Anais Anais L’Original Eau de Toilette by Cacharel

I love it! I had a flanker in my teens, and now that I was gifted this, it reminds me a lot of the other one; they’re almost the same. Smells like baby powder, clean, like you sat down to get ready with some calm. To those who say it smells ‘old lady-ish,’ that’s ageism; every era has its scents, it’s like saying The Beatles are just for old people. Honestly, it’s a really pleasant perfume.

They gave it to me for Three Kings Day, and I haven’t thrown it out the window just to disrespect the person who gave it to me. If you like flowers, here you go to get overwhelmed. To me, it smells like grandma, even though I don’t remember my own. Call it vintage if you want, I don’t know. Overall, it becomes a heavy scent, gives me headaches, and makes me feel fatigued.

I don’t know how Fragrance allows anyone to review and write comments like ‘old lady-ish,’ ‘old,’ etc. Someone who truly understands perfumery doesn’t express themselves that way. A perfume doesn’t have an age; the age belongs to the person wearing it, and if you didn’t like it, that doesn’t mean others won’t. I just say that this perfume smells different on my mom’s skin and mine; on her it doesn’t last and smells oddly ambered, whereas on me it lasts a long time, something powdery and floral. My mom loves how it smells on me. So what you read in the comments might work for you or not. Know before you buy.

It’s okay for summer. It’s just a fragrance.

It was iconic. I got to know this fragrance through my mom, who used it, and like many comments, it’s one of those that brings memories, a scent associated with emotions and emotional bonds toward moms and grandmas. I think it’s because back then it was a real bomb, like much of what was around in the 80s. I bought it for my mom a year ago; initially, it’s the same scent, but over time it fades to nothing… so sad. It’s so diluted that very little of what it was remains, just the top notes, with that they convince you it’s the same as always… well, no, they’re letting it die under the idea that it’s vintage, a shame.

It smells old, but not the typical old lady kind; it’s elegant, like a vintage bus perfume.

Very floral, very vintage, very feminine but also very powdery. I don’t like it at all.

I had it in my youth; it was a craze among girls my generation and was the first ‘fine’ perfume my dad gave me. Forty years later, I have it again. While it’s not a scent for today because it’s too floral and a bit heavy, I still like smelling it because it brings back so many memories.

A floral, powdery, yet not cloying scent.

I used this perfume when I was very young and never could give it up. I love those soft yet persistent flowers, that powdery sensation. It has good performance since it’s an affordable perfume with a moderate sillage. For me, it’s a timeless beauty.

It came out vintage on me. Not for me, but thanks for letting me try it. In my opinion, it smells like an old classic, but honestly, it’s a great perfume thanks to its amazing projection and longevity. On me, it smells like a green, soapy floral.

I tried it to see how the reformulation turned out; I owned it in the 90s, and the first version had a bit more of that floral, romantic bomb from back then. It definitely reminded me of it when it dries down, though it doesn’t last or project as well. At first, it even seemed like a different perfume. Still not sure if I’m going to buy it.

To me, Anaïs Anais is something subtle, romantic, and vital; it has something that reminds me of dew on little flowers one spring morning that makes me want to read quietly and listen to music after a shower and some spritzes of Anaïs Anais. It feels very light but present, although I notice the opening a bit alcoholic and uncomfortable, but I don’t mind since it settles quickly. One of my favorite notes is hyacinth; once it settles, I notice it a bit soapy but tender and delicate. On my skin, it smells floral practically all day I wear it, always with jasmine and hyacinth standing out; the green, wood, and moss don’t stand out too much, maybe the moss a little bit more but without exaggerating. I have a vague memory of the old one; my aunt wore it when I was small in the 90s, and there is definitely something similar between this and the memory. But I don’t dare compare them because I wouldn’t be objective. Although I suppose we’re never objective when talking about remote memories, and that’s fine too. To me, it captures the “essence” or its style. It feels like an evocative fragrance not just because of its mass popularity years ago, but because of its light, romantic, and melancholic will.

I think I’ll always have an Anaïs Anais in my collection, even if it’s just a miniature. This perfume brings me calm and happiness; it brings me so many childhood memories that I don’t mind smelling something vintage from time to time. This is pure floral, like walking through a garden. I think anyone from a little girl to an older woman can use it; if it’s retro, it always comes back.

Like most, this is a very sentimental perfume for me. It was the first perfume I had, a gift from my mom when I was about 11 or 12. I wore it during high school when I had a severe obsession with The Beatles. This perfume is cemented in my memory with nostalgia and 60s music and the innocence of pre-adolescence. Now, almost 20 years later, I’m back to Anaïs Anais with that tenderness, and my review is along those lines, especially because I understand that this is a perfume that smells like “old lady” to many people who don’t keep it in their memory. I also want to mention that, for me, this new version is excellent; it’s a magnificent tribute to the original from the 70s. To start, this fragrance opens with very particular flowers; lily of the valley, honeysuckle, and ylang-ylang presented in an earthy and green way, as if you were smelling them directly from the ground, not from a vase. I feel the whole bouquet of flowers, along with hyacinth, lily, and rose, very powdery, diffused, ethereal, definitely in a feeling of the era, very different from current sensibilities. If you’ve seen the advertising photos from that time, you’ll perfectly understand what I mean. Once Anaïs Anais has dried on the skin, moss, musk, and sandalwood appear with more force. I even feel the incense that the original formulation had (although I’m not sure if it’s just my memory). The perfume becomes a bit woody, a bit more mossy, but stays floral throughout its life. To me, it’s a very delicate aroma that reminds me of lace, nylon stockings, floral and light dresses from the late 70s, long loose hair. It’s a perfume that, although it can be used by anyone, tries to evoke that image of femininity from 50 years ago and I think it does it very well. This formulation still feels just as strong and long-lasting, although I miss the lavender and incense note from the original. On skin it lasts more than 10 hours and on clothes until it’s washed. It’s a noticeable perfume and whenever my friend wears it, I can always perceive it. Besides, it’s very versatile. Definitely a flagship perfume. In general, I think it’s a great perfume that remains very relevant despite the years. I’ll treasure it as long as it keeps being produced.