Quartz by Molyneux

Hello! Has anyone tried the reformulated Quartz femme? I’m terrified it might be a complete disaster…

Does it smell like mosquito repellent to anyone else? I picked it up at a vintage shop for an incredible price, but I haven’t worn it even once because the fragrance is unbearably earthy and herbal, just like repellent.

Finally, I can give the definitive review. Quartz is linear: it opens powdery and dries down powdery. At first, I detect carnations and peach; I’m not a fan of peach in perfumes, but here it smells like the velvety skin of the fruit. As it dries, it becomes very woody and earthy. Ideal for autumn and the office: decent, complex, and not intrusive.

Beautiful, fresh, elegant. It’s a tremendous perfume that makes you feel like you can take the world by storm. I had it in the nineties and recently tried it again; at one moment I felt like I was twenty again. Delicious. I remember it as fresher, more citrusy and sparkling before; now I notice more cypress and woody notes. I love both versions. It has an elegance and versatility that make it ideal for blind buying. It has a linear development (like in the nineties) but it’s not negative. It’s one of the few I always return to buy.

It says ELEGANCE. Quartz is for a woman who wears heels, not for going to a nightclub… or yes, if she wants to, but I don’t see it for that setting. It’s timeless and not intrusive. It has moderate to soft sillage (depending on the person), but you notice if you pass by or share a dinner. It has a subtle sensuality. It’s that kind of woman who doesn’t need to call attention to seduce. If you have an idea to wear it on an elegant day without wanting to attract too much attention, I imagine it with a black outfit, simple but elegant. Makeup that highlights your features, not too fussy. If you have a date after work and don’t know what to wear to smell sensual and pleasant. If you know that on that day you will finally give that first kiss you’ve been waiting for. It could be your calling card if you don’t want to overwhelm but want it to be noticeable that you have class. Imagine a late afternoon or evening in the rain. If you have a job interview, it’s another occasion to leave a mark of elegance. I disagree with those who say it’s for ‘old ladies’. No, at least if you only enjoy current fragrances. There’s nothing gourmand here, nothing that smells of fruit… It’s not that Quartz. I have two 100 ml bottles and a smaller one I’ve had for years as a collection. This perfume must not be missing from my vanity. Lastly, to receive its benefits you don’t need to spend much. It’s accessible and luckily available. I hope you give it a chance; if you see a tester, try it. Who knows, a story between this fragrance and you might be born there.

Quartz is one of my favourite perfumes. On me, it comes out earthy, like a forest in the morning dew. Then lily root, jasmine, and carnation appear with a moist and alive touch. As hours pass, it becomes mossy and ‘fougery’, and finally has a powdery closing, but like a masculine talc. It’s in the same family as Coriandre by Jean Couturier (another jewel of the seventies). The only negative is that it doesn’t last long on me (maybe four hours, perhaps, with many sprays). It has subtle to moderate sillage.

Synthetic floral? Yes, but only to carnation. The product sheet lists it as floral, yet there’s no rose or jasmine; the hyacinth falls short. The base notes are brutal, almost the only thing I detect. Lily, carnation and talcum powder dominate everything and would form the backbone of the perfume. When dry, it smells solely of talcum powder. It feels more like one of those artificial scents out there. I wouldn’t buy it again.

A beautiful perfume. It has a complexity and depth that make it hard to describe. In my view, it has something of a chypre due to the oakmoss and patchouli. It’s warm and enveloping. Very special. I find it very similar to Diorella in its original version, but more floral; Diorella has green and citrus notes that aren’t present in Quartz. It’s simply beautiful and timeless.

Synthetic floral? Yes, just carnation. The sheet lists it as floral, but there is no rose or jasmine, and the hyacinth has lost ground. The base notes are so intense they are almost the only thing I notice. The lily-of-the-valley root, carnation, and talcum powder scent overwhelms everything and forms the backbone. When dry, it smells only of talcum powder. I would rather file it away among so many artificial scents on the market. I would not buy it again.

I love its scent; it comforts me without being winter… it is rich, I do not know how to describe it better.

It is an elegant and fresh perfume that is very current. Lack of knowledge on the part of whoever says a fragrance is outdated. In fact, perfumes do not have an age range, and the existence of female and male versions is only subjective and commercial. For example: essential oils from India or Egypt are unisex. Chanel Nº 5 is from 1921 and until today is the best seller to a wide range of ages.

This perfumery classic is for daily use. Woody, good fixation, lasts quite a few hours. It is not one of my favourites, but I have it and use it from time to time because I do not dislike it.

Every skin smells different; who knows if it’s magic or chemistry? The truth is, perfume is highly subjective. Perhaps what drives us to choose one over another runs deeper. Quartz brings back memories of past springs and that youth that is no longer here.

An outdated aroma, the kind that sticks to ladies over eighty. I wouldn’t recommend it.

It’s a fragrance from years ago that I wore throughout my teenage years. I bought it for my teenage daughter and she adored it. I’ve worn it myself a few times since because its scent is so particular and unique that I haven’t found anything similar since. Men love it too. It remains a current and irreplaceable fragrance.