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Cinnabar by Estée Lauder

Women 1978

Perfumer
Bernard Chant

Description

Cinnabar by Estée Lauder is a spicy oriental fragrance for women. Launched in 1978, this composition was created by Bernard Chant and Josephine Catapano. Its olfactory structure unfolds with top notes of spices, cloves, tangerine, peach, orange blossom, and bergamot; a heart of cinnamon, carnation, ylang-ylang, jasmine, lily, rose, and lily of the valley; and a base evoking incense, balsam…

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Quick summary

When to wear it (votes)

  • Winter 46%
  • Spring 7.4%
  • Summer 6.3%
  • Autumn 40%
  • Day 36%
  • Night 64%

Key notes

Community

2,161 votes

  • Positive 80%
  • Negative 18%
  • Neutral 2.1%
positive reviews 2.2 k community votes
LongevityVery long-lasting SillageStrong Best momentWinter CharacterFeminine

The olfactory pyramid

A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.

The community speaks

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In the collection

Leading answer I want it

5,307 votes

Season

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Leading answer Winter

1,263 votes

Time of day

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Leading answer Night

876 votes

Each question has its own vote count. You can choose several seasons.

Fragrance profile

About Cinnabar

Main accord warm-spicy Year 1978 Gender Women Perfumer Bernard Chant · Josephine Catapano

Cinnabar by Estée Lauder is a spicy oriental fragrance for women. Launched in 1978, this composition was created by Bernard Chant and Josephine Catapano. Its olfactory structure unfolds with top notes of spices, cloves, tangerine, peach, orange blossom, and bergamot; a heart of cinnamon, carnation, ylang-ylang, jasmine, lily, rose, and lily of the valley; and a base evoking incense, balsam of Peru, amber, benzoin, sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla, and vetiver.

Spices Fruits, vegetables and nuts White flowers Flowers Woods and mosses Musk, amber and animalic Resins and balsams

How it wears

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Longevity

Leading answer Very long-lasting

607 votes

Sillage

Leading answer Strong

760 votes

Character

Leading answer Traditionally feminine

223 votes

Value perception

Leading answer Fair price

182 votes

Community reviews

6 reviews

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  1. You’re going to say I’m bad or that I have no sense of smell, but I’m not the only one who smells like a public restroom with Cinnabar. It’s a high-class, elegant, sophisticated lady, but sometimes she has a bad day with leaks and poor digestion. I only know her like this, all decomposed. My advice: test before you buy, never blindly.

    Reply
  2. Ring! It’s definitely CINNY! The girls shouted in unison and opened the door. Cinnabar entered, and all the sister perfumes—Chanel No. 5, Youth Dew, Opium, and Joy—got excited. They remembered their days as ‘THE POWERFUL ONES’ and chatted about how Aunt L’Oreal had ‘watered down’ Opium. Cinnabar noticed it now smelled more like aldehydes, like Joy, and while Opium and Joy noticed plenty of cloves and cinnamon, Chanel No. 5 insisted that what dominates is patchouli. Cinnabar laughed to learn they had relaunched it, and the five wonderful ones spent hours laughing together.

    Reply
  3. VainillaDulce

    I remember Cinnabar with much fondness; I haven’t found it again. A faithful auntie gifted me the last bit left in a bottle. It was a very gentle oriental, like a good girl next to an Opium. It smelled of sharp little cinnamon surrounded by soft cloves, pink pepper, incense, benzoin, sandalwood, and carnation. The spices embraced gently, and after hours, they turned powdery. It was beautiful, sensual, elegant, and classic. I want to turn back time and smell it again.

    Reply
  4. VainillaDulce

    I remember Cinnabar with fondness; I haven’t found it again. A faithful auntie gifted me the last bit left in a bottle. It was a very gentle oriental, like a good girl next to an Opium. It smelled of sharp little cinnamon surrounded by soft cloves, pink pepper, incense, benzoin, sandalwood, and carnation. The spices embraced gently, and after hours, they turned powdery. It was beautiful, sensual, elegant, and classic. I want to turn back time and smell it again.

    Reply
  5. Casablanca77

    Cinnabar is the pretty oriental girl with spices. Before, it was wilder; now it’s softer and warmly cinnamon-scented, without dirty tones. Even though it’s diluted, I love it for that cold, powerful winter vibe, that hot red hue that awakens the feminine and hypnotic side. It inherits the strength of the 70s and is a treasure that shouldn’t be buried. It has more personality than an entire shelf of new fragrances.

    Reply
  6. A sensual aroma that highlights cinnamon, sweet yet light. Ideal for autumn and winter, it’s a warm, cozy coat that wraps you in mystery. Elegant and very seductive for conquering. It’s a classic that with just a few drops develops all its complexity and clings to the skin for hours. Great longevity, lasting until the next day.

    Reply