Odyssey by Avon

What was your first perfume? For me, it was Odyssey by Avon, a ‘feminine’ fragrance born in 1980. This was my aunt’s favorite. I remember the silver cap, blue lettering, and the frosted bottle. I recall everyone getting ready at my grandparents’ house on Sundays for church while my aunts styled their hair with Aquanet spray, my uncle used Jockey Club pomade, and my grandmother and great-grandmother wore their Avon perfumes, Maja and Elegante. My aunt would mist this on her clothes, and the whole room would fill with that scent. I was about 4 or 5 years old, and I loved that smell so much, plus the bottle was super eye-catching. I probably broke about two bottles with my clumsy kid hands, and my mom always ended up paying for them xP. (I’m planning to gift her a vintage version now that I’m 31). Last year, I bought the current version sold by Avon with that horrendous square bottle and black cap. I thought it would transport me back to that era, but it didn’t. The current formula is a chemical, synthetic, and deformed version of what it was in the 90s; it smells more like floor cleaner than perfume and didn’t remind me of anything. So I went out of my way to find a 90s batch. I found someone on Marketplace selling a 1995 batch, and I didn’t hesitate for a second. As soon as it arrived, I sprayed it on my hand, and that picture of my grandparents being alive, and my family not being broken up by their deaths, flashed back to my mind for a few seconds. 😭 Setting nostalgia aside, here’s the description: it’s a floral, herbal, and musky scent. The neroli and aldehyde notes are potent in the opening, just like I remember, capable of filling a room. It smells clean and fresh, like someone just out of the shower. Now I understand why Natura’s Essencial Oud Pimienta Masculino and Essencial Único Masculino remind me of it so much; they don’t look alike, but that accord of Vetiver, Musk, and Sandalwood is definitely there. I swear there’s a patchouli and iris note because it smells slightly like makeup, similar to the iris in Valentino Uomo Intense (which also has nothing to do with the scent). Worth noting, the ‘chemical’ smell I sense might be the substitute used today for the lily-of-the-valley note, which IFRA now classifies as toxic. The longevity and projection of my 1995 batch are much better than the current version, of course. This perfume was the recent culprit that got me a cake: I needed a birthday cake for a friend, the bakery was closing right when I arrived. I told the manager please sell me a cake, and despite seeing her grumpy face, she reopened and sold it to me. Before I left, she said: ‘I’d like to know what perfume you’re wearing because it smells so good.’ I replied: ‘Odyssey by Avon, 90s version.’ 😎 This perfume, despite being 28 years old, still gets compliments. And nowadays, according to current perfumery trends, it smells quite unisex to me. I’m happy to have it in my collection. 😍😍😍😍😍 Cheers and thanks for reading.

Delicious, classic, and super floral aroma. I don’t smell it as powdery as others say; to my nose, it’s like smelling a really nice, caring soap. The price is a joke! Excellent option to smell good all day, because even that lasts a ridiculous amount of time on the skin.

Hats off to Avon for not throwing away their classics. What joy to find a scent faithful to the spirit of the 50s and 80s. It’s timeless, with a musk that makes it cozy and warm, ideal for cold days. I detect notes of civet, mimosa, magnolia, and lily of the valley, all very subtle. To my nose, there are lots of aldehydes that make it powdery, empowering, elegant, and executive, followed by ylang-ylang, rose, and jasmine, perhaps a touch of powdery lemon or bergamot and a barely perceptible sandalwood. It reminds me of Guerlain’s Shalimar and a classic Chanel No. 5. I recommend it from the heart.

One of my favorite Avon scents. Very 80s style but still smells amazing. Talcum powder and flowers. A scent no other perfume has. Good sillage and longevity. Ideal for daily use, after a shower, or going out to shop and smelling clean. It’s exactly that type of fragrance.

A floral aroma. Economical and with a pleasant, soft yet elegant scent. It’s totally worth it for an executive or office environment. It’s subtle but noticeable. For a catalog fragrance, it has medium longevity and sillage. If you like florals, buy it.

Opens with full-strength alcohol and very oriental, but once it settles, it smells like talcum powder and baby powder. Not bad, but I wouldn’t buy it again.