Truly a Classic
After coming across references to Mitsouko everywhere (including random fiction books) in the last few months, I had to finally break down and try it. It starts out smelling like a generic old lady perfume on first whiff. Luckily, it doesn’t take long to dry down to a powder, hay, and sweet wood scent. Trying to parse out those scents, I think the hay and sweet wood smells were probably coming from lichen or moss and possibly dried vetiver. The powdery scent seemed a smidge rose-like. And I was getting a hint of spices as well — perhaps cardamom and cinnamon. It has an interesting aura. Occasionally, it’s this soft, intriguing antique scent. However, other times, you swear you smell a 1980s aerosol hair spray like Aqua Net. I’d not be surprised if those hair sprays stole the scent profile from Mitsouko. As it dries down, it’s more musky, powdery, well-blended and gorgeous. I wish that the final dry-down scent was what you experience the whole time you’re wearing it because it’s something unique. It lasts way beyond 12 hours and becomes more intimate such that you’d probably only experience on someone else in an embrace. I could swear that I remember some sweet old lady a long time ago wearing Mitsouko and giving me a hug at church or a family reunion. You can also imagine a sorority girl wearing it, too. So, I think it walks a fine line between being mature and being young depending on who’s wearing it. I’d also love to smell it on a guy. I want to try this during a day with different weather just to see if it morphs. Today is cold and dry, but I bet it blooms into something else in humidity and heat. It’s really hard to rate a classic, but in the end, it’s subjective. I appreciate the history of this fragrance, having been popular since 1919. It’s unique, complex, and gorgeous. However, for my personal tastes, it’s 4 stars.