Jean Marie Farina Extra Vieille

20 reseñas

Mostrando las más recientes primero.

• ShiseidoTactics

  November 9, 2012

  

  This fragrance brings back many childhood memories for me. The first bottles I smelled were 80s imitations. I remember that someone would ask if it was original based on the number of shields on the label; the bottle wasn’t cylindrical but square, with a faceted cap. The aroma is a citrus cocktail; I don’t detect orange or tangerine, but rather several types of lemons. It’s fresh, smells clean, ideal for after a bath, staying at home, or welcoming family on a sunny day. It’s simple, but it doesn’t smell like a barbershop, you can sense its refinement, perhaps due to the absence of lavender. It’s a timeless fragrance, for those over 30 and for home use in warm climates.

• Mediterranean

  November 19, 2012

  

  The scent of innocence. My little son uses it, and every time I smell it, I think of him.

• Mediterranean

  November 22, 2012

  

  It smells like pure innocence. My little son uses it, and every time I smell it, I think of him.

• ShiseidoTactics

  November 24, 2012

  

  It brings back many beautiful memories of my childhood. The first bottles I smelled were imitations back in the 80s. I remember as if it were yesterday that someone in my family would ask if it was original based on the number of shields on the label; the bottle wasn’t round but square, with a faceted cap, like a polyhedron. The scent is a soapy cocktail; I don’t detect orange or tangerine, but rather several types of lemons. It’s fresh, a fragrance that smells clean. Ideal for after a bath, for staying at home, or for welcoming family and friends on a sunny day. It’s simple, but it doesn’t smell like a barbershop, you can sense its refinement (perhaps due to the lack of lavender). It’s timeless, for those over 30 and for home use in warm climates.

• mitsouko19

  December 29, 2012

  

  For me, what stands out most is the clove from the very first second, although the citrus notes are also noticeable, with petit grain being much more present than the orange.

• azuriiita

  July 21, 2013

  

  I asked Shiseido emphatically if it smelled like clove after reading Mitsouko19, and they said no, but now that I’ve tried it, I stand by her. To my nose, it’s clove, orange, and petit grain (more than orange), followed by drops of lime, rosemary, and flowers. It seems like a fresh, slightly Mediterranean scent, and I like it. It makes me want to drink wine with lime slices and cinnamon sprigs. Yes, it feels unisex and suitable for all ages because it’s light and pleasant.

• ShiseidoTactics

  November 16, 2014

  

  I reapplied my bottle of Roger & Gallet’s ‘Jean Marie Farina Extra Vieille’ (1806) four times today, and I have to say it’s a disappointing reformulation. The sillage has always been low, typical of an Eau de Cologne, but the old version lasted about 4 hours; this new one barely lasts 15 minutes. In the 80s, my dad used the old formula in that beveled bottle with pointed tips and a two-shield label, and that one truly smelled glorious and lasted well. By the way, Azuriita and Mitsouko19 say it smells like clove, and after sniffing it a lot, I confess they’re right. But I swear the fragrance I knew in the 80s didn’t smell like clove; just like they boosted the lavender in the reformulated Azzaro, they’ve dialed up the clove here. It’s easy to fool my nose, but not theirs.

• AlianzRebel

  March 11, 2016

  

  I reaffirm Shiseido’s review. Indeed, in the 80s it didn’t smell like clove at all, and its longevity was 4 to 6 hours in the peak of summer heat. I used it and loved it. I won’t buy it again due to its reformulation. Can anyone suggest other options? Reformulations lead me down the road of bitterness. Thanks and greetings.

• MarcusRS

  May 9, 2017

  

  I want to start by citing Wikipedia: Juan María Farina created the ‘Eau de Cologne’, the only perfume with that name at the time. After the French Revolution, with no registered trademarks, many copies emerged, and the name became generic. Farina called it ‘Colony Water’ for the city where he settled in 1708 with his brother Juan Battista. They founded their business in front of Jülich Square, and their fragrance became the favorite of kings and nobles in the 18th century. That’s why the city put a statue of them in the town hall. I agree with other reviewers: the vintage formula is precise, but unfortunately, the current one has lost its original essence. I have a 2004 bottle that maintains all its historical virtues; it seems it was reformulated around 2011, when the dissatisfaction started. If you can, look for vintage examples or pre-2009 ones. It’s mandatory to enjoy this beautiful fragrance that has existed for over 200 years.

• MarcusRS

  May 16, 2017

  

  I want to start by citing Wikipedia: Juan María Farina created a perfume he called ‘Eau de Cologne.’ When someone said that back then, it referred exclusively to Juan Maria Farina’s perfume. After the French Revolution, at the end of the 18th century, many tried to copy it. Since there were no brand rights and there were many plagiarisms, ‘Eau de Cologne’ became generic. Juan Maria Farina named his perfume that to honor the city where he established himself with his brother Juan Battista in 1708. They founded their company ‘Johann Maria Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz,’ meaning ‘Juan María Farina opposite Jülich Square.’ Over time, they made this fragrance the favorite of royal houses and nobles worldwide in the 18th century. For making Cologne famous, the city paid homage with a statue on the town hall tower, which can be seen today. I think what my colleagues describe is accurate, both regarding vintage formulas and the lamentable current formula. It’s a shame this icon has lost its original character and aroma. I’ve had the fortune to get a 2004 bottle that maintains all historical virtues. It seems it was reformulated in 2011, when public dissatisfaction began. If possible, try to get a vintage or pre-2009 sample. Obligatory to enjoy and know this beautiful fragrance that has existed for over 200 years.

• Ts6

  July 16, 2017

  

  This isn’t a review; it’s my story with this cologne. Extra Vieille was my first social purchase: I wore it to class, to birthdays, to the park, and to buy firecrackers on Fridays. My grandmother gave it to me when I was a kid; at first, I hated it. My older cousins used adult, masculine scents that I wanted, but she forced something rough, piercing, and dry on me, disguised as fresh but terribly sharp. It was strict and overwhelming; I wore it out of obligation until, fed up, my grandmother gifted me Vetiver from the same house. Although I alternated between them, the green bottle lasted less. She only said it smelled good when she used Extra Vieille. Soon I went from love to hate. The following summer, I liked it more and got a taste for that rough but complex aroma. At first, I noticed it was spicy, then more aromatic; the citrus and acidic phase evaporated quickly on my skin, leaving plenty of rosemary and a very present clove. I associated that clove with the cakes she said were good and the stews she loved. When she passed away, I’d start smelling her half-used bottles of L’Air du Temps and Coco. I noticed a realistic clove in the Nina Ricci one, and at that moment, I knew it was also in Coco. My grandmother wanted to perfume me with her favorite note; it seemed like everything she liked smelled of clove. The bottle my mother has, which I bought for her in 2005, didn’t seem changed compared to the 90s. There, I still smell a predominant clove with different worlds around it. I’m incapable of using it now, but I know it’s where it all started. My grandmother educated and conditioned my sense of smell. The herbs, spices, citrus, and flowers in this cologne are my favorite notes. One of my favorite perfumes is a great-great-grandchild of the Extra Vieille idea. It’s a cologne with history and millions of stories behind it. For me, it’s ours. Any enthusiast should try it, though who knows what the reformulated version will be like. With things like this, this magnificent madness began. 10/10

• Ts6

  July 27, 2017

  

  This isn’t a normal review; it’s my story with this cologne. Extra Vieille was the first one I used socially and daily: for going to class, birthdays, playing in the park, or buying firecrackers on Fridays. My grandmother bought it for me when I was a kid, and I remember I didn’t like it at all. My older cousins used more masculine and adult scents, the ones I wanted. Extra Vieille was harsh, sharp, spicy, disguised as fresh but terribly dry. It had something strict, overwhelming, and cutting. I wore it because I had to, but I hated it. Fed up, my grandmother eventually gifted me Vetiver from the same house shortly after. Although I alternated them, the green bottle lasted less. My grandmother would only say it smelled good when I chose Extra Vieille. Soon I went from love to hate. The following summer, I liked it much more and developed a taste for that rough but complex aroma. At first, I noticed it was spicy, then more aromatic. The citrus and acidic phase evaporated extremely quickly on my skin. It still had lots of rosemary, but with a constant clove note. Clove was the first note I isolated. It was the same clove used in my grandmother’s cakes to make them taste good, and the same one that flooded a stew she loved with a scent of dried flowers. A few years ago, when she passed away, she would let me smell her half-used bottles of L’Air du Temps and Coco, her two favorites. For a long time, I noticed a very realistic clove in the Nina Ricci one, and at that moment, I realized it was also in Coco’s pyramid. My grandmother wanted to perfume me with her favorite note. It seems everything she liked smelled a bit of clove. The bottle my mother still keeps, which I bought for her grandmother in 2005, didn’t seem changed compared to the 90s. There, I still smell a predominant clove with different worlds around it. I’m incapable of using it, but I know that in my case, it all started with it. My grandmother educated and conditioned my sense of smell. The aromatic herbs, spices, citrus, and flowers that shape this cologne are my favorite notes. One of my favorite perfumes is a great-grandchild of the Extra Vieille idea. It’s a cologne with history, and like all of them, with millions of stories behind it. For me, it’s ours. Any enthusiast should try it, though who knows how the reformulated version will be. With things like this, this magnificent madness began. 10/10.

• Selene

  August 29, 2017

  

  There’s a lot of debate about the true origin of ‘eau de Cologne.’ In the late 1600s, Paul Faminis (an Italian in Cologne, Germany) claims to have created the first alcoholic fragrance, ‘Aqua Mirabilis.’ Others say he only perfected a formula from a Dominican monk who had been using it for centuries. Is it related to Santa Maria Novella or the Hungarian Queen’s Water? The truth is that ‘Aqua Mirabilis’ contained bergamot, lemon, rosemary, lemon balm, and other ingredients, known for its digestive, hepatic, and antiseptic properties. In other words, it started as a medicinal compound, not a fragrance. Later, Faminis passed the formula to Jean ‘Antoine’ Farina, who continued manufacturing his ‘Aqua Mirabilis,’ highly sought after by travelers for its refreshing and digestive effects. Then came Jean ‘Maria’ Farina, who traveled to Cologne to open his soap and fragrance factory. They say he created the first ‘Eau de Cologne’ (honoring the German city ‘Cologne’) between 1700 and 1750. It was patented as ‘Jean Marie Farina Eau de Cologne’ in Paris in 1806. Later, Roger & Gallet obtained the formula, which they still keep today. It’s worth telling this story to understand the context, because there’s a lot of espionage and mystery surrounding the creations and authenticities, not to mention exact dates. This historical preparation seems to have roots dating back to 1200, and surely everyone added their own name and personal reformulation, especially when it became mass-produced around 1700. Added to the legal disputes between the Farinas, and when Wilhelm Mühlens with his N°4711 cologne appeared, who took the formula and marked this cologne as cosmetic use, without intending it to be solely digestive. What’s interesting, aside from the historical level and the gossip of these disputes, is that in this particular cologne, at the compositional level, what I adore and makes it different is its strong herbal presence. Other colognes tend to be more syrupy or floral, but this one has a rich range of herbs and spices that give it a unique touch. It makes it very refreshing and has a ‘sedative’ effect of tranquility. I understand why people back then highlighted its virtues. It’s not crazy to think they drank it; today we also ingest lemon, alcohol, and herbs. Lemon is antiseptic, and we know the properties of certain herbs well, and in plague times, it’s not unthinkable they clung to this ‘Water.’ Regarding the longevity of this cologne, it’s incredible that after 10 hours, I still faintly smell the subtle herbal aroma on my skin. I love it.

• La plus belle

  August 17, 2018

  

  I bought it this summer because of the soap in the gift set, without testing it first, taking advantage of the sale. I used it at the beach and loved it—very fresh, not overwhelming. I already have L’Occitane’s Eau d’Azur, which is very citrusy and eventually becomes overwhelming. It also reminded me of Revlon’s budget-friendly cologne, the big green bottle; that one was so strong I only used it in winter. This is very similar to Eau de Cologne, but the Revlon one’s citrus notes are suffocating. Now I’m happy; I find it fresh and elegant, ideal for hot days after a shower. Good for the office, but not for enclosed spaces. As they say, it gets you going.

• efrensil

  November 24, 2019

  

  It’s a scent that will always mark my childhood; it was my dad’s signature fragrance. He used it his whole life, from when he was a boy until he passed away; I saw the huge number of containers of all sizes and models with that exquisite fragrance. Today my dad isn’t here… But at least I keep his scent, his fragrance; I guard it jealously. I only open it, close my eyes, and inhale it without spreading a single drop of that vintage barbershop smell, which makes me remember him and feel he’s still here with me. I don’t use it because I don’t want it to run out; I’m thinking about buying a bottle to use it. Because it’s a beautiful citrus scent from my childhood.

• efrensil

  November 30, 2019

  

  A scent that marks my childhood; it was my dad’s perfume. I used it from a young age until he passed away; I saw countless bottles of all sizes with that exquisite smell. Today my dad isn’t here, but I cherish his scent. I only open it, close my eyes, and smell it without spraying anything; it smells like a vintage barbershop and makes me feel like he’s still around. I don’t use it so it doesn’t run out—I’m thinking of buying a bottle to use it. It’s a beautiful citrus scent from my childhood.

• Edu Lezana

  August 18, 2021

  

  An essential classic for cologne lovers. To me, it smells first of juicy lemon and bergamot, then transitions to vetiver and sandalwood, reminiscent of Sisley’s Eau d’Ikar due to those woody notes. It’s good, versatile, and smells natural. Perfect for hot days for those who like citrus-woody scents. Well-balanced and still alive. It has a nostalgic touch. I don’t buy it myself since I prefer sweet, potent perfumes, but it’s a cologne you should always have on hand if you don’t know what to wear. A rejuveneted veteran.

• OmarRubiano

  August 16, 2023

  

  Almost 100 years ago, Jean Marie Farina created Eau de Cologne 1709 (the factory is still in Cologne). This is a version by his descendants who capitalized on the name. It hurts to see how they keep lowering the concentration and the bottle quality. The trail is short, sometimes an hour, max two.

• Stendhal

  October 4, 2024

  

  A timeless classic that never goes out of style. It’s the literal definition of ‘cologne.’ The downside is it doesn’t last more than half an hour on the skin, sometimes not even five minutes. The quality and bottle are top-notch, but it’s not worth the price. Perfect if you want to mist your face with tonic water every five minutes.

• Anye_Parfum

  September 7, 2025

  

  A cologne that gives me energy, though it fades quickly. I use it right after a shower before bed or on hot days. I always keep a handkerchief soaked in it, and even older people have complimented it. Ideal for home or extreme heat—it’s not bothersome and feels refreshing (I always carry a decant).