Vintage Visa Redux

A great perfume pal sent me a sample of the legendary Vintage Visa by Robert Piguet and I fell in love with it, convinced I'd never have more than that tiny bit.  Surprise!  I found a few like minded gals and obtained an 8 oz bottle in it's original plaid package that had never seen the light of day nor been opened, I wonder if the juice could possibly be from 1946, the year it was made????  Quite a bit older than me if that is the case.

There really isn't much information circulating about Visa in its original version, as the new one (with which it shares only its name) takes up all the airspace.  It is often attributed to Germaine Cellier (Bandit,Vent Vert, Fracas, Jolie Madame) who I researched a bit and thought that she must be one of the coolest perfumer of all time.  Here is what Helg of Perfume Shrine at the end of her wonderful piece about the perfumer --

"It is difficult to imagine how perfumery would have been today without Germaine Cellier (or how she would react to today’s perfumery of focus groups and discussion panels), such was the defiance with which she paved her own way and became one of the most rebellious names in fragrance creation. And for that we’re truly thankful."

Denyse on Grain de Musc reveals to us that Visa was  composed instead by the influential Jean Carles (also Cellier's arch rival it seems) and looking at his list of perfume accomplishments, I can sense the connection between Visa and Tabu, Miss Dior, Shocking and Tailspin. But I’m disappointed that my new treasure isn't a Cellier Gem. 

And a Gem it is -- the masterfully blended aldehydes, rich florals, in an amazingly rich base of earthy woods and herbs,  and an animilic hit unlike anything else I know, add up to a truly great almost forgotten scent that I am thrilled to own. 

Vintage scents abound on Ebay and at The Perfumed Court, and I encourage anyone who is moved by these historical wonders to do anything to obtain them while we can! 

Comments

[Perfumaniac]

You truly scored here! That bottle is amazing. I will have to revisit my sample. I couldn't get over how much it reminded me of Angel. I cannot agree with you more that perfume fans should visit the classics. I try not to get too nostalgic or romantic and remind myself that there are wonderful contemporary perfumes, too. Thanks for the post!

[Qwendy]

Thanks for visiting stopping by, you make me want to blog more! Hmmmmm I think you should revisit your Visa from TPC -- my sample was from them too and it seemed fine, but what people refer to as Animilic might be the component of Angel it was reminding you of, albeit perhaps on an off day. My nose (brain?) changes a lot.

I might be fooling myself, thinking Im not being romantic or nostalgic about Vintage perfume (me - the one who misses the times Ive never seen ; ) but My Nose does seem to prefer the older ones, up to and including the 70s ~ whether its chemical, or formulation or sensibility or e) all of the above Im stuck with it! Thank heaven for ebay and perfume friends like you!