Joy by Jean Patou

Elegant, floral, and delicious. It transports me to the women of the Roaring Twenties obsessed with the latest fashion. The most expensive perfume in the world, just as Jean Patou intended for ‘JOY’. A pure feeling of happiness, an olfactory essay. After the 1929 crisis, Patou and Almeras chose those notes for this elixir. Top notes: Bulgarian rose, ylang-ylang, and nard. Heart: jasmine and May rose. Base: musk and sandalwood. Designed by Louis Sue, later housed in Bacarat crystal to look even more luxurious. In 1960, it was pirated, just like the clones we see today. In the 20s, 28 dozen roses and 10,000 jasmine flowers were needed for just 30 ml. Only the wealthiest could afford it. I detect ylang-ylang, nard, and magnolias in the opening and dry down, along with aldehydic notes. After 30 minutes, it’s a powerful yet delicate symphony. It makes you feel powerful, believe me; on the skin, it’s sweetness, class, and character. Thank you, Jean Patou, for your creations, including 10,000 and Sublime.

The legendary Joy, the most expensive perfume in the world. It piques my curiosity; I’ve only read and heard praises about its complexity and exquisite combination of the finest notes, speaking of quality. It’s the scent of the incredibly famous Doña María Félix. I hope one day I can smell that…

A vintage flower shop decorated with gold leaf and lots of patina. A concept similar to Diorissimo but very different, with a sharper execution of the rose and nard; more floral variety. Both carry jasmine, but here it’s surrounded by other flowers. It’s a classic florality, very structured, with the natural and wild parts perfectly measured and controlled. I imagine beauty salons or majestic dressing rooms smelling of this. For lovers of vintage floral scents, grab both Diorissimo and Joy.

This perfume came into my hands thanks to my mother. She was gifted it when she was 20 and, captivated by the scent, decided to keep the entire bottle. The aroma is strong and bold; from the moment you detect it, it makes an impression, and there’s no doubt it’s Joy. The roses stand out powerfully without losing the class and distinctive elegance of this fragrance. A scent perfect for a sensual, confident woman. It’s a shame it’s no longer available, but for me, having a full bottle left is a real treasure.

I loved it…

I picked this up at a bazaar, a tiny sample bottle… I loved the scent, like that perfume from back in the day, powerful yet feminine and delicate. I’m almost out of it, and it’s one of my favorites. A true gem.

Joy is pure elegance, one of the few that blends jasmine and neroli without getting messy. It handles those notes perfectly and unlocks their full potential. It makes us adore civet, those animalic secretions that make it fascinating to the nose, even if many won’t be a fan. Thanks to the peach, it doesn’t feel dry; it stays juicy and sweet without being cloying. Don’t see it as a jasmine copy; while it looks very similar, it’s far more ambitious. Upon application, green notes, civet, and aldehydes take the lead. The jasmine is there from the start, but with all that rush of notes, it only starts to harmonize and gain strength after a few minutes. In the dry down, the rose and valley lily take center stage. Civet and the green notes persist throughout the fragrance but fade from the beginning to make room for others. Excellent floral!

Super intense fragrance that screams opulence; no wonder they called it ‘the most expensive perfume in the world’. The civeta note is very prominent, but with a floral-aldehydic base, it’s not for delicate noses looking for soft scents. Recommended for women with character, 40 and up; it’s a very formal perfume.