I never smelled the original 1937 version of Lancome Peut-Être (discontinued in the late 1950s or early 60s). The first time I came across Peut-Être was in the 2008 La Collection reissue that didn't survive for long. It was discontinued about two years later, though one could find it from various discounters for quite a while afterwards.
La Collection 2008 Bottles |
I remember thinking it was too musky-rosy for my taste, but I no longer have any samples around to verify. Recently, Lancome brought back three of La Collection fragrances: Mille et Une Roses, Balafre, and Peut-Être. They were reintroduced in Europe during the 2011 holiday season, and arrived in the US about a year later. This review is of this version.
Lancome La Collection 2011/2012 |
The dry-down is all about an ambery musk. Peut-Etre is sweet but not overly so, and it feels very warm and skin-like. I'm missing an edge, but pretty sure it's not there on purpose-- this fragrance is a comfort scent for lovers of floral musks and it pushes hard on the "pretty" button. I enjoy this perfume and think that it's miles above Lancome's recent mainstream (lack of) effort, La Vie Est Belle. Sometimes a cuddly floral is the just the right thing.
Lancôme Peut-Être ($175, 75ml EDP) is available from Bergdorf Goodman in NYC and select locations abroad.
Vintage Peut-Etre ads via hprints.com.
I do so wish that Lancome would bring all of the discontinued La Collection fragrances back...
ReplyDeleteI have my bottle of Cuir which is a joy, but will eventually disappear, but have been unable to hunt down Climat anywhere.
Pleased to see that this one seems to have survived repackaging intact, the current Magie Noire is a shadow of its old black magic self.
Thanks so much for review.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy.
It's really a shame Cuir isn't back. It's one of my favorite favorites and I stocked up because I can't be without . It is still available from Parfum1, though not as cheap as it was last year.
DeleteThere is a beautiful clip in the Austrialian movie *Strictly Ballroom* when the confused, but dashing male ballroom champion and the shy female who wants to dance with him get their rumba together that uses this song. It is pure poetry in motion for a few minutes!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds right up my alley. Thank you for the review! (Of course, if I try it, I might fall in love with it, and then it could disappear again... so risky!)
ReplyDeleteI've heard about this one but haven't tried it. Unfortunately Lancome's last release was a spectacular mess on my skin. I just wish they would bring back La Collection, thankfully I have a backup of Sikkim and several of Magie Noir. I think I might be good for a couple of years.
ReplyDelete