perfect office scent.
Доктор72 – :
I have a little vintage bottle and now I am hunting a great big vintage bottle! It smells, rich, spicy and makes me want to hug myself! It does have an edge of soap, but I am finding that I can still love something with that if it isn’t the leading player.
cats13 – :
Doh!! I just received my vintage Norell from eBay. Hmmm. When will I ever learn not to blind buy?! Based on the reviews below I took the plunge and I’m afraid that it’s not one I’m mad about – a cross between Chanel #5 and Arpege in my opinion, but slightly fecal. I’m more of an oriental lover, and I should have known that it might not have been my thing. If you love it, enjoy but from me it gets a big fat ‘meh’.
4ebypek – :
I have a fond memory of my mother scooping me up in a hug wearing this when I was little. The smell mixed with the cold rainy smell of the pacific northwest USA on her sage trench coat makes me smile…and wish for just one more hug.
It’s loud and I won’t wear it, but it is what I’d call classy on the right person (it was on her). I keep the half full bottle to smell every once in a while.
queestego – :
Yesterday I was fortunate enough to find a full 2.5 ounce bottle of this beautiful powerhouse at a Thrift Store (vintage, in its box) for 3 dollars. well, you know I snapped it up and am giving it a wear today. I applied it at 8:30 a.m. and it is now 4:30 p.m. I smells as strong and as good as when I dabbed it on. I was born in the 1960s and Norell nails that vibe. Wear it and you will feel as if you are Doris Day dressed head to toe in vintage no matter who you are and what you are wearing.
dmitrrusakov – :
Loud!Loud!Loud!!! Holy Smokes this is so loud everybody will know you walked into the room!!!! Its very much like the scents of the 50’s, crisp and very loud. I don’t think there is such thing as a light spray of this perfume.
Deroxnqnhf – :
BIG mistake! I added two sprays to my usual two or three of Norell. Norell reminds me of ” NOEL,” thus I was celebrating the season. Never, never has my husband referred to my fragrances with anything but positive comments. He uttered the disrespectful, “uuuugh, smell like an old lady’s perfume.” I’m waiting for the floral to emerge before I decide to swab some of it off. Happy Holidays, all.
9balexertf – :
As far back as I can remember my mother wore Norell as her signature and periodically Estee and Bal a Versailles. She was a force of nature, an amazing saleswoman, loved world travel and always dressed a little “over the top”. I have a few of her vintage things: angora beaded beret, beaded/spangled evening bags, scarves. Ok, folks this is DECADES later and there is still an echo of Norell where there’s a small stain in one purse, a scarf I never wore, but couldn’t part with…you get the idea. This chypre has some serious staying power. I had a Mother’s Day bottle stashed for her before she passed away. Awhile ago I opened it and sprayed a scarf. It wasn’t the same and now I know why…reformulation. It wasn’t as “rich” and full, just an echo of the original, a more shallow scent. I love scents with “presence” like Aromatics and Eau de Star, but I can’t carry this newer addition, nor the vintage. It smelled gorgeous on my mother, maybe you have to be a Diva, or have been royalty in another life. I curtsey to those who can carry off this forest-vetiver cloud, queen of all you survey 🙂 enjoy and definitely wear some spangles and satin!
plotmihgen – :
I have to say, that I like green, but I am not really a fan of green. Maybe I am biased because of that.
Norell is boring in the bottle. I’m sorry, I am only honest.
:/
floatitle – :
I tried NORELL at a perfume counter in a local Drug Store recently. First reaction…no…does not work for me. Not even a possibility. This was the reformulated version, mind you. I was so disappointed!! I would imagine the original smells so much better, based on all the reviews I’ve read. I love so many of the vintage perfumes and so wanted to love this one. Maybe one day I’ll happen upon the vintage version and I will then understand what everyone is raving about. :o)
hee – :
A haiku for Norell:
Cosmopolitan
An elegant extrovert
Class in a bottle
dimon2550 – :
Being a huge fan of classic old -timer fragrances, I couldn’t overlook this cheapie, because it definitely fits within the category.
I had the same reaction from Norell as from L’air du Temps: the first spray made me recoil as it was sharp, pungent and obnoxious. But just like Nina Ricchi it settles into a complex, smooth old-school carnation-dominant floral with huge projection.Maybe a bit sharper than L’air because of galbanum. Together with L’air du Temps, I find Norell more of a comfort scent than something exquisite and statement making. I like to put it on before bedtime and drift off to sleep lulled by the wafts of carnation, cinnamon and daffodil.
brus-srub-stroy – :
Norell turned the perfume worlds attention to NYC. It is as glamorous as the NYC skyline. Indeed, the bottle itself remind me of one of those towers from the 1930s. Its stands as strong and as bold as any.
The compos