Cafe Cafe Parfums for women

Cafe Cafe Parfums for women

main accords
warm spicy
woody
aromatic
patchouli
earthy
citrus
fresh spicy
rose

Perfume rating 3.84 out of 5 with 735 votes

Cafe by Cafe Parfums is a Amber fragrance for women. Cafe was launched in 1978. The nose behind this fragrance is Jean-Jacques Diener. Top notes are Rosemary, Verbena and Lime; middle notes are Spices and Rose; base notes are Patchouli and Vetiver.

Cafe by Cafe Parfums is an oriental fragrance for women. Cafe was launched in 1978. The nose behind this fragrance is Jean-Jacques Diener. The fragrance features rosemary, spices, lime, patchouli and vetiver.

Read about this perfume in other languages: Deutsch, Español, Français, Čeština, Italiano, Русский, Polski, Português, Ελληνικά, 汉语, Nederlands, Srpski, Română, العربية, Українська, Монгол, עברית.

Pros

Pros

9
0
Affordable
5
0
Lasting scent
3
0
Lighter version of Opium
4
2
Spicy fall scent
2
0
Well-blended
2
0
Similar to expensive perfumes
2
0
Good ingredients
2
0
Suitable for modern environments
Cons

Cons

4
1
Strong soap scent
2
3
Masculine scent
1
2
Perfumey smell
0
3
May irritate sensitive skin
0
3
Not long-lasting
0
3
Uninteresting soap scent
0
4
Burnt coffee/waxy smell
0
4
Poor quality/synthetic smell

Note: The pros and cons listed on this page have been generated using the artificial intelligence system, which analyzes product reviews submitted by our members. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, we cannot guarantee the complete accuracy or reliability of the AI-generated pros and cons. Please read the full reviews and consider your own needs and preferences before making a purchasing decision.

Fragram Photos
Perfume Pyramid

Top Notes

Rosemary
Verbena
Lime

Middle Notes

Spices
Rose

Base Notes

Patchouli
Vetiver

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All Reviews By Date

massimilianoinquieto

Questo profumo in origine era di Otavia parfums, ne ho due bottiglie di fine anni 70 e anche le bottiglie erano di forma diversa.
Il profumo non c'entra niente col caffe ma evoca una fragranza orientale ambrata meravigliosa,sulla scia di Opium ma più semplice e meno sofisticata.
Questo genere di profumi mi piace spesso di piu in estate,quando il calore e la solarità dei loro bouquet si fonde con l'atmosfera.

Carlitos

A couple of hours ago, I received the delivery of this fantastic bottle of perfume that cost a whopping 8 Euros. I had already tagged this fragrance as potentially curious and was quite keen to at least try it out. Given its low cost, it was easier (and cheaper) to order a new full bottle, than to keep me going on adventures with decanters.
Today, although I was inclined to try a women's perfume with a strong osmanthus note, out of mere curiosity, I decided to go ahead with this also feminine fragrance as a SOTD. Right from the start it appears as an amazing scent (for the price) of rather spicy resins, which dry out acquiring soapy and powdery facets. In other words, it starts unisex and then leans towards a more feminine hue.
This is a truly surprising and rather underrated gem. In reality, it is a perfume with a scent reasonably suggestive of being a lighter flanker of YSL Opium's feminine version. Perhaps it is a little too gentle to fully replace Opium, but it is certainly easier to wear and makes it possible to use an "Opium-like" scent in an office environment. It also reminds me slightly of Chanel Coco, which I reach for even quite often. So it seems like an irrefutable "two-for-one" deal, albeit in a poor bottle worthy of hiding.
Performance is quite average and that is surprising too. With such a low price I expected a longevity of 2~3 hours. But I can assure all of you that it lasts more than 6 hours with 3 sprays and projects over an arm's length.
If I would have to rate it globally right now, I am comfortable suggesting an 8.0 out of 10.0.

Music: Norah Jones - "Don't Know Why"

venussansfurs

Vintage bottle. Strong, spicy, rosy scent that leans a bit masculine due to lime and rosemary. I detect some oakmoss in the dry down, not listed above. I wouldn't call it an Opium dupe, though it's in the same sphere (Ninja by Parfums de Coeur was closer and better for that). This does give me some espresso with lemon twist-like vibes and would be a good one to wear to a coffee shop.

emilymonroe1

The spices in this are delicious. Despite its relaxed implications, it has a really opulent sense to me. This is a rich fragrance. My bottle had the ideal combination, and even with the powdered soft patchouli blending in, it still appears quite "weird" and otherworldly. I like how there's a tinge of incense in there as well. I strongly recommend this low-cost perfume to anybody looking for a warm and rich aroma with great endurance and silage. Cafe by Cafe is my absolute favourite!!! Excellent scent at an affordable price!

Vabeachtiff

I tried...but this smells like a shaving cream at a barbershop. Old spice. I'm good with more masculine frags, but this just isn't right for me honey. Maybe if I pass it to my son, he may want it. Either that or the 🚮.

scatteredshowers

I ordered this recently after reading so many favorable reviews, all with different impressions. And at such a bargain, I could afford to take a risk! I was curious about its similarities to Opium, and was taken in by the promise of rose and spices. On my skin, sadly, this promise was not kept. The mysterious, vague "spices" are not there, and the rose barely so - but in their place is something just as good.
The strongest note for me is the verbena and lime, which calls up images of big white bars of soap. So clean and refreshing, especially for summer. The rose is not strong; it mingles in the background, hiding shyly behind patchouli. The herbal combination is very farmer's market, very 70s. Unique enough to stand out among the typical array of women's fragrances with their gourmand and fruity profiles (no offense intended, I have love for them too!). However, the dry down is when Cafe truly blossoms for me; the vetiver comes out to shine then, and I can almost forget about the missing notes I crave. It becomes earthy, almost smoky, and once the sharper, brighter aromatics fade, it wears like a woody musk.
Despite my unmet expectations, I still like this fragrance very much. I don't agree that it's only meant for cool weather, though I may have to reassess how its performance changes during the colder months. As it stands now, I consider this perfume appropriate for almost any occasion. I'll stop short of calling it a crowdpleaser, because the opening sharpness can be offputting, but anyone could wear this, anywhere, at any time of day. What an unexpected delight at such a good price!
EDIT 6/25/22: On this terrible, warm, humid day, I finally caught a whiff of spice. It was cinnamon! Praise be.

EspressoAddict

I bought this intrigued, as people where I'm from kept comparing it to the original opium. And i miss the original opium, after what they've done to it....

Well it is very similar to opium and other spicy oriental perfumes of the era. It starts off a bit too sweet, with an artificial sweetness that reminds me of children's cough syrup, but that goes away quickly and what i am left with is a combination of fluffy, clean laundry (which confused me because there's no musk or cotton listed anywhere) and an opiumesque scent.

I suppose it IS too similar to Opium after all, because it reminded me of my favourite aunt....but she never wore that. The original opium was the one splurge she allowed herself, and the combination of Opium and the scent of caring cleanliness is forever etched in my memory as her trademark, even more than her delicious fragrant cooking. I'd say that even though it is not an exact dupe of the original Opium, it is close enough to it to remind me of someone i knew who wore the original Opium, and it's definitely closer to it than the current 2009 abomination. I definitely don't regret buying it, since i love that kind of scent. I do find it is a bit sweeter and a bit less incensy than Opium (not to mention the fluffy clean laundry smell). It stays on the skin very well, several hours, but after the first 30 minutes doesn't project very heavily, so it doesn't bother people. It's strong enough to be smelled when one gets close to you. I find that i need neither a light hand, nor constant reapplications. Just perfect

Littlesweetie

This is the first perfume I've marked as a dislike. I quite like some of the vintage, spicy perfumes, and this was an affordable gamble, so I went for it.
When I first spray I get bar soap and spice that are both so strong, they don't intermingle pleasantly, but compete such that I smell one and then the other, alternatively. After a few minutes, the spice falls into the background, and I get primarily soap. I'm not opposed to soapy perfumes, but this soap is both overpowering and uninteresting at the same time. A person who has stepped out of the shower after using some fruity Bath and Body Works body wash might smell soapy and sweet in a very pleasant way. And that's what I want it I ever do want soap in a fragrance, the faint aroma of someone having used soap in addition to other interesting aromas that give richness and depth. This perfume is not that. Imagine, putting a generic white bar of soap right up to your nose and inhaling. That's what this is after that initial blast of spice. I will say, the spice and soap aren't pleasant together, so I prefer the dry down, but it is by no means redeeming. I know a lot of people seem to love this, so I wonder if I should keep trying to like it, but I don't think I can. In addition to my negative first impression, this perfume gave me a little headache.

Kellergirl

I purchased this on ebay for $8 with free shipping. Someone in a fragrance group I'm in on Faceboook recommended it. I can't say if it's similar to Opium, as I have never smelled Opium. But I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. On first try, it reminds me of an old 1970's perfume, like it has that old vintage smell. I'll try it one more time, and see how I feel about it. As of this writing, I'm not a fan. I gave it away.

bacchante

I wanted to love this. All the reviews described it as all the things I love in perfume -- spicy, incense-y, Oriental, an Opium contender. And it absolutely is -- in the bottle. I sniffed it, and it very much has the Opium impression, enough to give me hope that I had found one of my true loves in an affordable, if underwhelming bottle. Then I sprayed it on.

Before you read further, I should disclose; I've discovered that my body chemistry sometimes will change a scent. I don't mean a subtle change to make it unique, I mean drastically. It's not the fault of the perfume; for instance, I once smelled Tea Rose on someone passing by, and it reminded me of being surrounded by an English rose garden, a genuine floral fragrance that was like putting your nose in a blooming rose and inhaling. I remember buying a bottle eagerly, only to discover that shortly after spraying it on that I smelled like a grapefruit. It soured, and turned citrus-y, and not in a good way. I tried another bottle a couple years later, in case it was a bad batch, and had the same result. Others wear it and it smells wonderful, so I know it was me. Other times, perfumes will acquire a strange, almost plastick-y undertone that is offputting. Not all of them do, but enough to make me wary of buying anything expensive based on rave reviews.

I get the feeling the same thing happened with Cafe -- I sprayed it on, took a deep breath of cinnamony goodness and sultry spice, and an hour later, I am sniffing my arm, wondering why I smell like my grandmother's old Avon face cream. It smells vaguely of rose, but in the artificially-scented lotion sort of way. It isn't -bad-, exactly, but most of the spicy accords have faded, and what remains is not the same as what came out of the bottle. Not what I would wear on a hot date, let's put it that way. (And yes, I tried it on three different days, just to be sure). Still, it isn't unpleasant, and I would consider wearing what's left in the bottle on ordinary days -- but what's the kicker for me is that the scent faded out in only an hour or so, to where it isn't noticeable unless I put my nose to my wrist and sniff. No silage to speak of.

I'm sure there are women out there who can wear it and pull it off, and on whom the spice and woody goodness rages in full, seductive force. I'm just sad to say I'm not one of them.

echurch1979

Legend has it that if you spray this on the night of a full moon, you will teleport into the the very fibers of a 70's macrame project. It has that kind of spacial effect on me; although, it's only fair to state upfront, that my feelings are indifferent towards this perfume, and any soft notions are nostalgic at best. I saw a considerable number of perfume enthusiasts linking this to the prophetically grandiose Opium, but I assure you, you will not find those sentiments here. Opium is sultry amplified to stratas higher in our consciousness, than most people ever dare to tread. It is the heat of sweat produced in action, beading atop the natural oiliness of work, or play. Cafe is the shower after the throws of passion. It is the squeakiness of barred soap and long baths spent in gentle surrender. Lemon verbena, lime and patchouli smell of the homemade soap found at farmer's markets. Possessing both verdant luminosity and earthy shadow, this surfactant spume dominates all future olfactory perspective, and therefor, can only attribute a retro clean vibe for me thereafter. On the skin, dry down transforms over a few hours from sharp to soft, and a delicate wild rose breaks through its warm encasement of vetiver. Drying on flesh as it does naturally, before its final application in satchels, hidden amongst the silky delicates, lining the drawers of young women everywhere.

rosequeen

An incredibly inexpensive copy of YSL Opium 1977 version. I remember vaguely when this stuff came out, but I was already in the throes of YSL Opium and what did I want with a scent that was described as a cheap version of Opium. It was the go-go 1970's; yes, YSL Opium was expensive but there was lots of it around and you didn't worry about there not being any of it around when your little bottle was empty.

What a difference 43 years can make. At least 5 major recessions later and yes, there's lots of 1977 Opium around, but at much higher prices proportionately and who knows where the prior owners have been keeping their little bottles. (Oh, it's such a pretty bottle, I think I'll put it here in this window.) In the meantime, Cafe Parfums of France keeps cranking these bottles out. (Maybe they aren't; maybe they're all remainders. I dunno.)

It doesn't replace YSL Opium 1977 version, but it's a really good scent and it makes you feel like for once you've gotten a good deal somewhere. I mean gosh, this stuff is going on eBay for less than $15 for a 3.3 oz bottle. The bottle itself is tacky, and the plastic sprayer, cap and upper bottle cover are of the cheapest and probably most brittle plastic I've ever seen on a perfume bottle. I'm already wondering how I'll fix it when the whole thing breaks into 20 plastic shards in my hands. But right now it's great. Woodsy and dark rosy and lots of patchouli, but not quite as redolent as YSL. It has better manners. Doesn't last quite as long, maybe 4 hours unless you've doused your clothing along the way. Great stuff.

And thank you to whoever either reviewed this in the last 10 days or wrote an article about it. I saw whatever it was, and bought a bottle on your recommendation. Otherwise, I'd still have forgotten all about it.

ALC555

This is very similar to original YSL Opium of the 70's. Only a lighter version. It is masculine in today's standard. My mom wore the Opium in the 70's. Now l wear this since it is an inexpensive alternative and very unisex. My friends love it on me. I love it too.

kiraagold

This one is pure sexy fun--as if Opium and Tabu met at a Starbucks for an espresso and free wireless.
Cloves and roses at first sip and oakmoss and patchouli at the bottom of the cup.
Not huge or long lasting, but charming in a cheap and comfortable '70's hippy-chic way--and would be great on a guy too, in an A*Men style masculine gourmand.

meemee00

Unisex to me, Spicy tabacco. Something in my memory seems to know the scent. I don't really love it and don't hate it either, it is indeed earthy and slightly reminds of ashtray. I see why I wanted it based off the notes but I'm missing a tinge of fruit to take the edge off. I have no doubt I can layer this with a sweeter scent to compliment each other. By itself it is lacking either sweetness or a flower.

I bought this on ebay together with a bottle of Desnuda Emanuel Ungaro, and that one is really so much more enjoyable and sexy. Still smokey and incense-like but slighty sultry (not like cafe at all) ,.. that one is the best of the two.

Edit: I bought a bottle of Ispahan out of childhood memory sentiment,(russian seller zabava7) on Ebay and these two perfumes (cafe) are very similar to me. Ispahan is slightly less bitter but I wouldn't have bought it if I knew cafe was almost a dupe and so dirt cheap.

Having said that I will probably not enjoy either much unless I layer it with another perfume. It is a strong scent that just isn't me, strong, spicy, soapy non sweet scents are weird to me. Like incense I guess.

kirrineyears

After a deluge of aldehyde there is a 20% similarity with Opium. I must admit I was just curious to smell this one but miss my $12 ^o^

meg0825

Cafe is very spicy, woody, and herbal. It has that exotic Opium vibe, but it's not exactly a dupe. This doesn't have the best sillage or longevity but it's worth the low price. A great bargain fragrance!

rosielux

I just put this on at 22.30 in the evening just to freshen up a bit and I don't think I have ever worn it before although I have had it a long time. My husband immediately said that it smelled really nice and wondered if I had just bought a new one on holiday. I said it was a cheap one that reminded me of my mum who bought on holiday in Spain donkeys years ago and I just fancied smelling it from time to time to remind me of her. He really liked it though and it does smell nice on me so I will continue to wear it now. It fades very quickly though as all cheap fragrances.

PLUMPIE

Cafe is 100% better than modern Opium and smells identical on my skin to Vintage opium except it is lighter and actually more wearable for modern environments. It has a touch of Cinnabar in the dry down which is another plus. Its super affordable too.

Essy_C

Imagine you took a squirt of Opium and added a dash of Mandate to the opening notes. Cafe is softer and more feminine than either Mandate or Opium.

pattyk

I've had this one for years. It is a dupe for Opium in my opinion, on my body. I prefer Opium, which I have also, but I save that one for special times. I have hundreds of perfumes, much to choose from. The Cafe fragrance is pretty nice, no complaints but doesn't last as long as Opium. If you like Opium, don't want to pay out the ying-yang, then buy Cafe. I do not smell coffee but maybe a cafe and I think it's worth the price.

AcerSaccharum

Opium? Nope-ium. Actually, "Soapium" would be more accurate. The first spray is an overwhelming burst of aldehydes and...does anyone else remember Ivory bar soap? Yes. That, but more bitter. (Not unpleasant, just completely unexpected.) However, within 20 minutes, it settles down into a very (very) mildly warm and spicy skin scent. I was hoping the rosemary and patchouli would be more prominent (or even just present), but I'm not really getting so much as a whiff of either. That's okay. A ten-dollar experiment, and I don't hate it, not even close. Wasn't the first, won't be the last.

taureanrage69

This is a spicy fun little fragrance for when you're feeling playful: this always seems to put me in a good mood when I wear it. Spicy in a sort of non-sexy, but adventurous way, I see some comparison to Opium but it's much lighter (okay for summer wear IMO) and kind of reminds me of spicy root beer in the way it smells. It actually smells more like one of the Opium flankers I used to have, Fraicheur d'Orient, but I like this one better! This was a delightfully inexpensive blind buy, lots of fun to wear on gray days when your spirits need a lift and you need a little spice in your life!

Timby

his is a good copy of a spicy Opium sh fragrance. Not sure why its called cafe, as there is nothing coffee about it, Bottle is kind of cheap looking, but the fragrance itself is worth the purchase.
Strange, as an Opium copy I would have expected cinnamon and the like - but that isn't listed in the notes.Carnation and citrus is listed, and I don;t detect that. It makes me wonder if the listed notes are even correct?

anyhow good silage and ok longevity, but may require a few more than just one or two sprays.

Nice for fall/winter. Not overpowering. Happy with my purchase.

Phantomias

Cheapie fragrance, but very nice. I bought a sampler of this and was quite surprised how much I liked it. Some reviewers note a similarity to Opium, I notice a resemblance to Cinnabar.

Cafe isn't as strong as Cinnabar, nor as sharp or rich. It's a warm and spicy scent that doesn't knock people over when they get a whiff of it - Opium does that.

This scent seems perfect for layering, I've got some ideas about that ... maybe with Timeless? Or Ciara? Those fragrances all share similar notes with Cafe, let's see how they do together.

I've ordered a larger bottle of Cafe, and I hope so much this scent hasn't changed. There's no coffee in Cafe, but I like it very much!

Frogopolis

I bought this for the nostalgia, since my mom wore it a lot in the ‘80s (when it came in a plain rectangular bottle). Back in the day this was designed as an Opium dupe and it was quite good, a comforting spice-bomb—and quite strong. I remember that I liked it better than real Opium.

For $8, I figured it was worth a gamble on current Cofinluxe version.

I’m feeling conflicted about this. Cafe was never an expensive scent, but current version SMELLS as cheap as it is, and that didn’t used to be the case. There’s a screechiness on first application, then it smells better for 5 minutes, then it’s almost gone. I would liken this to a dollar store Opium knockoff. Not good... but I do so love the bottle with the little festive coffee beans on it! I may search out vintage on eBay.

shellapoo

Last week I picked this up on ebay for under $8 US including shipping. After reading most of the reviews here, I wasn't confident that I was going to love the scent, but figured for that small of an investment I could afford to take a chance. The moment I spritzed it on my wrists, I was immediately in love. How is such a delicious fragrance readily available at such a fantastic price? I don't know, but I'm sure glad I took the plunge. So far, I am not noticing opening vs heart vs dry down on my skin. For me it is all wonderful, delicious spices from the first spritz until it fades to a skin scent. On me, the sillage is medium and as for longevity, I would say on me it sticks around 3-4 hours. At this price, I can reapply as often as I wish! For me personally, I wouldn't wear this to an office job where you sit near coworkers. I'm sure there are some out there who won't love the fragrance as much as I do, and I could imagine even a tiny bit of over-spritzing could potentially cause problems. I think this is going to be heavenly in Autumn and Winter, especially while wrapped in a quilt and drinking my coffee - of hot cocoa! However today the temp here was 90 degrees F and I still enjoyed every minute of it. I know I am going to make every effort to keep this frag in my collection at all times. I would recommend this for all who enjoy spicy perfumes. Oh! I just thought of the thing that has been in the back of my mind, reminding me of this scent that I couldn't recall. This fragrance reminds me of smelling spiced, mulled cider in the Autumn. Autumn is my favorite season, and I love all of the smells associated with the season. Perhaps this is why I love this perfume so much. Enjoy!

omkh24

Desdemona is spot on. Smells like the knock off Opium at the 5 Below store, very one dimensional and fades fast. It was sweeter than opium which is what I did like...but again, the hairspray note! Tried it, found it just meh, moved on.

+1

vintage_scent

I got this at Ross for a song...yes this is somewhat like Opium, but I detect something that reminds me of mocha...not sure what it is, but this is quite lovely. I believe it is softer and less complex than Opium, but beautiful none the less.

A lovely scent for Fall, soft and powdery as it wears on, you really can't complain for the price...I just wish it would last longer.

FloatingOphelia

Desdemona is spot on. Smells like the knock off Opium at the 5 Below store, very one dimensional and fades fast. It was sweeter than opium which is what I did like...but again, the hairspray note! Tried it, found it just meh, moved on.

desdemona7

Similar to Opium only by about 10%. Gone in 2 minutes. Poor quality and smells synthetic. Spend the extra few dollars and get Opium, you won't regret it.

HOUSTONHOUSTON

First notes: diluted opium/obsession + cognac. Cognac is gone in 2 minutes. Not similar to opium but is from the same family. Oriental. Does not last as long as obsession or opium. Not for the day use. Very nice base. Good juice for the price.

Germanblonde

This is wonderful. It brings a summer in the city with tons of street cafe's to mind. The scent really reminds me strongly of great vacations in warm, bustling cities, with the aromas of herbs and spices floating through the summer wind. When I am invited to a fabulous but casual dinner on an outside patio, this is so fitting, and if you cannot make it there, the scent will surely take you there in your mind. At least for me, this scent always works. Don't fear wearing this beauty in the summer, it is really light enough for an oriental fragrance to be enjoyed in the heat of summer.
In fact, for me it's best worn on hot summer days

PurpleIris49

I got a travel sample of this in the early 80s. It was lovely with great projection and lasting power. I was disappointed to discover that it has been watered down to practically nothing. A wonderful oriental before the reformulation elves worked it over.

pablOSO

Yikes! it is not as soft as people say... yes it does resemble opium , the vintage one , but its missing some notes..but to the untrained nose it very similar. also it reminds me a little bit of cinnabar or youth dew.

unisex , but only for cooler weather or cool summer nights.

cheap in price , not in quality

LouPoetka

This a review for Café by Café Parfum/Cofinluxe, Parfum de Toilette, still containing Oakmoss and Treemoss in the ingredients list. (I know there are no other versions but I always like to make it clear.)

What a lovely and warm spicy fragrance! And so underrated! I agree with many reviewers that it does bear a resemblance to YSL Opium, however I dare to say (and I am expecting stones my way) that Café is even better than Opium. It is spicy with an earthy hint of patchouli, but the rose gives Café a sweet soapiness that makes it a lot less aggressive to the nose than Opium. It also smells less dated to me, although I believe this is because Café did not define an age, like Opium did.

One interesting thing about Café (and I found this to be true to many other Café Parfum fragrances I own) is that it is not a layered scent. What I mean is that, at the dry down, you don't smell many different scents unfolding on the skin - the smell remains the same from almost the first spray. This is not necessarily bad. Café is an uncomplicated fragrance - what you smell is what you get - and this is precisely why it is one of my favourite perfumes for daily wear.

The bottle is not very imaginative, but I like its vintage minimalism. It suits the scent. The 30ml one is perfect to carry in your purse or bag.

Café is a softcore Oriental perfume, for those who enjoy showing their spice off but don't necessarily feel like knocking passers-by out. It is warm but soft, intimate. It can be worn during the summer without fear (I have even worn it at the beach). Granted, the longevity is not its greatest strength, but it's cheap so you will not feel too guilty about reapplying it.

Happy123

Wonderful fresh smelling perfume to me ... I think from the combination of spices and patchouli. I love patchouli as it always seems to add a bit of freshness. Based on the short list of notes, I'm amazed how beautiful it smells ... it reminds me a bit of Maja (rose, patchouli and cloves). It smells like it comes from Spain.

The biggest problem with this perfume is it's name and packaging. It gives the impression that there's coffee in it and looks cheap. If it was called something like 'Espalina de parfum' (the spicy Spanish dancer) and packaged more like the Chanel fragrances, it would have been a lot more popular ... LOL!!!!

Like Tiger84, I too stumbled upon this perfume to save shipping costs ... so glad I did ... bought some reserves too!!!!

Tiger84

Amazing spicy-incense piece which dries down to a little soapy and powdery. A truly surprising and underrated gem.

I stumbled upon it by accident as I placed an order for two items and was supposed to get free shipping if I order two perfumes, but the shop didn't have Caron Pour Un Homme in stock. I decided to look around, perhaps I find something inexpensive that I would rather order than pay the shipping, because if I order another fragrance, I can at least discover one more of them, instead of only getting it shipped. Weird logic but I'm sure some people understand it, would you rather pay for shipping or for another bottle of new scented territory?
So I found the Cafe brand and checked some reviews and I couldn't believe my luck when I saw what they wrote about this. I ordered a 30 ml bottle. Then after it arrived, I soon followed up with a couple 90 ml bottles, because it is so special I wanted backup.

This is really like a toned down Opium. A bit too soft for my taste but my coworkers probably appreciate when I use this instead of Opium (which I use for more special occasions because it feels like a protecting, guiding spirit which knows everything and shows me the way, therefore I keep it for the days when I need that the most). It also reminds me to the ever amazing Coco, so it is like having two very good things in one tacky bottle.

Sillage and longevity could be better, but I have no problem with refreshing the scent. I am sure there are people who find Opium too much (not me), they may even prefer this piece for its softness.

theuntrainednose

I have to re-test it. I may have tested from a spoiled bottle at the store.

====
On me, something dry and herbal, mixed with, unfortunately, stale tobacco smoke.

Try before you buy. It may work better on other people.

Tested a spray on the top of my hand.

Enfleuragist

As I am almost done with the bottle of Opium I purchased in late '80s, I have been looking for something similar, and from the reviews on here I thought this would be a good choice.

In side-by-side testing it is very much like Opium, with a spicy warm opening that softens to something a little creamier after about 10 minutes on the skin. A nice substitute and the price is just a fraction of the cost.

georgequeue

After finding out how cheap it was ($15.75), I decided to give this baby a chance--I'm a man!

Café for Women smells really nice. You can feel mainly spices, musk, and incense on a soft flowery layer (by account of the rose); it's a little strong when first sprayed, but it settles down after five minutes and becomes very pleasant.

To me, Café is definitely a unisex scent, and it does smell like YSL Opium. Longevity is moderate (4-5 hours), and projection is rather low. It performs best if worn on colder days, but it would work well on warmer nights. It's really pleasant to wear; it's also dated (well, I don't care), but totally inoffensive.

I've heard it's not widely available nowadays (at least in my country), so it's worth having, especially if you like 80s orientals.

ecofreak2001

Received it as a gift when I was a teenager...a little bit much back then. Still, I used it up and reserved it for night time to go out as it was a little bit too spicy. I think I'll put it in my want list...as I loooove this kind of frags now.

JJBloom

Beautiful! I agree that it shares a facet or two with vintage Opium. The warm sweet cinnamon, and soft incense is very similar. However it does not have the wonderful spicy sultry drydown of Opium. Still a quality perfume, warm, interesting, and unique. Although the bottle is not so elegant, it certainly deserves a place next to my Shalimar EDP. Love.

Shadow_Witch

This EdT smells the way I remember vintage Opium parfum smelled on the women in my life when I was a child in the '70s and.... is so inexpensive. Love it.

socorrosouza

Review in cooler temps (70 to 80 F): great spicy scent with more than 10 hour longevity ( a day on clothes) and strong sillage for over 3 hours. Improves its performance a lot with cooler temps.

socorrosouza

On me it was a good perfume, a spicy patchouli/vetiver with a faint floral touch, not too sweet but not bitter or medicinal either.It is quite original now, when white flowery or very sweet fruitchoulis are all the rage and good to wear even on hot days, although this is better for cooler temps.It is quite long lasting (over 7 hours on my skin), although sillage that starts strong in the first hour decreases to a soft cloud soon after. But its originality (in terms, since it has an Opium vibe) makes it quite discernible in the crowd and people stop to compliment.This has aged very well (it is from 1978) and is a good scent with good performance.

loveallperfumes

This is my favorite. I noticed it on somebody in the 90's, she went and got me a bottle as a gift. I've been wearing it ever since. I've used, Opium, Obsession, Cinnabar, but this one is my favorite. Although, there was a time when it smelled watered down, and I thought I would never buy it again, but maybe I got a bad bottle. I love this fragrance.

anapana83

This is a very spicy scent that is tempered with the notes of amber, rosemary, and lime, giving it a very unique coffee-like scent compared to the other warm and spicy perfumes that i have in my collection.

My grandmother gave me this back in the late 90's as a birthday present when i was a very young teen (maybe twelve or thirteen) and i have quite fond memories of it. Not being much a connoisseur back then, i would wear it at random times throughout the year, day and night, in the warm Panamanian environment.

Eventually i forgot about it and just recently dug up my old bottle, which was not even used halfway. Upon smelling it after spraying it on, i was immediately transported back to when my grandmother had first given it to me and i smiled. Although the top of the bottle is missing, it still has a lot of meaning for me as my grandmother is now gone, and i will cherish this perfume for as long as i'll live.

As an adult now who is much more patient and knowledgeable about her fragrances, i can now say that this is a fragrance that is better suited for evening wear. Although perhaps the odd person or two might be able to pull off wearing it during the day, i would personally find it a bit too aggressive for day wear. This isn't the type of fragrance that i, now as an adult, would purchase since i tend to lean more towards flowery fragrances, but i understand now why my grandmother would've purchased something like this for me. Considering that she was from the era where fragrances like those by Myrurgia were the rage, she always gravitated towards spicier scents.

This isn't the type of spicy fragrance where after drying down, it will become sweeter like with Spark from Liz Claiborne. It will stay firey. The sillage and longevity leaves a lot to be desired, and at least on me, it stays close to the skin, so you might want to be mindful of that.

Betsywoolbright

Not a dead ringer for Opium, obviously. But how can it smell as similar as it does, given the notes?

harvest archer

I experienced a scent memory of Avon's Topaze when I sprayed this for the first time. A good friend of my mother used this....I think it was late 70s, maybe early 80s. Anyway, I thought of her immediately.
I love the flower patch in the woods impression on the top, and the creamy spice of the drydown. Very nice.

gtabasso

This absolutely does not smell like Opium or Cinnabar. I have every vintage oriental known to man and woman and also a nose. I can't believe none of the reviewers are talking about how this is an inexpensive but not cheap-smelling dupe for Chanel Coco. I actually like it more. I am not a Chanel fan. It goes on like a vintage chypre or aldehyde then warms up and lasts a nice long time. This is one of the best blind buy inexpensive fumes I have bought. A winner. I sprayed the heck out of myself because usually the cheap perfumes don't last or project. Whew. This one is a walking cloud of Chanel.

The_Entity

This reminds me of a much softer opium/cinnabar, wish had bit more sillage, but it is nice frag

Sweet Baby Bern

This smells exactly like Bain de Soleil orange gelee, which I love. Cafe also reminds me alot of YSL Opium but dial it down 30%. It's less intense than Opium but every bit as beautiful.

the_badger

Old Spice by Shulton! Extremely surprised I always wanted a stronger longer lasting old spice and here it is. Can't say they are the same but definitely get the same vibe. Never thought it could smell like Fiori di Ambra but it could be now that I think of it.

Eden Street

To be honest, I originally saw the bottle and thought it would be some kind of coffee-like scent, especially with a name like "Cafe" and coffee beans on the bottle. I was a little dismayed that it completely, did not smell like coffee but also over joyed at what it DID end up smelling like. a mildly spicy incense-y dream.

A bit heavy but it's absolutely delicious. The spices are definitely prominent and while there is no incense, it definitely smells like there should be. It's intense and gives me the feeling of something a littler darker, a little more sacred. Definitely a colder scent but it's lovely.

Lasting time would range between 7-8 on clothes, and even then it's still there, just very faint. A friend commented that it was quite a "womanly" scent.

georgequeue

I tried this perfume this afternoon, and I think it smells awesome! Cafe triggered a lot of memories from my childhood days today; I'm a man, and I'd like to get this.

After 4-5 hours of application on wrist, you can feel an animalic note that is greatly blended with the rest of the components, which reminds me of Dior Jules drydown a lot (as crazy as it may sound). Longevity is moderate, as well as sillage, and it's a great quality scent at an unbeatable price...I'm seriously considering adding this to my collection!

daisyvision

Mmm, I just love that spicy incense & patchouli! I recently snagged a cheap perfume lot from eBay for one bottle alone (Coty's Nokomis), and got four additional bottles I'd neither tried or even heard of - Cafe included. I wasn't expecting much, but found myself very pleasantly surprised. A delicious, creamy and mysterious oriental, packed with spice and woods.

Cafe does bear a striking resemblance to Opium, but there are a few differences. First, the price for Cafe is incredible (currently $12.50 on Amazon for 3oz). Of course, it may not last terribly long, but at that price, you won't mind refreshing the scent throughout the day if need be. It's less potent than Opium, which makes it a little more accessible and possibly less offensive, sillage-wise. It's on the creamier and sweeter side, where Opium is more of an ancient, smoky frankincense blend. It's perhaps a little more dated/less timeless than Opium, and very obviously '70s, but this just gives it a cool vintage vibe in my opinion. Perfect for your inner gypsy!

elsie.oliveros

Of all the Jean-Jacques Diener creations, this is the one I like the least. Le Must the Cartier is a masterpiece, though it's not my style. Jacqueline is my favorite, very unique (too bad is not on the data base, IMO, it's his best, even better than Le Must). Now, about Cafe. After reading the reviews comparing it to Opium, Nuit de Noel, Dune, Parfum Sacre, Mitsuko, MY Gosh!! I just HAd to buy it.
Well, well.....I don't get it. At first sniff my nose tells me "anise" (which I can't stand). I guess the combination of lime and rosemary gives that vibe. It smells very masculine (I don't know why it's not unisex). So I waited, and waited for the wonderful notes: oakmoss (love it), spices..but no. Just when I think it can't get more masculine, the vetiver kicks in. Where is Nuit de Noel? , Opium?, Dune?
Not that I am knocking off scents for men. I have worn Yatagan and I love it. With Cafe, I just don't get anything but lime, rosemary and vetiver.
I see that there are people who like it. It's very inexpensive, and, if you love it, great. As for me, I will see if any of my friends wants it.

Bublegum

I was wearing Opium for years, still do and I think that this perfume if it has to remind something it is indeed Opium. I am surprised to read that some people cannot see the resemblance. Judging by the colour of the bottle etc I believe that it came out as an Opium alternative or dupe. Like Chanel N°5 and L'aimant. BUT, if you really really love Opium, no, this is not the same as Opium. It is something similar, it has the general vibe, but no it hasn't got Opium's complexity and depth. It is a nice spicy oriental fragrance but unfortunately to me it doesn't have that much lasting power. I live in a very cold country and the maximum it stays to me it is 3 hours and after I have sprayed 10 times. But anyway, even with that litle longevity, I cannot complain since the price is very low. I suggest it for cold weather and evening or night.

soniamcalear

I am in "Heavenly" coffee power scent. This is one of the most gorgeous scents I've ever smelled. Really cheap on EBay too. I ordered 6 bottles of this this morning. I wonder why this is not more popular than it is. A mystery to me.

2746cstreet

The rosemary & verbena definitely give Cafe a soapy sort of opening, but as it dries down I start to smell the spices. I definitely detect cinnamon & cloves, but there are other spices as well.. they're just too blended for me to be sure what they are. A pleasantly sweet and woody amber base comes through about 30 minutes in.

A slight soapy undertone remains throughout the life of the fragrance and makes me wish for a bit more warmth, but this is still a very enjoyable fragrance. Especially considering it can be easily obtained for under $15.

I feel very comfortable wearing this and I think it will make a nice everyday. It's light enough that I feel it's appropriate to wear any time of year.

drugstore classics

I wouldn't care to compare this to Opium, but I suppose it's the only frame of reference many of us have! Cafe itself belongs to Opium's CATEGORY, more than it's aura. It has both a creamy aspect and a freshness, something I find completely unexpected.

Personally, the exciting part about Cafe is that it's an Oriental I can easily sport in hot weather. Better yet, it's remarkably refreshing! I think it's that Aromatic accord I notice and love. :)

Cafe has low to moderate sillage and longevity, but in this case that's not a deterrent to me. I feel I'm using a luxurious body spray, ideal for the dog days of summer!

Five Stars

Update - I've since sampled VINTAGE Opium, and here the resemblance is considerably more pronounced. Cafe is like a higher pitched version, lacking some of the deeper, 'dirty' notes of this Opium. I like them both!

pamela091083

I had it along time but in my skin it´s very poor fragrance only can smell in my skin 30 minuts but in my mom it´s very long time

Waltzing Matilda

I can kind of see how other members have likened this to Opium, although it doesn't have the patchouli hit that Opium has. In my opinion the wood is quite pronounced and I detect a certain bitter coffee undertone (hence the name I guess).

Lasting power isn't fantastic, and for me it's not really a valid alternative to my beloved vintage Opium. Is anything really? I'll pass it on or use up the bottle as air freshener.

kelleybelle

Love, love, love. I finally found a bottle on eBay. Simply gorgeous!! It's very possible that this scent was introduced to market in order to compete with Opium. The colours of the packaging are similar and some aspects of the scent itself are similar, but this is just a spicy beauty indeed. I think the lime accord offsets everything so beautifully. I was sniffing myself all evening last night. Could be considered perhaps an Opium lite. This scent is a little less spicy and not so heavy and intricate. Hard to find so I consider myself lucky. One of my favourites. In fact I think Fragrantica should make room for at least six favourites, agreed? :)

Shadow_Witch

It reminds me of Yves Rocher Ispahan only smoother in the dry down. Very reminiscent of pre-reformulated Opium. Very well-blended. Very French casual. I love it. The only thing I don't love is the very poor longevity. It's inexpensive though, so I can freshen up often.

teresathebarista

I, too, bought this expecting it to at least have a small hint of coffee to it. While it's nothing like coffee, it is a very pleasant scent. The vetiver is strong at first and then it tones down to a faint smell of almost graham crackers. A very interesting perfume.

leathermountain

I must agree with cloyd42 and weegee about the oakmoss. Maybe 15 minutes in, it becomes quite prominent. Something like: Mitsouko + Parfum Sacre = Cafe.

VeeNVegas

Beautiful, warm, spicy. This was another blind buy for me. When it arrived this afternoon in the mail I couldn't wait to spray a bit on my wrist. At first sniff I thought, "Wow, that is strong" second sniff, "Wow, that's Opium!".
Rushed here to see the notes on this and the first thing I see is all the references to this smelling like Opium. I am delighted! I have been trying all week to win various auctions on e-bay for a bottle of YSL's Opium! I'm finished bidding...this was MUCH less expensive and smells enough like it for me!

Bigsly, there is no coffee note in this perfume. I'm not sure why others are thinking it is there...the name, maybe. Other Cafe Perfumes such as ,Cafe Intenso, have the coffee note, but not this one.

Thomasania

This is a gem. I purchased it a blind buy on Fragance.Net and I received it yesterday along with Balmain Amber Gris. On a whim, I decided to layer them together and it is beautiful.
But back to Cafe, on its own it is a beautiful sister to Opium but doesnt require the same financial commitement. I have been wearing it since a 6:15 am and it is currently 1:30 pm and I can still smell it a few inches from my wrist. A second application may be necessary, but for the price I don't mind.
Although the bottle is cheap and tacky, the juice inside is beautiful and worthy of a better bottle.
I can see myself buying another full bottle of this in the near future. If you are trying to decide whether or not to pick this up, go ahead it is very nice.

Bigsly

I just did a dab sampling, and it smells great up close, which surprised me (being that this is a "cheapo"). With the rosemary and vetiver listed, my guess was that this could be unisex, and that is in fact the case (IMO of course). It's softer than YSL's Opium and doesn't seem to have great longevity but I'll have to wear it normally and report back. My guess is that this may be the kind of scent you have to spray several times (on the same spot) in order to get decent longevity. It's very well balanced and there's clearly something ambery here, though that's not listed in the notes above. However, I don't get any clear coffee note. I've got the bottle that is pictured.

bryan.dinh

A beautiful aldehyde overdose with light touch of creamy sweet coffee. It does give the same balmy quality as Opium.

HopeFloats72

It's 3 weeks before Christmas, and my Mom is unpacking our decorations. There are boxes of lights, boxes of ribbons, bows and paper, a big box for the wreath we have hung on our door for as long as I can remember, and then the box of candles-both electric and wax-that we deck the halls with each year.

I open the lid to the box of candles and there it is: the smell of Christmas to me. Bayberry, pine, spruce, cinnamon and cloves. That smell can only mean one thing-well, it did before I tried this fragrance!

I've been wearing Cafe by Cafe now for 4 days straight. I wanted to get the best impression of it that I could so I made it the only bottle I took with me for a long weekend trip. It is safe to say, I have found a new favorite frag for my Top Ten list.

This is the EDT I am reviewing, and with that being stated, I will tell you the longevity of this EDT is fairly good (upwards of 10 hours on me so far) but the sillage is nothing to write home about. I can catch wafts of it as I am moving around but otherwise it's pretty close to my skin. Hubby says he can smell it from about 6" and his sniffer isn't very sensitive. However, I had to get him VERY close for him to even pick up on it. It's not a head turner.

The bottle is Dollar Store chic, indeed. It isn't impressive, but the spray works great on it so far and it's a FINE mist, which I always appreciate more than a targeted stream. Maximum coverage with that atomizer.

When I first applied it all I could think of was Wassail. It's this incredible spiced wine drink served at the holidays full of every conceivable kind of spice. My cousin makes a wine-free version at Christmas and this is almost exactly what that initial mist called to mind. Then after about 10 minutes the wonderful carnation/patchouli notes began to warm on my skin and this frag really opened up and started to shine. It's a sweet smell, but not sugary or jammy. This has NO fruit to it. It's a calming, comforting smell that I expect from this type of Oriental frag.

I absolutely LOVE the spices in this. That's what I tend to go for, though. If you don't want to have someone tell you that you smell warm and homey, then don't wear this. For all it's comforting overtones, it's also very opulent to me. This is a rich frag-not cheap smelling, in my opinion. I think if the formulation had a tad more carnation in it then it would almost be cheapy. My bottle had just the right blend and with that powdery soft patchouli blending with it, it's still very "foreign" and a bit mystical. There is a touch of incense to this as well that I also love.

I highly recommend this wallet-friendly frag to those of you who love a warm, rich, but not over the top frag on those chilly winter days. I would probably wear this in warm weather, too, but only at night. Not a warm-weather, daytime wear for me.

LOVE the Cafe by Cafe!!! Great value, excellent scent!

Jerine123

This does remind me of Opium and KL, but not an exact replica. Be prepared for a spicy oriental fragrance that is a little softer than Opium or KL at first spray but does have the same staying power. Nice fragrance for the price and great for fall and winter or evening wear. As others mentioned, I do not detect the coffee in this one like I expected from the name, but some of the other Cafe fragrances really seem to have the underlying coffee scent like Gold if you are looking for a bit of coffee scent in a fragrance.

Milladane

Based on the name and the coffee bean designs on the bottle, I was kind of picturing an oriental with a coffee bean note in there somewhere. Not quite, but I liked it...then I realized it was very similar to Opium so I washed off the Cafe and started a side by side comparison.

The Cafe is a mini, so probably a perfume, and is likely from the early to mid 90s. The Opium is an EDT I got in mid-2000s (but could have been made earlier), so it's not the newest one, but not vintage either....not sure how many reformulations it went through.

OPENING Opium: immediately fragrant and has a colder sort of spiciness, slightly soapy, but not in a bad way. Cafe: initial huge burst of alcohol smell (I think it might be the perfume going a bit off due to age), then a sweet spiciness, and at this point, better smelling than Opium.

20 MINUTES: Opium: starts to develop some sweetness and the spiciness is warming up. Cafe: similar to the sweet spiciness of the opening, but a little more mellow. So, here, Opium is starting to catch up.

1 HOUR: Opium: now a warm vanilla with a hint of spice. However, the interesting thing is depending on the whiff I take, it alternates between warm vanilla and only spice. Cafe: the spiciness has subsided and is now a warm spicy vanilla.

3 HOURS: Opium: very faint, almost gone. Cafe: still there, still nice...I'd consider it's longevity to be moderate. I always get less than others, so I'm not surprised.

To sum it up, Opium is more complex and interesting, while Cafe is linear, but does starts off great right from the start. The main olfactory difference to me is that Cafe has a more noticeable Patchouli note. They both smell like they are of good quality, but Opium is definitely higher quality, though it should not factor in when you choose which one you like better, because they are both very very good. I would choose Opium if asked, but I don't really have to choose...because while I do love smelling these 2, I won't be wearing them outside the house since I don't think they fit my contemplative and moody personality...

For those interested, I will update later with additional comparisons when I open my vintage 1980s Opium parfum.

Mooncatt

Yes,this does have a similar, scented-candle scent as opium on me, nice an long lasting.

maja314

I also bought Cafe because of the reviews here and had gotten intrigued by it. After spraying it on I was immediately transported back to when I was a very young teenager, yes I remembered it then, I had owned a bottle of Cafe way back. And had forgotten about it completely! Well now I guess I had forgotten about it because it is a nice perfum but it is not that special (yes has great longevity). The day after my reunion with Cafe I also bought a new bottle of Dove original spray deodorant (never tried that one before). And I really couldn't tell the difference. So that's the soapy smell tots_eminem is talking about I guess.

lila_says

My mother has always worn Opium & smelled fantastic. I bought myself a bottle of the original formulation but it just didn't work. After reading the reviews of Cafe I hoped maybe this could be my Opium. Alas this too shall probably be given to my mother. I am becoming more & more convinced that I cannot manage perfumes that predate me.

I do agree with the positive reviews others have written that this is a worthwhile fragrance (in a hideous bottle)however, it is probably best suited to a woman 50+.

tots_eminem

it smell like soapy.. kind of shampoo smell.

joliecat

Thanks to ALL reviewers, I now have Cafe by Cafe and I love it ! Yes, it's like a lighter version of Opium, and yes, it has some similarities to Dune as well. Cafe is not one of those cheap smelling "knock-offs", however. Cafe is its own well blended beautiful perfume, with excellent ingredients, and it lasts as well as the expensive perfumes. Cafe is so affordable that it can be worn every day. IF you love the original Opium, do try Cafe by Cafe. You can't go wrong with this one.
Note to those who expect Cafe to smell like coffee, it doesn't. Rather, the name "Cafe" refers to the many very small cafe style "restaurants" found near oriental spice markets.

Conifer lover

This fragrance is better than I expected. Sure i read all the great reviews and I see it listed often as an unsung hero. This was a blind buy for me and I knew I would love it but, who knew I would really love it a lot? It's very spicy, warm, and smooth. I should have bought this one sooner especially since it's so inexpensive. I like this way better than many of my pricier perfumes. Thank you everyone for suggesting it, I love it!

sashaineurope

Cafe is a very interesting perfume. I have to agree that for that small price it is quite well lasting sophisticated perfume. Reminds me quite a lot of the latest YSL Opium version, not the old one. It does remind of cookies, cinnamon, childhood, Christmas. It is a very good replacement for Opium. If you spritz on leather - jacket, coach or car seats, the result is great - Cafe is just designed to be sprayed on leather. Although I am not a Opium person, I can't deny that Mr. Jean-Jacques Diener did a good job.

virginia.pavez

Mi mayor duda es por qué le pusieron el nombre Café si las notas de café no existen en este perfume. Recién aplicado me parece desagradable, pero al cabo de 1 o 2 horas mejora su presencia y se suaviza. Definitivamente no me ha gustado, pero quizás sea cuestión de costumbre. Espero que se acabe pronto, y claramente, jamás lo volveré a comprar.

My biggest question is why they named Café coffee if there are notes in this perfume. I just applied it unpleasant, but after 1 or 2 hours improving their presence and softened. I definitely liked it, but it may be a matter of habit. I hope it will end soon, and clearly, never buy it again.

TigerEyes

The drydown on this is very pleasant, but getting there lead me through a burnt coffee/waxy smell, the way a fireplace smells the day after burning one of those Java logs made from recycled coffee grounds. Personally had high hopes for this one, and very glad others have experienced better results.

ecofreak2001

Had this one a couple of times. First one was in my early teens; a bit strong back then, but still loved it since it's very spicy and ethnic. Then got it in my 20's and it was just right for me....bohemian, spicy & ethnic. When time passes, it leaves a powdery delicious smell on your skin. Yummy!!!!

trollet

Oh yeah, Opium and Cafe Cafe are much alike. I have Opium on one hand and Cafe Cafe on the other and the opening is very similar. Lots of spice. But Opium is rounder where Cafe Cafe is more sharp when it comes to the drydown. Sillage is great on both but Opium stays on longer. Someone said "Opium light" and I can agree to that. If you can't buy Opium, try this one. It is really wonderful and with a very nice price for a big bottle.

Nathalia

One of the worst perfumes I've ever smelt.

To my opinion, it has nothing in common with Opium, except maybe the box. For the juice inside; it's like comparing day and night.
My mother used to wear Opium so I remember the scent very well: oriental and rich, with much incense and spicy notes of clove and cinnamon. Some may find Opium a little heavy, but for those who likes the true orientals, it's still a very good quality fragrance.

But when I tried this one, Cafe Cafe, I jumped: it smelled just like the cheapest dishwashing soap from the dollar store with a strong disgusting note of rosemary in the background. I washed my wrist many times but just couldn't get rid of the horrible scent... (coffee and rosemary = awful combination, anyway). Tacky.

BTW, I don't know what's the point of calling this Cafe; there's not a single trace of an authentic coffee note in there.

EK

At first glance the box looks VERY much like the Opium box. On the small thumbnails it's quite hard to tell the difference. The top of the bottle does too, the color is almost the same - a bit less reddish - and same 'loose cheap plastic' feel. At least as far as I remeber, it's been many years since I had Opium.
The juice reminds me a lot of Opium too, only much lighter.I don't mind that, it's very nostalgic. Besides, as I only know the original Opium, I wouldn't dare buying a reformulated one - so it's actually great to find the resembling scent, knowing it's not supposed to be similar.
Longevity is very good for a Parfum de Toilette, about 7 hours on me.
All in all a good one, I like it a lot.

artsymom

Thank you princess_buttercup for the bottle!

This is definitely not unpleasant, but as soon as I sprayed this I was taken back to my childhood. It smelled like a wooden chest of drawers in my house that my mom kept candles and doilies in. Specifically, this smelled like candle wax on me, maybe an old Christmas candle that had lost 98% of its scent. There is something strange about it that I like, but there is also something melancholy about it. Maybe I just miss being a kid.

Absolutely no sweetness and totally void of coffee (what's with the name and artwork on the bottle then?)- but it certainly has great staying power for the price and I give it points for being unique. I don't know that I can wear this, but I do like smelling it.

princess_buttercup

I really wanted to like this. I was looking for spicy fall scents. This might have finally taught me my lesson about buying full bottles blind. It;s not bad. It IS spicy with a touch of sweetness, and it IS warm. For my taste though (and this may sound crazy) it too perfume-y. I just can't wear it. It irritates me, but I am very sensitive and picky when it comes to scents. I do agree that it seems like a lighter version of opium.

melbritt24

Wonderful spicy scent for fall! Great sillage and longevity!

[email protected]

One other that this reminds me of is Ispahan. It is a more toned down version. It's a great find and I would never have bought had I not seen the positive remarks.....true, you cannot ever judge a perfume by it's bottle alone.

Yamba1

You see, this is precisely why I love my fellow fragranticans. Based on the glowing reviews I jumped in on a blind buy. At A$18, this is a little gem, an indulgence that everyone can afford. I agree with other reviewers on the similarity with Opium, but unlike many cheaper perfumes, this has the feel of quality ingredients and craftsmanship. True, the bottle is tacky. SERIOUSLY TACKY, but you know what? It just adds to it's charm.

olga1780

Now in the heat of the summer I am really warming up to this scent as opposed to winter time when I got it. It feels great on my skin in hot weather. I still don't think it is similar to Opium though , even its flankers...which makes Cafe even more unique!
Ireminds me of Givenchy Pi a little though.

candymarie

This should be called "Opium Light"!

If your only problem with Opium is the over-bearing strength of the notes, but not the notes themselves, you might like this one.

Like Opium, it definitely has another time and place stamped on it. But in a good way.

If I can pry myself away from my sweet and woody orientals, I will wear this from time to time.

Vamy69

Warm delicious chai latte! I bought this blind after reading the notes in it and the reviews and I got it for a great price so I figured if I hated it I would not be out alot of money. I can see wearing this perfume in the fall and winter and over the holidays. Warm and cozy with just the right amount of spice to make it interesting and comfy cozy but inoffensive. It kind of reminds me of a cross between Giorgio red and Opium only more subtle. YUM!!!!!!!!

FairyDust

Lillybee has one of the BEST noses on this site! After reading her review here I bought this one blind and love it!! Very warm, spicy, and comforting. I don't really get a real coffee note, although, I am somehat reminded of light cappuccino. This is very creamy, woody and just a little spicey. Perfect for a summer's eve or any winter day or night. What a deal, too! I can't believe this is so shamefully cheap!!!

Kiku

This is one of the few blind buys I've ever made. I wanted to try it because of the glowing reviews it's received here. It does not disappoint! Cafe opens with coffee, chocolate, and cinnamon. It is hot, rich, creamy, and exotic -- like a cinnamon mocha. Next to arrive are roses: big, silky red roses. Cafe looses some of it's heat in the drydown. It turns soft, a bit powdery, a bit vanilla. Although it is a "hot" oriental it is not overwhelming and would be perfect for summer. How this luxurious scent can be so inexpensive and relatively unknown is beyond me. A must have.

olga1780

I really think that this fragrance would be better on a man. There is something shrill about it (probably citrus note)that takes away from the feminine elegance, and it persists from beginning to end (well, end means washing it off because this perfume has no end).
I might be biased toward it because every time I sniff it, it strongly remininds me of Troinoy Odecolon, which also has some favourable reviews. But for someone who used it as a rubbing alcohol half of their life, it's hard to perceive it as a perfume all of a sudden( people from the former Soviet Union will know what I am talking about).
I will probably wear it at home every now and then when I am in the mood for something zesty, but I don't think I can pull it off in public, unless I wait for an hour for the drydown, which gets warmer and just a tiny bit sweeter.
I guess in my collection it will be one of those fragrances that I have secret relationship with or just appreciate it from a distance.

All that being said, you can't take away the quality from Cafe, especialy for its laughable price. I don't know how they make any money selling it so cheap.Even the bottle, as crappy as it is, still costs something to make.

olga1780

Ok, people, you got me on this one...off to Ebay to buy one. What the hell.... $ 15, what can you lose.

cloyd42

Here's a mean trick to play on a perfume snob: decant some of this darling and send it on with no explanation. I predict you will receive a call about the Nuit de Noel you sent them: is it EDT? It must be vintage since the top has gotten a bit sharp, etc.

I am baffled that more people aren't loving this juice. It's rich, clever and well made. The ingredients seem to be top-notch and there's just enough itch when it goes on for me to believe that it's one of the last true oak moss scents standing. The interaction of the rosemary and vetiver is amazing. There's also something creating a lovely incense that isn't called out in the notes or the ingredients. The cinnamon and citrus sparkle.

This stuff is constantly on deep clearance. Do yourself a favor and pick some up. If the utterly hideous bottle embarrasses you too much get a pretty crystal bottle on eBay and decant. If embarrassed by the brand look vague and say "something French".

Sillage: 3-4 feet
Duration: 4 hours and counting
Fabulosity: La Vie en Rose
Price to value ratio: the diamond as big as the Ritz
10/10

njyogachick

Just got my bottle today based on the price/reviews...and all I can say is "Wow". Strong sillage of amber & patchouli (and a hint of chocolate?)...not overwhelming but just intoxicating. I can't wait to spray this on again. And I agree with other reviewers RE: the packaging. If Cafe was packaged in a less cheesy, cheap bottle, it would be triple the price. Let's keep this our secret.

weegee

Oak moss lovers, take note! This spiced gem's box still lists extracts of evernia prunastri (oak moss) and evernia furfuracea (treemoss) among its ingredients.

Cafe opens sharp and bright with fresh squeezed lime juice and a sprig of rosemary, ("for remembrance", in the language of flowers), followed quickly by "spices" (mostly cinnamon), woods (dry, not resinous) and mosses made deliciously "chewy" by a well-blended patchouli. The dry woodsy notes create a feeling similar to what I detect when I visit antique stores filled with lovingly polished old wood furniture.

Prejudices being what they are, I think that if Cafe came in a minimalist bottle with a niche label there'd be more people praising it. Now, if you want a fine pedigree, you're in luck. I just noticed that Cafe's nose, Jean-Jacques Diener, also created the magnificent & luxurious Must de Cartier. With Must in my lifetime top 10, I'd have sought out Cafe long ago if I'd known they were both children of Mr. Diener.

I sat up and paid attention when I saw that Malegria, NLS, tessture and lillybee all have written words of praise. Thanks ladies! It's a cliche by now, but I really can't stop smelling my wrists.

As for similarities with Opium, I'd agree they share the same feeling, but I've always had trouble breathing around Opium (in any concentration) and can happily say I sniff all the best of what I liked about Opium before it wrapped its big meaty hands around my neck in attempt to choke me to the point of death.

My 90ml bottle of parfum de toilette arrived today and I think it has to be the least expensive full bottle I've ever purchased that I liked so much, immediately! I keep a short list of fragrances I'd like to try whenever the "smelly monkey" has a free shipping deal and, boy howdy, was this ever a deal! $7.43, to be exact.

I've saturated myself and my wool sweater and as I inhale I can't stop smiling! I won't apply this so heavily when I'm going anywhere out of the house but right now I'm loving this fragrant cloud around me.

millan

I woke and the second thing in my mind ( The first thing was giving thanks to God for another day ) was that I just crave Cafe . So I spray liberally and I love it. It's almost spring here and being that this is the Caribbean U might think that it is not apropiate for hot weather. But as they say it is sister of Opium but lighter perfect fot hot weather. It wont suffocate you it is just perfect . It is cheap (mine cost $10 for a3.04 oz ) but it smellls so expensive. I realy love it . My most sincere critic is my son and he loves it he says it is diffrent to most of the perfumes out there. This for me is a keeper. vintage Opium is incredible, but so expensive. It may be cheap but just give it a try. You may be surprise!!!

Action

Guest_ totally agree!! This is a sister to KL, besides the obvious spices there is something of a (white) flower very subtle...I really get the KL feeling when I smell this!

Malegria

A rich, lush, uber-oriental; as most of the 70s, starts with an offense to your nose and then blooms into a beautiful creature. There is a similarity to Opium and C, - carnation,rose, cloves, resins are all there - but also many differences.Coffee is the most notable note that puts it apart the Opium look alikes.It makes Cafe sound more shrill, but also makes it such fun to wear. A winter scent with an amazing staying power.

NebraskaLovesScent

Given the notes and the date of introduction, I think Café was designed to capitalize on the craze for orientals sparked by Opium. The box even reminds me of Opium's old packaging a bit--the colors, the gold lettering, etc. Swap coffee beans for the flower petals on the box and voila!

That being said, I think Café is actually a little more pleasant and more wearable than Opium. As others have noted, this scent is softer, drier and maybe a little sweeter somehow? It's an improved variation on the original Opium theme.

Café lasts for hours and at less than $15 USD per bottle, it's worth a try even if you already have Opium in your wardrobe.

Action

This perfume is fantastic! The spices dominate here! It is a sister to Opium and the more refined KL. GREAT perfume, especially for the price!!

tessture

When I first put this on, it was very powdery just out of the bottle, old fashioned and cloying. Resisting the attempt to scrub it off, I waited a few minutes and it began to settle into a very lovely aldehydic floral, warm but metallic, very much like the old French classics such as Nuit de Noel or some of the early Chanels. It does have some spice to it, and definitely is an oriental, but it lacks the ashtray amber I get from some orientals and is much lighter and more sparkling than most of the traditional fragrances from that category. It made me feel like I'd stumbled upon a bottle of golden elixir from the Glamour days of Hollywood. Strange for something that cost about $14. I smell no patchouli to speak of as this is so well-blended it's hard to decipher separate notes from the overall orchestration. I would recommend this as a very lovely, probably black-tie scent.

lillybee

Cafe is a semi-sweet, dry and woody oriental typical of its era, a far cry from modern day orientals. It starts out with a bitter wood polish note (lime?) then soon the woods come into play. It's not fresh wood but dry like old furniture.

The patchouli and vetiver combo remind me of Shalimar without the floral notes. Later I detect a sweet smelling note of vanilla then amber. After 4 hours, the scent is a cloud of amber mixed with indistinguisable spices.

The base notes definitely grew on me as they were reminiscent of the big florientals of the eighties like Opium but softer, and drier but spicier than Dune.

I only have a miniature of this, so I'll keep it for sampling only or maybe occasionally wear it in winter.

Migotka

I cant really rememebr how this one smells like... but I remember my aunt had a bottle of it on her shelf. It seemed like a treasure back then when we were kids.

 
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