March 3, 2020

What’s a Fragrance You Purchased Years and Years Ago and Still Wear Today?

Hello!

I think I’m back! 🙂 I missed you all! It’s been a very, very, very busy month and it’s still not over yet. Work has kicked my butt and the time changing is going to really drain me. I hope you’re all doing great. The Spring seems to have sprung around here and the warm weather is setting in. The warmer weather is what inspired this post today as I’ve been reaching for lighter fragrances the past several days. Honestly, fragrance wise, I wouldn’t say Spring nor Summer is my favorite time of the year. I like more Fall and Winter scents! But none the less Spring and Summer is always a great time to haul out sweet, fruity blends.

As I started hauling out Spring scents one fragrance that always seems to make it into rotation is….

Ralph is one that definitely comes out in the warm weather! It brings back a lot of good memories for me as it’s my first “real” fragrance purchase. It’s a purchase I made for myself many, many years ago and I consider it my first real big girl perfume purchase even though it’s a very youthful fragrance. To this day, it remains a very, very fond favorite of mine and it’s nice to haul it out, spritz it on, and remember why I love it so much!

Elizabeth Arden Sunflower is another one of those scents that my sister purchased for many, many, many, many years ago and something I still wear to this day. Ralph and Sunflower are definitely two scents I grew to love years ago and are still something I wear today.

How about you?

What fragrance(s) did you purchase years ago and still wear to this day?

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Diane

    missed you!! there was a bath and body works holiday scent from years ago, merry marshmallow kiss. i hoarded it and still wear it frequently. i’m sad they never brought it back.

    • Isabella Muse

      missed you back! I remember you loved that one! There was another BBW holiday you like too wasn’t there? BBW kills me when they fail to bring back my favs!

      • DIane

        wow you’re memory is so good my friend! I also LOVE Vanilla Bean Noel, but luckily that one returns over and over. I’m also sad they axed Wild Madagascar Vanilla, that was another fave.

  • Jujubes

    Welcome back! 🙂 My favorite fragrance, which I still have, is Stella from Stella McCartney. I also kept a Disney fragrance called Kiss The Girl and use it once in a while.

    • Isabella Muse

      Thanks!!!!!!!!! 🙂 ha! I have the Kiss the Girl fragrance too ;-D I rarely wear it but it sticks around for nostalgic reasons 😀

  • Dee

    So good to see a post from you! Hope you are taking care of yourself while working so hard.

    One that I seem to gravitate toward in the Spring is Estee Lauder’s Pleasures. I can’t even remember how long ago I started wearing that. I also really like Jo Malone’s Nectarine Blossom & Honey.

    Take care!

    • Isabella Muse

      Thanks Dee! Its been too long. I’m trying! I’m bone tired to be honest but I think I’m slowly getting back into a normal schedule! I love Pleasures! Also, Beautiful Sheer! I always bring out a lot of EL fragrances this time of the year ;-D

  • kimkats

    Don’t wear a lot of fragrance because most of it gives me a stuffed nose or a headache, but I still have and wear Estee Lauder Pleasures (SO nice!) EA Green Tea, and Jo Malone French Lime Blossom.

    Glad to see you back – kept obsessively checking the site for new posts!! 😀 Don’t work too hard, darlin!

    • Isabella Muse

      good to be back! 🙂 I’m trying! I’m super tired but I’ll get to the normal me soon!

  • Jess

    Burberry for Woman. It’s the one in the plain oval bottle. I think I’ve worn this since the late 90s.

  • Dannell

    What a fun post to bring back memories! Interestingly the two perfumes that I loved and bought multiple bottles of (I am a perfume lover also so it is very rare to purchase a second bottle of anything!) were both discontinued. My absolute favorite spring/summer perfume was a Lancome one called Aroma Tonic, the green one. And my second was Calvin Klein Truth.

    • Isabella Muse

      oh my gosh I remember Aroma Tonic! That’s def an oldie!

  • Suiren

    Scents show up weird on me for some reason and the only perfume that has consistently been good to me over the years is Bath & Body Works Beautiful Day. Other perfumes with green apple just vanish on my skin but this one lingers pleasantly.

  • Deb

    Welcome back Muse! Stop killing yourself!!

    My oldie but goodie is Light Blue. Can’t even remember how many years I’ve worn it. I have a large fragrance collection and I forget about this one sometimes and go a long time without wearing it. And then I remember it and put it back in rotation. And fall in love all over again. For some reason this one just works so well with my body chemistry. It’s literally the only fragrance I’ve ever worn that gets consistent 100% positive compliments.

    • Isabella Muse

      Oh boy never were truer words uttered. It’s been a wild month 🙂 Light Blue is an oldie but goodie for me too! Def a great Spring wear!

  • Stacy

    Amarige by Givenchy!!! I was in college and could NOT afford this, but I made it happen. It had just come out and I smelled a sample in a magazine, fell in love and went to Macy’s and bought a small bottle. It was the first fragrance I ever purchased on my own so it meant a lot to me.

    I still have a bottle and I wear it, but it was my signature scent back then.

    Muse, you’ve been working way too hard. I sure hope you treat yourself to some extra fun stuff. You deserve them.

    • Isabella Muse

      Ah Amarige brings back very good memories for me too! Def a “grown up” perfume for me ;-D Gosh it’s been a long month Stacy thanks for your concern and I def could use some fun ;-D hopefully soon as it slows down around here 😀

    • Sheree

      I bought a bottle of that recently and I didn’t think it smelled the same at all. Sadly, I ended up throwing it out, it was that bad.

  • Violet

    So delighted to see your posts again, but I totally understand how busy and exhausted you are.
    OG Opium has been in my cold months rotation for over 20 years, but I wear Black Opium more now. For spring and summer, I still wear Clinique Happy, Light Blue, Ed Hardy Villain, EL Bronze Goddess from my hoard of fragrances.

    • Isabella Muse

      aw thanks dear! I’ll get back to it 😀 Clinique Happy is def a great one ;-D And of course, I totally hoard EL bronze Goddess 😀

  • TropicalChrome

    More recent: Amethyste by Bvlgari. Really old: Somewhere by Avon. I have a small bottle from a rerelease many years ago. It still has some scent, so I put some on once in awhile and breathe in the memories.

    • Violet

      Omg you brought back some memories. I actually have my mother’s vintage bottle of Somewhere and I bought the rerelease too!

  • Carolina

    Glad to have you back, Muse! I love Sunflower so much! Still wear it on some occasions, especially during the warmer seasons. I also like to bring out Summer Grace by Philosophy. I do love that scent, almost more than Amazing or Pure Grace.

    • Isabella Muse

      Happy to be back Carolina 🙂 <3! Me too! It's def one of my oldies but goodies ;D Philosophy Graces def have a cult following as well!

  • Cindy

    Can you even still buy Sunflowers? I used to wear that one! I still wear Stella, Stella Sheer, and I still use Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. in the winter. I originally bought a huge bottle and never managed to use it up lol.

  • Bella

    I used to love Amariage by Givenchy. I smelled it on someone a few years ago–and hated it. My favorites that I keep coming back to (which I just bought) is Garden Botanika’s Citrus musk (it’s just one note, and Body Time’s China Musk which they went out of business last year!! So sad about this. Someone trademarked it and I bought a sample and it is not the same!!! My other favorite is a perfume by Jennifer Anniston. It is so light and it smells like summer. I really like light scents. Also, another one that was discontinued decades ago was Eau de Love by Love. They made love’ Lemon scent by Dana.

  • Meg

    I rediscovered Hypnose (Lancôme) last week. I remember as a teenager thinking it smelled so sexy! I read it may be discontinued (who knows with rumors) so I’m happy I bought it. I brings back great memories and still smells lovely!

  • N

    Elizabeth Arden Sunflower was my favorite fragrance many moons ago in the 90’s. Argh, I can’t believe it was that long ago. Now I want to smell it again because it’s been ages and it is nostalgic to me. My fragrance tastes have changed over the years, so I really don’t go back often. I did just start wearing Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia again in the fall and I had bought it back in 2010. I wouldn’t say I am a pear or freesia fragrance lover, but there is something about how they put it together that I really like. Glad you are back for now. Try to find time to take it easy.

    • Isabella Muse

      the 90s feels like yesterday! We must be getting old lol! I sure will! I hope to have a but of a lull at work soon!

    • Lori

      OMG! It’s my holy grail perfume. I can’t even count how many bottles of it I’ve purchased! The weird thing is when someone asks me what I’m wearing, no one has ever heard of it. Glad to find another admirer of it.

  • Katherine Rasmussen

    A classic scent I still wear is Calvin Klein Eternity (worn since 1991 at 13 yrs old!).
    I recently repurchased Donna Karen Be Delicious, which I have worn since 2006.

  • charlotte Thuy Trang lo

    I saw the title of this post and the 1st thing that pop up on my mind is YSL parisiene. I got it in college and I just used it last Sunday.

  • Lori

    The original Chloe. It really annoys me that there are soooo many Chloe’s now. And why are the bottles not clearly labeled as to which is which? Ugh!! Another one I love is Y by Yves St Laurent. That was my first big girl perfume.

    • Isabella Muse

      I love the original Chloe too! such a classic and true! It’s really hard telling them apart!

  • DiDi

    Welcome back. I sure understand work kicking your butt. I’m retired now but I remember being so tired at times when I got home I had to put some things on the back burner. You have to take care of yourself. I just bought a sample box of Nest Perfumes. I love them all but so far my favorite is Indigo.

    • Isabella Muse

      It’s been a rough month! And it’s still not over yet 🙂 I sure will try! I’m trying to catch up on some much needed rest by heading to bed early when possible 🙂 I love Nest! they have some great blends!

  • Patrícia

    My most beloved old ones are “Acqua di Gió”, from Giorgio Armani (I�ve been buying since its launch) and “Dream”, from Gap (my husband�s favorite in me). I also enjoy CK Be, from Calvin Klein.

    • Isabella Muse

      girl, talk to me tova! I love her! I wish it was stronger though!

  • Ava Gorelick

    I am still wearing L’Air Du Temps, Oscar de la Renta (original) and Opium (original), Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion and Moschino Couture! Glad you are back!

  • Jaimie

    Glad to have you back Muse! Missed your posts so much 🙂 Try to mix in a little fun with all that hard work!

    Perfume is an absolute Passion of mine and I’m always trying new ones, but I always return to my favs. First and foremost, Chanel Eau Tendre. I call this one my wife because if I had to get rid of all my perfumes and keep only 1 this would be it lol! The others are my honey’s on the side lol! I love Dolce & Gabbana Red (the old one from the 90’s which is very hard to find now), D&G Light Blue, EL Bronze Goddess, J-Lo Live, VS Sexy Little Things Noir (wish they still made that one!), Lovely Sweet Sixteen ( also discontinued) Ralph Lauren (original blue bottle), VS Pink Hot Crush (why oh why did they discontinue that one! :-(( ), B&BW Red Velvet Cheer (also discontinued) and lets not forget one of my favs as a child, exclamation! I still break that one out and love every minute of it Lol! Sadly, many of my favs are discontinued but I usually can find them on eBay. 🙂

    BTW, Do you remember Malibu Musk?? I wish, wish, wish, they would bring that one back! So nostalgic for me. I wore that as a child. My mom would buy me a bottle and I’d spray it so much it would be gone by the end of the week lol!

  • Jaimie

    Glad to have you back Muse! Missed your posts so much 🙂 Try to mix in a little fun with all that hard work!

    Perfume is an absolute Passion of mine and I’m always trying new ones, but I always return to my favs. First and foremost, Chanel Eau Tendre. I call this one my wife because if I had to get rid of all my perfumes and keep only 1 this would be it lol! The others are my honey’s on the side lol! I love Dolce & Gabbana Red (the old one from the 90’s which is very hard to find now), D&G Light Blue, EL Bronze Goddess, J-Lo Live, VS Sexy Little Things Noir (wish they still made that one!), Lovely Sweet Sixteen ( also discontinued) Ralph Lauren (original blue bottle), VS Pink Hot Crush (why oh why did they discontinue that one! :-(( ), B&BW Red Velvet Cheer (also discontinued) and lets not forget one of my favs as a child, exclamation! I still break that one out and love every minute of it Lol! Sadly, many of my favs are discontinued but I usually can find them on eBay. 🙂

    BTW, Do you remember Malibu Musk?? I wish, wish, wish, they would bring that one back! So nostalgic for me. I wore that as a child. My mom would buy me a bottle and I’d spray it so much it would be gone by the end of the weeK! Ha!

    • Isabella Muse

      awww thank you Jaime! I missed you all too! ;-D I def am trying! Ditto! I probably love it more than makeup! Ha ;-D well if I had to have a wifey perfume I’d say Chanel Eau Tendre is a good one to have at my side ;-D great pick! I miss the original Sexy Little Things which smelled a lot like Ralph! I never tried Sweet Sixteen!? That sounds interesting. OMG Malibu Musk you’re taking it way back there ;-D I actually never owned or smelled it but I remember the boxes sets at CVS when I was a kid!

      • Jaimie

        Lol! Yes, waaaay back for Malibu Musk 🙂

        The Lovely Sweet Sixteen was just a cheap perfume you could get at Gordman’s and places like that. I was in the store one day and randomly sprayed it on. Then I was walking around like, “What the heck smells so good?!”� I realized it was that perfume, so I went back and bought two bottles! Unfortunately, much to my chagrin, they discontinued it. I have one and a half bottles left and I’m savoring because it’s pretty hard to find.

  • Mary

    So glad you’re back, Muse — I hope work does give you a chance to breathe and enjoy spring!

    I love and have worn classic Guerlain for years. I just bought an EDP of Habit Rouge (lovely layered with Shalimar), but my heart will always belong to original Fendi. It’s no longer made, but I still have one almost empty bottle and one unopened EDP.

    When I’m feeling a bit down, nothing lifts me up or makes me feel like Fendi does. No matter how high the price goes on eBay, mine is not for sale!

    • Isabella Muse

      Hopefully soon! I sure am tired ;-D And spring is def here! ;-D I’m so ready for it! I don’t think I ever smelled the original Fendi! Am I missing out on something awfully awesome? 😀

      • Mary

        Fendi’s first perfume for women (1985) is truly a love or hate fragrance. It’s as exuberant and out there as the 80’s could be. Like many other fragrances from that period, the briefest of spritzes is all you need. Overdo it, and you’ll choke your admirers, not attract them.

        Fendi by Fendi still has a big following and sells for outrageous prices on eBay. I’m so glad I stockpiled one!

    • Ava Gorelick

      Fendi is a fragrance I wore for years! I remember when it originally came out and I bought the whole line! It is still available on Ebay and Amazon (but Amazon has very expensive prices). I still have a GWP umbrella and makeup bag.

  • kjh

    Being old, and always thinking that old predated me, still doing the old Guerlain chyprebombs: Mitsuko and L’Heure Bleue. And I just ran out of Jicky, which I think was the scent that ushered in aldehydes. My fave for spring is with Ava, though, L’Air du Temps. My dad picked it for me, and he has been gone for ~50 years. A scentimental favorite, pun intended. My more recent choices are all gent’s.

  • Ruthie

    For me, Shalimar. Many, many years ago on my sweet 16th birthday I
    received a small bottle of Shalimar in a blue velvet bag. To this day
    Shalimar is still one of my all time favorites. For spring and summer
    Estee Lauder’s, White Linen. Sometimes I even spritz a little on my
    pillow at night!

  • Brandy

    I miss the original Body by Victoria. I wore that all throughout high school and college. Victoria Secret Supermodel perfume was popular in college too. I have a huge bottle of Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy (purple bottle) that I still wear to this day!! It just smells so yummy to me.

  • mellokitty

    Michael Kors “Glam Jasmine” is one perfume that gets me complements from strangers every time I wear it. It has become my signature scent. I discovered it at Ulta years ago after wearing “Chloe” since my teens. Unfortunately Ulta does not carry it anymore…so there goes my bonus points! I find it now at Macy’s.

    • Eraser

      I love that one too, although given my age, it’s relatively recent in my lineup.

  • kaide_beaute

    I think my first REAL perfume was RL Polo Sport for women! I adored that scent & really wish they never stopped making it! I have and LOVE Ralph Lauren Blue but always forget about it along with RL Style! Both gorgeous scents that I kept in the fridge for YEARS and still smell amazing! I totally forgot about them because they were in the fridge! I can still get Blue but Style has been long discontinued. I also like the Ralph line. I was also a die-hard CK Escape wearer but they went and changed the formula and it never smelled the same, to me, after that.

    I also still have all the original Coach fragrances from when Estee Lauder made them – Legacy, Signature, Signature Summer, Coach and Coach Summer. I also have the new versions Coach & Coach Floral. Coach Dreams is FABULOUS! I have the purse size and need to get a larger bottle!

    Tocca & Nest are fabulous too! Ok, I am stopping now!

  • Eraser

    Ah, Sunflowers… I was working through graduate school in a local department store that sadly is no more, and Elizabeth Arden had just introduced it. That was a long time ago… I still love it and a number of others from my also long-ago youth: YSL Paris (not an everyday sort of scent), Revlon Charlie, Wind Song, and Avon’s Sweet Honesty. I also love Arden’s original Green Tea which is from the same era as Sunflowers. One whiff of these brings back some nice memories and I hope they’re never discontinued, as was the case with Origins’ In Love Again and Body Shop’s Dewberry.

  • Eraser

    P.S. How could I possibly forget Calyx, originally by Prescriptives but now under the Clinique umbrella. I’ve been wearing it since I was a student and graduated from the 5 & 10 and Avon to the “good stuff” in department stores.

  • Laura Burke

    Coco Chanel. Started wearing in 1988 and it is still my main scent. At least once a week I get a compliment on this perfume. Love your posts!

  • Sheree

    Clinique Wrappings. You can only get a gift set at holiday season, so I buy two every year.

  • Lauren

    Versace crystal noir- same bottle for almost 15 years- I only wear it when I want the va va voom. I get compliments from men and women, it just really works on me and taught me that many perfumes can smell great out of the bottle but it’s the special few that meld with your own scent and elevate into something truly unique.