1969 has an appealing peach note that is playful, with tropical nuances, yet not aggressively fruity and sweet.
The vanilla underneath, which has some chocolate facet, subdues the fruity top and makes it grounded. It might be hard to imagine this combination not being a sickly gourmand scent, but that’s the excitement of this perfume. It is not an ordinary oriental gourmand.
1969 is a harmony of spices and flowers. The spices impart mellow and warm nuances to the composition, twisting the fruity-vanilla facet to become larger and facetted. There’s a whiff of aromatic elements coming from cardamom hovers on top of the fragrance, giving freshness to the nose in the first sniff and envelop the fruity top notes. The clove warms the fragrance’s core, texturizes the vanilla’s balsamic sweetness, and amplifies the comfort of this beautiful creation.
The clove is visible but muted. It smells so prominent yet blends remarkably smoothly with the floral and vanilla element in the 1969’s oriental backbone. The clove is much spicier in the first spray before it tones down with the time till the dry down. Although spicy, it does not project a harsh and sharp odor but calm and smooth tones. In the middle of this spice complex, beautiful rose notes arise.
Rose, vanilla, clove–the three of them are perfect together.
The rose is not dominant but blooming enough to give the fragrance a pink silhouette, smelling velvety floral. It thrives in the center of the spicy vanilla accord, looking bright and elegant, smelling green and slightly honeyed.
The spices’ scent lingers until the dry down, merge excellently with the balsamic and woody base. Towards the dry down, the smell of patchouli and musk starts to take over smoothly. Patchouli plays an interesting role here, being the foundation for the woody backbone. Patchouli’s woody, sweet, and herbaceous notes smell excellent with the vanilla and clove, revealing the deep, dark, and mysterious facet of 1969. There’s a tad smokiness in the background that reminds me of tobacco and cocoa that adds to these effects. At the very end, the feathery musk gives an excellent finish.
Many things are going on inside this fragrance, but at the same time, it is not confusing. The composition is very balanced, well-rounded, and the scent transition is smooth. Smelling this is like going on a journey with a specific destination–a pleasant voyage.
1969 is one of my favorites from Histoires de Parfums.
The brand would like to convey the essence of harmonious sensuality with this fragrance, and I think, why not! They nailed it. 1969 mysteriously represents sexuality with spices, vanilla, and musks—exquisite yet playful. These materials are often used to build sexy oriental fragrances, but few paired them with spices like 1969. That what makes 1969 unique, and that is why I love this from the first sniff.
The nose behind 1969 and many other Histoire de Parfums’ collections is Gerald Ghislain. He is the founder and the perfumer of Histoires de Parfums since 2000. Before becoming a perfumer, he studied hotel and restaurant management and opened a restaurant in Paris. He gained interest in perfumery when he visited the Museum of Perfumery in Grasse. In 1997, he went to ISIPCA to get a perfumery degree and founded Histoires de Parfums 3 years after.
Which fragrance do you like from Histoires de Parfums? I would love to hear your thought about this house!
See you!
Cheers,
Gia.
