Cinnabar by Estée Lauder

I have just bought it because I am a fan of unusual perfumes at this stage in my life, I have already been through many that were fashionable just to try to be fashionable, but that no longer interests me at all… that is why I buy perfumes from other eras, obviously ones I like and that make me feel that special thing you should feel when you wear a perfume… This one in particular has that special and charming touch that captures me straight away. I tried it in a perfumery and spent two days discovering it and wanting to buy it, now it is mine. Cinnamon is not listed but I can smell it, it is sweet but not sickly, it is elegant, sophisticated, it is not old-fashioned, it is a perfume that dresses you and leaves a trail. It is a great perfume, strong, powerful, sensual, but it is not for everyone, that is true. It is like that sip of Cognac you drink in one go and it burns but then you say wow what a good spirit, well that is Cinnabar… an olfactory rush that turns into a true delight. Try it first and then tell me about it…

This reformulation of the classic Cinnabar by Estee Lauder, in my humble opinion is still good. A classic, warm and dense odour. It has an intense clove load but the floral harmony stops it from being a perfume that smells of kitchen spices. The opening is intense, freshened by orange quickly moving to a spiced odour, oily very smooth clove combined with a floral odour where jasmine stands out. The sandalwood is well blended to give it staying power. The odour is classic, austere, not for everyone. It has that character that makes it perfect to wear with a tailored suit or for a gala. It is elegant and gives an oily nuance to the skin. An adult, stylish spiced floral oil. It suits very well a woman (and man, why not) of classic and elegant style. Lovely to wear under fur or wool coats on cool autumn and winter days. It gives warmth. Not for blind buying. It is not made to please everyone. It is better to try it on skin first. It changes a lot depending on your pH. A classic and reformulated that is still good. It is a good favourite staple perfume. People will remember you for the odour

I don’t know whether this reformulation is faithful to the original. But I must say that this perfume is an ode to classic scents, an example of what perfumers were after with aromas that sought a sense of luxury and sensuality in equal measure. Along with others from the brand, Cinnabar creates an atmosphere that dresses you from that balsamic orange opening, with a floral development with a hint of spice, and a soft patchouli base. A way to sum up an extremely complex perfume, in my opinion. Very elegant, long-lasting and with medium projection. In my opinion, and given current tastes in commercial perfumery, totally unisex.

I bought this because at this stage in my life, I’m looking for perfumes with character—nothing about following the fashion for fashion’s sake. I prefer classics that make me feel that special magic unique to each fragrance. This one has a charming touch that captivates me from the very first moment. I tried it in-store and spent two days wanting it, and now it’s mine. Though I won’t say it out loud, I detect the cinnamon: sweet without being cloying, elegant and sophisticated, yet not pretentious. It dresses you up and leaves a mark. It’s potent and sensual, but not for everyone. Imagine a single sip of cognac: it burns at first, then you think, ‘what a fine spirit’. That’s Cinnabar, an olfactory punch that turns into delight. Give it a try and tell me what you think.

In my humble opinion, this version of Estée Lauder’s classic Cinnabar is still good. It’s a classic, warm, and dense scent. It has a heavy clove presence, but the floral harmony prevents it from smelling like cooking spices. The opening is intense and fresh due to the orange, then quickly shifts to a spicy, oily scent of soft clove mixed with jasmine. The sandalwood is well-worked for longevity. It’s classic, perhaps a bit rigid, and not for everyone. Ideal to wear with a blazer or to a gala. It’s elegant and gives an oily nuance to the skin. A grown-up, stylish floral-spicy oil. It looks great on a woman (or a man) of classic style. Wonderful under fur or wool coats in autumn and winter, it adds warmth. Don’t buy it blindly; it’s not for everyone. Better to test it on your skin as it changes depending on your pH. It’s a reformed classic that remains good, a staple perfume you’ll be remembered for its scent.