John Galliano John Galliano for women

John Galliano John Galliano for women

main accords
amber
powdery
violet
woody
smoky
musky
floral
fresh
rose
iris

Perfume rating 4.10 out of 5 with 3,343 votes

John Galliano by John Galliano is a Floral Aldehyde fragrance for women. John Galliano was launched in 2008. John Galliano was created by Christine Nagel and Aurelien Guichard. Top notes are Aldehydes, Angelica and Bergamot; middle notes are Violet, Iris, Rose, Lavender and Peony; base notes are Incense, Amber, Patchouli, Musk and Virginia Cedar.

John Galliano is the first fragrance by this creator of the house of Dior. It is presented in July 2008 in full cooperation and talent of John Galliano, who created fragrancy notes. He wanted a floral fragrance which would include rose, peony, iris with powdery aromas, violet and transparency

Cooperation in creating John Galliano's signature fragrance was established with Cristine Nagel, who created this floral aldehyde fragrance with notes of aldehydes surrounded with floral notes, with amber and patchouli in the base notes.

Its bottle is a real piece of art, crowned with Gothic letter G, while the outside package is illustrated like a book.

The commercial for this fragrance was made by Jean-Baptiste Mondino.

The perfume is presented to the market in October 2008, in the amount of 40, 75 and 90ml EDP, with an accompanying program which includes 200ml body milk, 200ml bath, 150ml body peeling. The perfumer is Christine Nagel .

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

14
1
Strong sillage at first, pleasant moderate later
14
1
Realistic and alluring incense note
13
1
Atmospheric and well blended
11
1
Unique and intriguing fragrance
8
1
Longevity of 8-10 hours
8
1
Successful blind buy
7
0
Dynamic and sultry composition
4
2
Warm and welcoming scent
Cons

Cons

21
1
Discontinued and hard to find
10
1
May be too strong for some
6
3
Occasionally deadly scent
4
2
Quality may not be consistent across reformulations
4
4
Church-like smell may not be for everyone
2
1
May not agree with some skin types
2
4
May make some feel sad or weird
2
5
Synthetic and brash opening

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

Aldehydes
Angelica
Bergamot

Middle Notes

Violet
Iris
Rose
Lavender
Peony

Base Notes

Incense
Amber
Patchouli
Musk
Virginia Cedar

Fragrantica® Trends is a relative value that shows the interest of Fragrantica members in this fragrance over time.

John Galliano News
A Change of Heart: Fragrances that Made Us Think Twice

A Change of Heart: Fragrances that Made Us Think Twice

by John Biebel, Stefanie Jähn, Elena Vosnaki, Yi Shang (怡 商), Adam Forziati, Bella van der Weerd

03/21/21 13:47
50
Best in Show: Goth and Metal Perfumes (2020)

Best in Show: Goth and Metal Perfumes (2020)

by John Biebel, Elena Vosnaki, Miguel Matos, Matvey Yudov, Lucia Remigi, Yi Shang (怡 商), Stefanie Jähn

03/04/20 07:21
98
Angel vs Angel Fruity Fair – Like children! 9
From the Forums: Cold, Creamy, Soapy

From the Forums: Cold, Creamy, Soapy

by John Biebel

02/03/18 00:19
14
Best in Show: Smoky Scents (2017)

Best in Show: Smoky Scents (2017)

by Dr. Marlen Elliot Harrison, Miguel Matos, Yi Shang (怡 商), John Biebel, Elena Vosnaki

10/29/17 05:32
78
Best in Show: The Fragrances of Christine Nagel (2017)

Best in Show: The Fragrances of Christine Nagel (2017)

by Dr. Marlen Elliot Harrison, Elena Vosnaki, Rouu Abd El-Latif, John Biebel, Nayeli Cano

01/22/17 11:35
32

Perfume longevity:3.91 out of5.

Perfume sillage:2.79 out of4.

Become a member of this online perfume community and you will be able to add your own reviews.

All Reviews By Date

Aeternitas

I had this edp years ago and gave it away.
I bought it because it was very cheap on ebay, and the bottle is a gothic dream.
Plus, I love a deep, dark rose fragrance.

BUT... this particular rose note was very problematic for me.
I kept getting some kind of extreme jell-o, jellybean, gummy candy type of rose jam scent, mingled with the other notes that were perfectly dark. Everything else catered to my inner melancholy, but man...whatever this strange, gooey gelatin rose thing was going on, was driving me mad and ruining the effect of the fragrance. A velvety, true deep rose scent was what I was hoping for.
I had to let it go.

Otherwise, this could have been perfect. If Edgar Allan Poe were to release a fragrance for women of this generation, it'd be like this.

Not me crying over the what-should-have-been...

PS: I forgot to mention that I found Elizabeth & James Nirvana Rose to be exactly what I wanted from Galliano. Nirvana Rose is broody, heavy rose perfection.

AnlisaC

Dark gothic floral! I love it. This is a beast mode fragrance, love it!

shenamedel

I am not familiar with John Galliano fragrances but I do enjoy Galliano Liqueur & remember when my Dad's Mother, my Grandmother used to love to sip this.I wonder if these two brands are related. We often hear about Flavors & Fragrances and manufacturing precious bottles of each must have some things in common. Musings on a very rainy day at home. This fragrance sounds really nice!

coco1981

This is a very herbal Angelica/iris on me, with hardly any powder or incense. It’s very unique but not the dark, goth beauty I expected.

scentiful

If you have someone in your life who will sneak into your room, break the lid of this by trying to pull it off instead of pressing down on it, and you dislike the profile of Lady Gaga’s fame; I’d say avoid this one.

Fenissa

If you're a fan of volet, amber and incense then this is the baby for you. Oh sweet seduction!
The angelica does indeed give it a medicinal note, particularly in the opening minutes.
Cedar also gives the Angelica a 'pencil shavings' undertone which reminds me slightly of the pink pepper note in La Nuit Trésor à la Folie, and I'm really digging it because of that.
Once the Angelica calms down, you're left with a beautiful blend of violet, lavender, wood shavings, iris and incense.
I don't find the incense at all churchlike. It merely adds a hint of mischievousness to an otherwise warm yet powdery composition.
I'm a huge fan of violets so this is a massive love from me, and the bottle is amazing. It looks like a magical love potion and it delivers like one.
Performance is great too. I get around 10 hours on skin, much longer when I wear it on my hair.
Best suited to wild and untamed women. The kinda gals who play with voodoo dolls, not Barbies.

LSAUG

I don't care for this, at least for myself. It is very medicinal upfront. It has a eucalyptus type of smell, like a Vicks vapo rub smell. I know that is the angelica. I almost always have problems w/ that note in perfume. It is also very headache inducing for me right off the bat so it is a no go for me to even wear this. Very herbal, green, medicinal, but combined w/ baby powder. I just downgraded this to a hate. It is really, really bad. Smells like a spoiled vintage perfume got combined w/ a medicine cabinet.

rinrinlovesrinrin

yeeesssssss!!!!!!! perfect blend of powdered florals and incense. exactly what i was hoping it would be 🖤💖⚘️ a bit sharp and then settles down to mildly sweet smoke. i love the blend of powdery iris and violet, floral rose and earthy lavender and then the peony adding a touch of liveliness to this otherwise dark perfume. bergamot contributes to a somewhat tart opening, but the incense is detectable almost immediately as the star of this concoction. if you don't like incense or smoky notes, then the other notes will not smell much better because they are shrouded in it. this is an incense perfume, as i'd hoped.

churinl

I am sure that this must have undergone a reformulation sometime over the course of it's existence, and even more certain that I own the reformulation. It was a blind buy, because it was one of those situations where the notes and great reviews seemed to guarantee a deep love. It had "seductive goth witch" written all over it. So why is it just a Like?
While I did get much of what I had hoped for, there is an underlying medicinal note that reminds me of Robitussin cough medicine, and it never really goes away. Suspecting either a dupe or a reformulation, a long ago but now absent swap buddy (Where are you, Sabertoothkitten? I do hope you're well!?) provided me with a generous decant from her bottle, and there it was - the fragrance I had hoped it would be!
Yes, I still wear it, and it's performance is moderate on my skin, consistent with most designer offerings these days, but I'm not a) 100% surethey reformulated it; b) if they did, I don't know what year, making it challenging to find the right vintage; and c) I just don't know if I'm willing to invest the time and money involved in finding what I want. Perhaps a reasonably priced, unwrapped bottle will magickally appear on Ebay and it will be mine! After all, there is still something magickal about this EDP.
PS - apologies, as I know I've already reviewed this, but I had more to say about it.
PPS - looking closely at the bottom of the bottle, it looks as if the manufacturer's name has been strategically cut away but it clearly says Made in France. Starting to think the Angelica is the troublesome note for me. It appears there were two manufacturers, but I wonder if both are French? If not, I think mine MAY be the original and STK's the reformulation!

Charlone

This is how I´m going to decribe this perfume: This is the smell of the Theatre in the Victorian era, from like 1837-1901. In the opening soapy notes we follow the main characters/actresses into the bathroom, where they powder their noses and washes their hands (where the top notes are angelica, bergamot and aldehydes). In the middle notes we follow them into their wardrobe where they do all the make-up and dress ups, and get ready for their theatrical acts on the stage. In the every end of this scent, we can smell the scene smoke (the powdery, rosy incense) while the audience claps their hands. This is the story in my head when I smell this perfume, and I guess this is the story John Galliano wanted to tell in this fragrance.

Kline

John Galliano's signature is one of my favourite and prized perfumes. I was taken by the bottle when I first saw it, which is beautiful! But after I smelt a sample and looked into his fashion, I realised there was nothing I could fault.

At first sniff I'm catching a kind of citrus which must come from the bergamot. But the florals add the sweetness and mellow into delicious incense, patchouli and musk after-though. The amber marries with the rose and violets enhancing the sweetness and creating a kind of moreishness, while the smokey, earthy base notes offers mystery and sophistication.

I would highly recommend.

Nourhan

perfectly unisex. unfortunately I don't like this one but it definitely smells unique

theuntrainednose

I have a sample/decant. I am not sure if it is this one or the EdT.

---

Unusual and pretty. A musky sweet-ish floral that manages to be light and airy. Powder, expensive shampoos/hair products from the 90s, rose, something that smells as if a juicy apple was mixed with flowers, sweet-ish amber. The impressive thing is the airiness.

I get occasional wafts of the heavier notes (cedar, incense) but they are not heavy. They fly light clouds.

LaContessina

A little gem...
Well, as a matter of fact, to fully appreciate this fragrance you have to love John Galliano's work, as this perfume resembles him: passionate, chaotic, baroque.. but yet innovative, exuberant, ultra feminine and... unforgettable!
It makes me smile that when this fragrance was launched minimalism ruled, and Galliano went the opposite direction.
John Galliano's first fragrance is complex.
Starts off aldheydic, but immediately morphs into a fruity, deep scent.
It's not "sweet", nor would I define it pretty & easy.
It's a frag that draws your attention, that is not understated at all, that claims "Look at me".
You smell notes of plum, berries and immediately violet... and a deep rose.
Then for a while there is a blast of mint -at least to my nose - it's something very fresh & almost balsamic.
It gets then powdery and warm... woody and oriental until the drydown. It is deep and feminine, but at the same time it evokes sunlight and life.
To me, the memories went immediately back to Lumière (Rochas) one of my darlings back in the Eighties (where Galliano was fishing a lot).
I mean Lumière PRE- reformulation, the Original one!
I love it; be carful not to overdo as it is a full bodied fragrance and it can be heady.
Incredibly long staying power!

Forgot to mention the fabulous bottle: totally baroque, a range of "dégradé" shades from purple to vibrant pink ... evokes the silhouette of a lady, the collar being decorated with a golden rose, and the stopper/spay top is a black gothic lettering (JG initials).

The outer box is depicting the oil-on-canvas portrait of a lady in the twenties perhaps. Original. Unfortunately discontinued.

JoLeenS80

The dry down is beautiful. The violet, amber, and incense stick out the most. Has a powdery quality. Not something I'd wear everyday but I do enjoy the uniqueness of it.

salthewitch

I've acquired several bottles of this stunner over time; the flacon alone is worth the money. I wear this when I'm dressed for Whitby, for a parade around the little gothic shops and side streets. It is sweet and seductive, a lingering violet note is ever present (which is why it's a favourite) but is gothed down by the amber, incense and musk. This changes every time I wear it, and can smell different on my wrist to my cleavage. It never disappoints, it always fits the bill, and it draws comments aplenty. The sillage is fantastic at around 14 hours, more on fabric, but it doesn't scream at everyone when you enter a room. It casually mentions its presence in passing. I wish to possess so much more, I can NEVER run out and it's getting harder to track down now! If you're in two minds when you find one, BUY IT. I'll buy it off you if you don't adore it!

KiraMarie

JG edp (selective beauty version) opens with a fairly intense aldehydic "soapy blast", but its during the dry down when the subtle gothic vibe reveals itself to me. On my skin it developes into a very bewitching powdery violet~smokey incense giving it a true vintage feel. I'm extremely grateful to have several bottles still left in my collection because I have yet to find anything else that even compares to it, imo. Truly one of a kind. Some people have describe this as being a purple "color scent" and I couldn't agree more. The bottle itself is also very unique and depicts the perfume it holds quite accurately. Discontinued but forever loved.

che1928

The best perfume for women created in the last 30 years. Elegant, luxurious, sexy, charming and what else ...? Bottle designed by Boldini for Gallè ?!
First version edp 90 ml 2008 discontinued .WHY ?????


Whoever says he doesn't like it is because he can't have it.

Redpula

I can imagine this scent would fit with the ghost at the tv series
"The Haunting of Bly Manor".
When she wasn't a ghost and when she turned into it.
I like how it haunts and flows in the air and the kind of mood it sets.
It is like walking late night on a foggy road, trees and dim lights
and a white lady sitting alone on the bench.
Creepy yet sensual. Gothic yet alluring. Mystical yet modern.

ali9021

If an absolutely beautiful ghost were to appear in your room at night, this is what JG smells like. She is dressed in a Victorian gown, sad and lonely but eerily beautiful and deeply haunting

Ameliadrevein

Very happy I found 2 bottle 60ml of this.1 without box written selective beauty on the bottom of the bottle sticker and the other one with box and there a sticker on the back of the box said perfume holdings company made in france and the bottom of the bottle sticker said perfume holding too.just like 1 reviewer below said when he/she removed the sticker on the back of the box you can see the original company name selective beauty.i got exactly the same.so that’s means both of my bottle are the original formulation glad to know.Not sure maybe the one made in Italy under perfume holding company is the reformulation one hmmmm who know 🤔

So talking about the perfume wow I love it it’s very unique.opening on my skin very spicy incense and the drydown is a powdery incense.this will be the easiest top 5 in my collection for sure.i got another 90ml coming so I got plenty of backups .will cherish this beauty for a long time happy me 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼

ArianeArborene'sNose

I really like this perfume. It is my kind of thing. Addict and Poison are two of my favorite scents, so this is right in my zone. However, as someone else here has said, it is really close to L'Heure Bleu by Gerlain. When I first tried this on my skin, I kept wondering, "What does this smell like? I know this perfume already." And then it came clear, L'Heure Bleu. It has a very vintage, old-school seductive woman vibe. I had been hoping for a gothic vibe, given the cool bottle and image of this perfume. For me, this is not gothic. It is not challenging or dark, particularly. If I had to give it color, it would be a rich, dark purple, but not black. It has a nice staying power, which is important to me. Also, I love the bottle and while it has plastic features, I actually like things made of plastic, so that suits me as well. All in all, this is right in my range of what I like -- it is opposite of a citrus, bright beach scent -- but since I already own a full sized bottle of L'Heure Bleu, this perfume is not an urgent need. If it had possessed a more gothic vibe, I would say I needed it my collection.

gothicwitch

This is SO beautiful. A very unique and elegant fragrance. Meant to seduce and intrigue.
A vampire heiress clothed in dark velvet with a whip in her hand. Unforgettable. Impossible to imitate.

ghadaalboghdadi

Love Love Love.
Easy to wear, soapy incense.

churinl

Not a review YET, just a comment. Just purchased this as a blind buy, based entirely on reviews and recommendations. If it's half as witchy and goth as others are saying, then this has the potential to be a love. I am going to be obsessively following the tracking info awaiting it's arrival. To be continued...
_______________

Arrived yesterday. First impressions are of berries, though not listed. Quickly settles into a violet dominant floral, with a touch of herbal angelic keeping it from becoming too sweet. The aldehydes lend a somewhat translucent character to the composition. Ultimately, the incense arrives and provides not only a beautiful note, but also elevates the fragrance into otherworldly, gothic territory - the sacred and the profane. I most definitely am reminded of L'heure Bleu, minus the Guerlinade. Someone else mentioned a softer, less aggressive Insolence, and I agree with that as well. So far, I am really enjoying it, but think I will let it sit and settle for a few weeks before I try it again. I already really like it, but believe this will become a love. As it is, it was a very successful blind buy based entirely on Fragrantica reviews.

Sabretoothkitten

I think it's a very gothic, powdery insence perfume. Reminds me of both Espirit Dr Habanita and L'Huere Blue but ends up totally different. Dark purple is a perfect color for the bottle. It brings to mind Ann Rice images, pretty vampires and dried flowers and maybe satin coffin liners ...but in a sexy way.
Definitely great for October.

cherelune

John Galliano EDP briefly begins with a little bright bergamot and an herbal, almost medicinal, touch, soon developing into a clean, soapy aldehyde. The soft powdery floral heart gradually emerges, a light sweet violet, iris. I couldn't quite make the scent out pressing my nose against my wrist, but a dusty lavender-hued cloud billows around me.

My bottle must be the reformulation, as it never goes into gothic church incense territory, but instead settles into vintage boudoir, a little musky, just a touch smoky. I don't really find this old or dated, though it has a nostalgic quality. This fragrance may be a self-assured woman admiring herself in her vanity mirror, or a young girl with lilac hair who likes to dress in vintage clothing or has a pastel goth aesthetic.

I sought out this perfume seduced by descriptions of gothic church and incense, so it was with slight disappointment that I realized I have the later formula. However, it has turned out to be quite beautiful in its own special way, so I am still beyond thrilled to own this stunning gem. It makes me feel whimsical and a little romantic, and it brings out the daydreamer (and lost goth girl) in me.

ETA: A few hours into the fragrance, I realized that I was smelling something a little different that vaguely reminded me of YSL Opium Vapeurs. The incense did come forth after all, finally dominating towards the end.

Ontolome

this makes me consider the distance between history and eternity. cold weather domesticates (historicizes?) this vampire, but in the heat, its powdered fangs tend to elongate and... perhaps they are venomous, too? my stomach is churning, the blood is draining from my skin...

gorgeous, but occasionally deadly.

MUST8936

This perfume reflects a kind of introverted way of thinking.It is from another century we did not live in.I love it.

Wendy.Kroy

I'm selling mine on Delcampe.net, link is in my bio.

This is the Selective Beauty one, the first formulation, 60ml. Too much aldehydes for me :-(

kastehelmi

This is a powdery floral aldehyde based on an overdose on aldehydes, and a flower powder bouquet that demands deconstruction. Smells modern rather than vintage,like an attractive vinyl/plastic container full of powder. Add a Loreal lipstick type vibe, a hint of desire to be a genuine floral revived from an era before, plenty of that peony perfume accord and incense smoke. There is nothing wrong with this, but I absolutely don't want to smell this way. The collaboration between old and new is a fun intersection though. Again, just not my preference. If you want to smell "perfumey" this might be up your alley--if all of these notes agree with you. The first time I sampled this I thought it was gross and vulgar, but after growing into a great love for powder I thought I would try it again. I will sample again sometime, but I already have so many loves at first or second sniff. This could grow on me, but I feel like the alternatives for powders, florals containing aldehydes,and incensey perfumes are already there for me to apply. Why force a love when there are so many perfumes in the sea of life? Anyway, at least this makes an impression on me!

amberonic

The most satisfying aspect of this fragrance is the balance between density and transparency. The purple/incense notes of this fragrance remind me of heavy-hitting purple classics from the 80s and 90s (LouLou, Passion, and another of Nagel's creations, Mauboussin) and yet, this fragrance performs as if there's a breeze blowing through it. It's grounded and dark while expansive and watery. The word "pellucid" comes to mind.

I pick this frag for femme daytime goth looks.

AnlisaC

Wow....this is so unusual nothing out there is even close. I acquired this on a trip to Europe with my Mom (she’s from Europe and recently passed away) so needless to say this holds a special place in my heart. I’m so happy to own this. A reviewer down below made a comment about this being different everyday and that is so true. On me today it’s a powdery incense fragrance. Some days it’s floral. Every note in here stands out and doesn’t hide. At first spray it is powerful, then slowly dries down to a very pretty floral incense. Sillage is strong and so is longevity. I’m not sure why John Galliano stopped making his own fragrances he was doing a great job. I see he’s now creative director at Masion Margiela fragrances which I love.

Seducianne

I am now the happy possessor of this fragrance, thanks to the incredible user SCARBO who gifted me a bottle right when I had lost my hopes of ever being able to smell it, due to it being mostly unavailable nowadays.

Now to the review, long story short: this is the stuff of heavens. My skin amps up the rose, which becomes dark and powdery. I can detect the amber and patchouli also, and the blend is overall a sweet, dark jam.

Thanks again scarbo for the incredible opportunity to have this!

witch_mum

It has many facets on my skin. Sometimes it is a pure incense bomb, like I would be in a church, sometimes - like today - it is only candied violet. Which is not bad for a sunny summerday, I guess.

LoveJoy22

Beauty Is Her Name:

This is a Very UNIQUE & Unconventional type of Beauty that was gifted to me by a very generous person here on Fragrantica!

It is very aldehydic & slighty sweet, which doesn't change throughout the entirety of the fragrance... This truly smells like Smoked Berries & Incense; in that Autumn-Cranberry Saucy kind of way...This is Thanksgiving in a bottle!

Solinger

One of the worst perfumes I ever had. It reminded me some kind of cheap alcohol scent and nothing more. Gave it away for free.

Maddlesbubbles

If anybody has a bottle of this that they don’t want please message me! I’m more than willing to pay you. I’m running out and can’t stand the thought of no longer having this D:

Harpalike

I love it as it is very dry and melancholic. Very wearable smokey incense that lasts really long on the skin. I cannot wear it often, but it fits to my moods sometimes.

Amaranthe

It smells "purple" (like some kind of purple fruit or flowers) and incensey to me. I love the bottle!
Smelling it in the bottle before applying, I can smell a citrus note. After putting it on, it smells "purple" right away. The dry down is when the incense becomes the dominant note.
Very nice!! <3

MnM

Dark, warm and sexy. I love it and the bottle is spectacular!!

kl99

This is no more than a barely techno-modern version of a traditional talc powder of the end of '800 wich still in production with the sametraditional fragrance.
Vibrant moving rich.
Nice.

Remember me Felce Azzurra plus plastic fruity notes. Nice but distant, cold.

almondbreakfast

The very final of the dry-down smells like Gucci Pour Homme I (Michel Almairac 2003).

Sinful, dark, sensual, seductive fragrance.

Just irresistible.

The longevity is superb. I sprayed it last night and can still smell it on my wrist this morning after 14 hours.

-AB-

brada

First of all, I am bored when a perfume is overrated only because discontinued or hard-to- find.
Not in this case,however.
This gem has described as rose centered,but it isn't :the hidden violet gives to the work a dark side and a gothic vibe.A dirty violet that crawls in a sea of incense an cedar wood. .This my nose detect.The work is well balanced until the musky drydown.
Melanconic,dark,perhaps a little sad but perfect for fall days.Remember me the Placebo song "Pure morning",a dawn with a sting in our heart.

Ni_juu_nana

I bet all sexy beautiful witches smell like that!

Perfumeaddict777

This is stunning!! At first spray I get a candied fruit , smells like grape/cherry razzles candy. Seconds later violet and incense show up. It's not super smoky, just enough smoke to add depth and fuzziness to the perfume. It is slightly soapy but also has a hard candy sweetness. Hours later i smell iris , Amber and a little cedar. This perfume is very unique, sexy, tart, soapy and sweet. I haven't smelled anything like it. I heard it was discontinued so I'm glad I have a bottle. Sillage is moderate and Longevity is around 6 hours. I love it.

UnearthlyApothecary

I regret that I was so harsh in my previous judgements of this scent :( I have really come to appreciate certain floral notes I didn't used to like and in this new appreciation, I have finally discovered that I can now not only appreciate but love John Galliano. The aldehydes provide a faint sparkle and as lush rose, sweet violet, and ethereal Iris entwine, church incense gently smolders in the background, sending smoky tendrils throughout. JG is a really beautiful composition of gothic elegance.

Ailee

a friend of mine gave a sample of this to me ( a vial ) , and i wasnt so attracted to it at first, coz i havent heard of John Galliano ever.. kept it in my closet for almost 3 months until one day i decided to give it a try. and....i was wowed away right there and then!!
this scent is beautiful. not offensive and very likable. i know i have smelled this somewhere else but i cant put a finger on the name of the perfume. i dont know if this perfume is available full size in my country, trust me, i have never heard of it until my darling friend gave me the vial.
i can safely say that this can be unisex perfume. men can pull this off like a charm. i'd like to smell this on a man too. so sexy. and 'inviting'. *wink wink*

all in all, i dont have anything bad to say about this perfume. longevity is impressive and silage is okay.
i made a mental note to myself that I MUST find it, in full size. will update later.

AlexaBells

Let me tell you about the original scent that i fell inlove with and still crave at times:

It was a wintery weekend night, powdery, clean, warm and sexy.
It's one of those cold misty nights when you put your make up and go to a rock concert. It's not some cheap punk show, it's goth metal and you're the sexy, deep, female singer with a beautiful, clean Victorian dress. The next morning you wake up with leftovers of linen scents, still clean and adored

NeveD

Blind buy but this one was good.
If a soul had a scent to it, my would smell like this.
The opening is so dark and cold filled with incense, but it dries down to something so soft and almost innocent.
This perfume was most pleasant discovery to me.

smellymouse

Although this has been discontinued for a while, it is still selling cheaply in some places. It is currently very good value for money.

This was my first real blind buy as the tester was broken in the store. I knew from the notes listed here at Fragrantica that I would probably like it, and given that it was cheap anyway - I went ahead. I'm very glad I did.

Firstly, I will say that I am not a fan of the bottle. The reason I avoided it for so long was probably the bottle, as shallow as that sounds. This perfume would have been right up my street when it came out, if it was in a different bottle.

The opening is very reminiscent of dark berry fruits, even though they aren't listed in the notes. Possibly one of the aldehydes mixing with the angelica creates this impression. The bergamot is quite faint, but it freshens it up somewhat.

The heart is all the listed floral notes blended. The violets are probably the most noticeable, followed by the iris and rose. The overall scent 'colour' is translucent purple and a little melancholy. It's similar to L'Heure Bleue in that sense, but the quality isn't as high. The berry notes from the opening linger for quite a while on top of this.

The base is a light musk and some patchouli - and then, skin chemistry permitting - big wafts of incense. You can be waiting up to 10 hours for the incense bomb. Sometimes this incense gets activated in the shower. The incense bomb is my favourite 'section' of this scent. I wish it bombed earlier on me.

The longevity is crazy for a relatively cheap perfume. It lasts 12 hours or more on me and I can still smell it after a shower. I don't know how, as this is not really a heavy perfume.

I wouldn't say this perfume is of the best quality, but for the its price, it's impressive.

indigo

I remember testing this when it was first released, & I very nearly bought it. Anyway, this is about the latest EDP reformulation, which I did buy.
It opens loud with a huge blast of sweet synthetic "purple" fruitiness. I know fruits/berries are not listed, but that's what I smell. It progresses to musty indistinct powdery florals, & then (imo) it falls flat in the drydown. All I get is a bare (& not very good) base/fixative of some sort..
The whole thing just feels as if the quality is not there - or may be it just doesn't agree with my skin. I don't know, but it smells loud & brash in the opening, & then just "cheap" to me. Of course I know "cheap" is purely subjective, but I think (from memory) that the original formula was better.
It's very sweet/syrupy, & for that reason I don't read this as a dark incense perfume. If the pyramid didn't tell me otherwise, I would never have known incense was there. Sorry to the fans, but this is just my honest opinion.

Tiger84

First, the bottle is nothing short of spectacular! This bottle makes a statement. It looks great in real life too! The box also looks charming.

Now only the new, 40 ml EDP is available, the 90 ml is no longer in stock, and the EDP and EDT are two different scents as far as I know, I never tried the EDT though.

Upon spraying I feel a blast of some sweet licorice (which it does not contain, could be the angelica that I don't really know), and this was a little weird as I was expecting this unchained bombshell incense beast, and got something sweet instead. I can sometimes sniff a little violet which refreshes the composition a little and almost goes minty at some moments. It does smell purple and gothic as the bottle suggests. The powder and incense is creeping in almost unnoticeably, and takes the stage very slowly. The drydown is more like what I expected, although it could be smokier. I find it unique.

It is a both elegant and erotic scent, which is my favourite combination (think of the powdery, somewhat dusty flowers, sometimes with an animalic purr and roar and some dark smoke added... Boudoir, Bal a Versailles, Tabu, Passion, Obsession, Jil Sander No. 4).

I'm not sure if it is still in production, it was unavailable for a while where I live. This is not a discrete barely-there scent, it is bold and has a presence, but I don't find it as aggressive as the trendy sweet creations. It shows several different aspects throughout its evolution, always surprising me with a little note that wasn't there before.

maya2000ro

On me this one smells extremely bad(like a wool coat kept closed in a humid box).I tried it on paper and i liked it... i decided to go for it...so i bought a 50 ml bottle (by the way....veeeery nice bottle...the only reason i didn't give it away).It is so strong and powdery that gives me a headache after a couple of seconds after the first spray. I wish i could identify the notes, but for me is just nauseating .

blake.lee

To me, this smells like unsweetened cranberry juice, you know the awful kind you drink when you have a bladder infection, and strong sweet incense and musk. I do agree it has a fizzy, syrupy quality reminiscent of Dr. Pepper as well. I can even see the comparisons to Kenzo Amour in the drydown but it's more floral and tart. Pretty much imagine unsweetened cranberry juice, incense, musk, Dr. Pepper, Kenzo Amour and a touch of high fructose corn syrup all stirred up and you have this fragrance. I sorta like it!

My husband said it smells like his family's wood cabin in Pennsylvania. Especially, the way it smells the first time they open it up and clean it, on a warm day, after a long winter. Musty and warm dusty wood and floral cleaning product and room spray, lol! He said it was an instant memory recall when he smelled it.

thesheppardess

On paper, this fragrance shouldn't smell remotely nice to me. It has notes in it that I usually avoid. (Bergamot, cedar, amber, incense, lavender, I could go on.) The reality on my skin is violets, blackberries, vanilla, all done in a nice balance. JG, reminds me of a gentler Guerlain Insolance. Soothing, comforting but also a little coquettish. If this fragrance was a dress, it would be made from finest velvet.

gatsby

Southern Blonde said it all: a perfect introduction for incense... lovers. A very nice fragrance, well blended, bold/ not soft at all- with a rose/patchouli/amber/incense heart. Not too churchy but enough to go out from the "rosie" and flowery common line. You can t go wrong as a young or mature woman, wearing this in the evening (it is not a school or office scent) because is romantic, with personality and mysterious. Grab it quickly because is still a bargain with a niche quality and the bottle is to die for - soon the price will explode on ebay. The EDP definitely wins the battle with the EDT not only in sillage and longevity but because the fact they are two different scents in the drydown. Also the cosmetic products are very high quality. Officially discontinued forever months ago.
For 12$ as a bottle costs here, I get more satisfaction smelling this than a boring celeb scent. Galliano remains Galliano, and, like it or not, in this scent it s a Dior "fingermark" not only in quality, but in the composition as well.

Chicago Tony T

With incense being the "main note" detected by over 400 votes I really expected something darker. Church incense? Not at all. Leave that to Avignon. What I get is a floral/powdery/sweet concoction that has super high sillage with light smokiness. I only have a decant in rollerball form so I would guess it's the original? Longevity is over 6 hours also.

wildangel72

I'm heartbroken that I didn't discover this before it was discontinued. After much internet scouring and a little luck, I was able to score 2 bottles of the original Selective Beauty formulation; I also have 1 bottle of the Perfume Holdings reworked version. Both are nice, but the orignal.....

The best way I can describe it is Morticia Addams sitting on a headstone, outside a classic cathedral, right after a funeral, eating a plum pastry, or maybe a jelly donut.

There's earthiness, dark flowers, incense, with a jammy fruit note underneath. A sweetness is there, but on me this is not a cloying gourmand scent. It's sweetly mysterious, with a powdery vanilla/purple-flower finish. Longevity hangs on through a 12- hour shift, and this is the fragrance I get the most compliments on out of my sizable scent wardrobe. With other scents, some people ask; with this stuff, it seems like *everybody* asks. They just have to know what I'm wearing and where I got it--and like me, they're immediately saddened to hear that it's been discontinued.

I've been prowling around trying to find a good dupe to replace it when my precious supply runs out. No luck so far; there's nothing else that plays out quite the same on my skin. In the meantime, I'm rationing out each spritz--walking the tightrope between making it last and letting it turn.

IDreamPurple

I finally got a bottle of this perfume, had been looking around for a long while. I was sold when someone said in an earlier review that Lydia from Beetlejuice would wear it. If it was a bit smokier the way L'Agent is smoky, the colour schemes and images used in the packaging and the adverts would be spot on. There is a hint of smokiness still, and lots of powder. Leaning on feminine, but not overtly so, so once again I think a guy who wears this with confidence can easily use it as an evening scent. I know I will.

All in all, a very unique experience, and I am enjoying it thoroughly.

shauna.parra

A Halloween Fragrance

The packaging/design is excellent!

John Galliano opens with aldehydes & light citrus

Nothing special at the beginning and the aldehydes are not harsh. They are a soft soapy aldehyde. Then I detected angelica and florals.

The flowers in this scent include violet, iris, rose and peony. There's probably some orris and the florals are powdery as can be. This is a lovely light powder scent. In fact it's like a lighter concentration of L'Agent by Agent Provocateur and also similar to Halloween by Jesus Del Pozo.

Sweet, powdery, feminine, with a touch of incense over light woods and musk.

All in all, a great intro to incense, aldehydes and florals. Easy to wear for younger perfumistas.

A bit of a "junior" Goth scent but not bad

Inhershoes

The dusty air of a church and the chemical high of an aldehydic floral. Intoxicating and completely individual! I fell in love with it at first sniff, but quickly tired of its oddly syrupy amber notes. It took me years to finish the bottle.

Elizete Araujo Moura

I still smell lavander...simple this

Southern Blonde

Galliano is one of the most attractive mysterious looking bottles I've ever owned in my collection. At first glance it looks like a Goth perfume, something that would probably smell like a lot of incense, an Oriental, smoky or woodsy, or something like Freak by Illamasqua with "poisonous" flowers. But this scent is very sweet, soft and perfect as an introduction to incense. It's really more a powder than incense. On me all the flowers are blooming. There's pink roses and peonies, iris violet and angelica. One flower that also stands out because of that familiar spicy scent is the lavender. But none of the florals are too strong. These are soft flowers and don't be scared of the aldehyde note. It's barely there. This is a delicate powdery floral. The packaging is so deceptive and I was actually disappointed it wasn't darker and edgier. I have worn L'Agent by Agent Provocateur and that smoky incense fragrance is what this should smell like based on the artistic design of the bottle. But this is very nice. I love the flowers and the thin veil of incense. There is also amber and a soft touch of musk. It's elegant, nocturnal, and youthful, like a girl wearing a little black dress at a funeral, but she's not scary. She's inherited millions of millions of dollars and can buy herself all the perfume she wants LOL

Babieluv

I am so torn with this one. I don't know whether I find it amazingly beautiful or disgusting. When I first sprayed it, only one thing popped in my head "this smells like church". The church you go when you travel around Europe. But at the same time it reminds me of funeral. It gradually turns very powdery. But not that baby powder, this is mature, classy, sophisticated powder. Unfortunately I still smell that church/funeral smell somewhere in the background that I'm not a fan of.

EDIT: I sprayed this perfume today and now all I can smell is homemade plum jam.

nitschevo

A new batch of 40ml bottles popped out of a warehouse somewhere.... And I grabbed a backup bottle, what a steal! Get it while you can! :D

Edit: Hm... Maybe it is the "original" formula after all, being it is a 40ml? So confusing! :D It just arrived and thankfully the sprayer does its job this time around and mists instead of spilling the perfume out but I digress. I find that this "newer" version is very similar to the original release. It appears to be a tad more powdery and with less cedar. However this can also be due to the fact that my older bottle really spills out a huge "splash" of perfume instead a fine mist therefore the smell is surely more intense (?). Whatever the case - still a very nice unusual perfume that is great on so many levels. I find it rather enchanting in a Maleficent (think Angelina Jolie) kind of way.

thesheppardess

I want, I want, I want.
Due to being in a big rush this morning, I grabbed a random decant and sprayed, as I was heading out the door.
JG is wonderful. Every time I go to wash my hands, it wakes the fragrance up again on my wrists. Powdery, dark floral, vanilla, delectable.
I might have mistaken JG as a Guerlain, if I didn't know any better. Very calming as well. I managed to sail thru the day, despite of sleeping in and not having time to do my make up or eat breakfast. Very, very nice frag. I would classify it as a big girls fragrance but ... an elegant girl, not a bossy or overbearing one.
Now, how do I get my hands on a fb?

verasdfghjkl

My expectations were sky high. It did definitely meet those with its lovely smoky aldehyde-y rose and purple flowers, what a stunner. But what I didn't get was that gothic and churchy darkness vibe that I read others seem to get. I was expecting something so extremely dark and witchy that could even offend people, what I got was a lovely dry, powdery and very smoky rose that is quite sweet. So that was surprising, but I loved it right away.

gatsby

Confusing,gender-bender, very spicy in the opening,and gothic, - incense with patchouli, amber and rose after one hour. Long lasting, it can be unisex after a while. From the opening to the dry down, it s a real journey, you have the feeling that you wear 3 different perfumes. Very interesting and pleasant, unique scent. The box is beautiful, interesting marketing and very different from the stuff nowadays in this mid -class. The bottle is 100% womanly but this doesn t disturb me at all, it s nice. Thank you, Valentina, for this beauty. 8/10

redcapricorn

I've been on a sample rampage lately, and this is my newest one. I've been dying to try it for ages. Some people here have compared this to cola or Dr. Pepper, and they weren't kidding. When I first opened the bottle, I was immediately hit with a cherry cola blast. It took me right back to when I was five years old and used to chew a very sweet but tart cola-flavored bubble gum. But this is not a bad thing. It's whimsical but still sophisticated. The longer this sits on my skin, the more I like it. And as it dries, it is becoming more floral and powdery and mature. There is something so nostalgic about this one, so unique and so romantic, too. This one might be worth buying the full bottle.

Madrona

This is... interesting. I can't put my finger on what's so odd about it, but something is a bit off. It evokes something I can only describe as "incense jam" - smoky incense with berry jelly. At the same time there is a clear lipsticky iris making itself known. Candied, fluffy rose too. I find that the EdT stays pretty true to the EdP, but it's considerably lighter. This one smells better on paper than on my skin, but I need to explore this one further.

tessa2809

I'm surprised that no one mentioned the similarity to Guerlain l'Heure Bleue. The drydown of powdery violets reminds me very much of it!

VanillaTabbyCat1963

Thank you, Mr Galliano.
A perfume that connects the many scent pleasure centers in my brain. It's got the violets, the incense smoke, the orris in that order on me. I could flood my receptors with violets, Iris and incense for weeks before satisying the craving... Love this in the warm weather. It blooms on my skin into a lovely powdery violet boudoir-like scent. Very good with my cool brunette chemistry.

perfumeaddiction

This is my second review of this gem.

My husband and I were going to see the Cult a band known in the 80's for being a heavy,dark, grungy dirty metal band. I was searching in my perfume wardrobe for a good scent to fit the bill. Quite often people find Galliano innocent but I tend to disagree. She's a pretty rough bitch but in a good way. And let me say the EDP is very long lasting and strong. I think it was a good choice for the evening. A little black eyeliner, knee high black boots and my Galliano. A great night!

I racked my brain all night trying to figure out what JG reminded me of. And if you grew up in the 70/80's era and remember bottle cap candies, this one smells like the cola ones. One would not think a cola smelling perfume could be bad ass but trust me... it is.

Gigi The Fashionista

This is a perfume that is definitely on the dresser table of Lydia from Beetle Juice. This has a huge sign on it saying: Goth Girl Fragrance. This is for scenting your black Goth attire with, black make up, black gowns, black mourning dresses. It's got a black color but it's also a very deep purple color. It's not too strong despite the incense note, although the smokiness of the incense combined with patchouli really come in at the dry down. There's also a lovely amber. The fragrance is powdery, too, because the flowers in this fragrance namely iris is powdery once made into perfume. Violet stands out as does lavender angelica and rose. The opening of aldehydes is a nice old fashioned vintage touch. This is a Halloween Night fragrance. I can't wear this all the time. It's got an aromatic air but it's not as heavy as any more full bodied aromatics like oud or other woodsy fragrances or really balsamic stuff with more patchouli or incense. This is a nice introduction to incense. I think it's very nice and my type of perfume especially because the packaging with the Goth design is very artistically made and that's no surprise because this was made for the fashion house of designer John Galliano. This is really lovely and mysterious, just a touch melancholic but no where near as tragic as De Profundis by Serge Lutens. This wears like a junior version of the very intense De Profundis.

COSMICSCENTS

It lasts a long time! I like it a lot! plus is different than all other perfumes. People always complain all new perfumes smell alike than they get this and complain that is too strong or weird.

Vanessa Dunlap

In my next life, I want to come back as perfume artist Christine Nagel. Delicious! That's all I have to say.

Krasnylips

Amazing quality, let the modest price not confuse you.
I am addicted to its bitter note that I called snake poison. The same note I feel in Python by Trussardi.
Stays on skin for the whole day.
Gorgeous.

Tiwalii

To me this smells like Notre Dame, in Paris, in winter. Or like a mixture of Esmeralda from "The Hunchback" and the gargoyles on top of old gothic churches and buildings. It's very well blended. There's not one particular note that stands out. It has a cool, distant and slightly eerie kind of smell, and yet there's a bit of warmth there as well. It's like they've bottled dusty pale flowers, dark shadows and traces of incense smoke. It's very atmospheric. I adore this perfume.

Longevity is great on my skin: 8-10 hours.
Sillage is quite strong to begin with, but dries down to a pleasant moderate.

shushkin

Its an Edwardian story of our young beautiful heroine still mourning the unexpected death of her father. Her dress is corseted and high necked befitting the local fashions of the time and its sombre colours of lead grey with mauve lace make her seem like a shadow as she heads towards the church holding a small bouquet of violets she has just picked. She goes in to light a candle that will join the many already flickering there. The gloomy church smells of incense and violets but the many little candles cut through the gloom and shine brightly for those who will not be forgotten. The bottle so accurately recreates the form of her corseted figure.
Yes, in the initial hit there is a lot of iris, rose, violet, angelica, amber and incense. Its a delicious opening but as the alcohol dissipates the incense really comes into its own. Its the incense note I normally find great difficulty with as I know its a migraine trigger for me but not here thank goodness. There is some sweetness but just enough to really enhance the iris and violet notes which do overall still dominate. I am really in love with this iris/violet fragrance and Ive sniffed many and this is definitely now in my top 10. The sillage is moderate and the longevity phenomenal. Keep this one for cool/cold conditions as I think it would be overwhelming in much heat.

HUEbris

I'm not sure it was really reformulated as the rumour. Because I had bought 60ml bottle years ago that I heard this was discontineud and reproduced with changed formula. There's a sticker about new producing company which to hide some letters. When I removed that sticker it reveals original producing company name. Then is this one that I have not reformulated? People said only 90ml is original smell.
Anyway It smells very Incense and powdery.

Museumgal

Vintage smokey violet and rose scent. Not too Gothic maybe the smoke?but mostly a lipstick or makeup scent with a rich powdery quality. I don't get much of the dark impression but its still lovely. Good for any season occasion, day or night, versatile scent. Beautiful!

rednut

I won this in a give away (lucky me! and big thanks to mrsg34) and i love it. I normally can't wear aldehydes (chanel no 5 smells like perming solution on me!?) but this is beautiful. Fresh and a little bit fruity - must be the bergamot. Lovely iris violet and rose. Floral, fresh and fruity. Suitable for every day wear. The bottle won't last long as I have worn it every day for work for the last 4 weeks! Longevity and sillage are excellent. I can smell it all day long.

Akarui_hana

This one is not a crowd-pleaser so test if before buying and complaining about it.
I, for one, love it. I get a lot of old-school powdery rose balanced by sharp aldehydes and lovely incense. It does give a rather Gothic feel so it is not an every-day scent but on the days it calls out for me I enjoy wearing it very much.

It gives me the feeling of a cold distant sexiness, I imagine a Dominatrix wearing this.

kurotera

Too hard, too sweet.
Smells, like church. A lot of Incense, my sister said that it reminds smoke.
Men generally do not like the flavor and smell of it, as in a museum.

honeybeesweet

This was a blind buy for me and I regret it. To sharp for me. It reminds me of something from my childhood but I can't quite put my finger on it.
I'll give it another shot tomorrow.

Planet_X

Perfect representation of the song of Donovan "She", highly recommend a perfume and a song:) I am not writing perfume description as its been done below so many times, obviously violet in incense and soft aldehydes, but unless you smell it - you will not figure out how it possibly might be. Every time when there is an angelica among notes - you will be surprised, that's what I know for sure, it can turn all other notes upside down and the result is most unusual.

Enter She, with her scent of violetta
Yesterday gown, granny hand-me-down chiffon
Fragile She, with her beaded bag of treasures
Pale and pretty by the palm tree on the lawn.

Enter Me : 'Do you wanna have a drink, love ?'
'Yes' - she say - 'Perrier with a twist of lime'
Sexy She, with her see-through soft intentions
She for one was out to have a sober time.

She is my lover, our kisses of passion
Leave lips bruised and burning
Bodies so close, we live as one.

Its just one bewitching addictive fragrance, that you understand with time and don't want that spell to fade away...

Tapinview

Too many good reviews here not to grab this....blind buy adventure that I'm sure a lot of we fragrance freaks are prone to ...some 40mls bottles have shown up on eBay and Strawberrynet....just now so I thought, why not! Wow, it's gorgeous. An edgy incense with a haunting floralcy and sweet muskiness. A really beautiful perfume, I totally recommend all the positive reviews for additional information. It's even a bit reminiscent of some of Lutens later bell jars like Vierge a la Fier and my beloved De Profundis.
Well. A few days later. My daughter just pranced out wearing this.
Well. How the heck did this get discontinued. I may have to buy a backup. Apparently some came out of a warehouse somewhere,,,,

Nyssa Ainley

WARNING: This review is long! For those who hate long reviews I will say now, I love this fragrance, it's challenging the notes and how they appear speaks to me of the 'circle of life!' I can also see why this one would stay in the cupboard throughout Spring and Summer and only come out Novemeber - February. Top notes = Childhood. Heart Notes = Late adolescence TO 50's. Bases Notes = 50's to Death.

There, now for those who want to carry on x Go Ahead!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wore this for two hours with just two spritz's - one on a wrist and dabbed on the other, and one on my throat specifically to review this fragrance and see if it conjures up any images in my mind.

Did an evocative image come to my mind whilst wearing this fragrance? In a word yes.

This fragrance works, to me, like an olfactory metaphor for life ...

The openening is definitely soapy (what I learned to be aldehydes) like the sort of liquid soap you generally use to wash dishes with. This obviously hung around longer than I could detect because I asked my mother at various times to sniff my wrist and she made the same face (imagine a cat sniffing a lemon?) After half an hour, for me anyway, the soapy quality dissipated to the floral heart.

So, the opening was the journey from childhood to adolesence, the squeaky clean image of a blonde haired girl in pigtails presenting a daisy chain necklace to her mother.

The floral heart is when the child becomes a late teen and she has discovered Ozzy Osbourne, Pink Floyd, Nightwish - she subscribes to Prog Rock magazine buys Illamasqua make up and the blonde pigtails are now straightened dark shiny locks and the daisy chain becomes a skull and cross bones pendant - as she becomes into her own she retains some of that rebellious attitude but the little girl awakens as she too, eventually becomes the mum with the daisy chain necklace given to her by her own blonde haired daughter - though her arms bears a heart and rose tattoo and she sports a nose ring and three earring in each ear her the sweet violet and the powdery iris tames her and she is a wonderful mother that her appearance may belie to the ignorant world. The rose helps keeps her confident and assured as to whom she is as does the peony whilst the lavender balances out both sides and helps her relax as she goes through the third stage of her eventful wonderful, life ...

The dusty patchouli and smoky incense brings forth old age, does the old girl go silently? NO she does not! She still remains cheerful and bright but she will be the old lady who swears at young men if they so much as gawp at her teenage granddaughter - she is the grandma with an attitude retaining the vitality of her youth but will never be a walk over. The sort of grandma who still rides a Harley. Who adores Marvel comics and is cooler than your own staid mother ... the wood and musk sort of brings the cloister bell - grandma's coughing a lot more, she aches a lot more and - eventually, the scent fades as the woman dies ... Never is the scent cold - the rose and amber helps keep it warm. It is also never sweet.

Amongst the goods in the coffin: the last daisy chain her youngest grandchild made for her and her skull and crossbones pendant.

kaktus

I just received my Galliano, sadly the reformulated one. I really liked the idea of a catholic church perfume. I've tried the perfume once so far. On my wrist the scent is offensive. It developes to this make up bag lipsticky powdery smell with a tiny hint of incense. At first it really does smell like a church! The deal breaker for me are the sharp, fresh, almost menthol like, floral tones pushing through from start to finish. I'll try this one on my neck and make my final judgement after that. So far, I'm kinda disappointed. Still looking for that perfect gothic church smell...

Angeldaisy

my second review for selective beauty EDP....i wore this yesterday and am writing this because it it still wafting up from my skin 20 hours later!

Henriette mentioned it is like Chanel no. 22's bad sister.
she could be the dark purple ball gowned, deep red lipsticked twin sister, beneath a heavy purple cloak.

the opening is massive! and having read many reviews (there are so many for this!)...i do get toilet cleaner and furniture polish mixed with liquorice!

then i get sharp pungent sweet boozy blackcurrants. this is very purple and fruity on me.
the luscious soapy flowers in this are stained deep purple. an iris, a rose...but mostly a dusting of powdery violets beneath.

the violets are sweet. the incense slowly emerges and i was left with dark bitter-sweet boozy fruits and incense that has lasted FOREVER.

is my nose having a bad day? i think i will have to revisit this before i pass it on...but right now, i can't think why i adored it so much!

EDIT: yes, my nose was having a bad day! i have tried many perfumes before coming back to this again today. it is intoxicating, beautiful, mysterious and alluring. it is perfectly balanced.
like looking up at a clear dark starlit sky with dew beneath your feet.
bitter plums, a dirty rose, enchanted violets, powdery woods and incense. what more could you ask for? and it lasts forever on skin. phew, am jolly glad i kept it. and tonight, i am getting a lot of lavender coming through. mmmmmm
BUT...BUT...what i do find disconcerting, is that this perfume stays on my skin for 36+ hours. it is like having a purple perfume temporary tattoo!
at the 36 hour mark, it smells of coffee grounds and violets.
personally, I don't want a perfume to stay only my skin for almost 2 full days.

mirrorghost

i wasn't sure what to expect with this one. it starts off with aldehydes that quickly burn off and then i get the rose, followed by powdery softness from the iris and violet but there is also a slightly sweet floral, (probably angelica) that is really nice. there's a soft dry incense in the background holding it all together. it has hints of vintage makeup scent mixed with florals and bit of incense. during the first 20-30 minutes i think it has a similar feel to vivienne westwood's boudoir, but with more oomph. after that period it gets much more incensy and deep. so lovely.

Coffee King

I actually find this fragrance quite intriguing, sweet smoky incense, a bit sharp on the first spritz, but then as it mellows it's just beautiful. It's a bit boozy, bit spicy, bit floral, fabulously interesting, the bottle is a bit tacky. Great fragrance.

mrsg34

This is a gentle incense, violet, iris yet has a gothic smoky feel to it without screaming "look at me!".The bottle is gorgeous and it can be bought at a bargain price at the moment.I like to spray this before going to bed and feel gently cocooned in violet and incense, quite lovely.

rostov14

This sophisticated creature keeps you on your toes. Her lofty, romantic nature incites you to worship her beauty and femininity as well as her colourful seductive character excites your curiosity, imagination and innermost desires. Her flowers are narcotic: treacherously sweet and sweetly dangerous. Her trail is transcendentally celestial due to etherial adehydes,
angelica and incense notes, and yet - profoundly carnal due to an earthy Amber, cedar and musk.
She is intense, dramatic, contradictory and yet playful. She prompts you to enjoy the theatre of Life; no casual entrance nor exit here.
Dress yourself like royalty! The prickles of the Rose. Be draped !
The only smell that allures me in the same way is Balenciaga's "Florabotanica" with its similar warm, spicy, rosy and woody charm, but with no spookiness of the incense there.
But here, the smoke of the Big G is more than enticing. Golly! Be ready!
Subversive scent. Divine bottle. Bravissimo, Galliano! Love you!

ewanhoozarmy

Unfortunately, this one is a regret of mine. I'm a big fan of 'dark' mysterious scents, however, with this one, I don't get that at all. I'm no expert in terms of identifying individual notes, but to me it has quite a boring, nothing kind of smell. It sort of smells like the inside of a make up bag; talc, barely scented foundation and eyebrow pencil shavings. On me sillage is almost non-existent and in terms of longevity, it's gone in a hour. So so upset, considering how one review described it as a gothic, church smell. But I'm glad others are having more success with it. Exquisite bottle though.

x-x-x-ANGEL-x-x-x

Incredibly beautiful, dark and mysterious sweet incence so absolutely romantic.

This scent in a strange way makes me think of how the Corpse Bride's bouquet would have smelt.

lord montifer

Second review for this beauty! I had the reformulated one (which is still gorgeous IMHO) but have just received a beautiful sample bottle of the original (thanks, angeldaisy)!

The original feels smoother and darker and the opening less fizzy to me (the opening on the new one is a bit screechy for the first five minutes). This is where the main difference is for me. The original also feels more "real" ... as if the newer one is a copy of the older one. I hope this makes some sense...

I am going to keep the original back for special occasions but I still love the newer one as well and enjoy wearing it, it is one of my favourites and I adore the dry down. It has been a pleasure to be able to try out both versions.

SCBohemian

Intrigued by the gothic packaging (and reviews), I impulsively ordered a bottle of John Galliano Eau De Parfum. After the initial aldehyde blast, I immediately noticed rose and peony. Minutes later, delicious middle notes of soft vanilla, lime, and tonka bean make an appearance...similar to Bacardi rum and classic Coca-Cola with a shot of vanilla syrup. Powdery violet, soft musk and a hint of anise comprise the base notes of this mysterious gem. Sillage is moderate; longevity is impressive--6+ hours! This enchanting elixir is different from any other perfume currently in major department stores. This fragrance definitely has a vintage vibe.

jrhmakeupartistry

I was sucked in by the bottle, I admit it. I normally run from fragrances with notes such as these. If I smell incense and patchouli, that's a deal breaker for me. Patchouli especially really does not work with my chemistry. I have the original, not the reformulated version of this fragrance.

Let me start by saying this, in my opinion this is just a very wicked scent, if a liquid had the power and/or the capability to be a shapeshifter, this fragrance would define it. There is just such a thick denseness to this scent that is so hard to describe. It opens very green and settles into a very complex composition of floral notes that sit on the top but don't get enveloped by the incense/woody base. The first spray on my skin... I immediately did not like it, but like fine wine, fragrance needs time to develop and breathe on the skin. Every few minutes, one layer would settle down while pushing forward another floral layer. In my opinion, it takes a good while for this scent to settle down and work it's magic. I have to be in the right mood to wear it though...

JG has a very weird, almost dark historical smell to it. This is a fragrance that Vlad The Impaler would like his Princess to wear, and a scent that the Vampire Sisters from Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula probably bathed in before they toyed with their human prey. Deep, mysterious, intoxicating and incredibly sensual.

perfumeaddiction

OH MY GOSH!!! Does anyone who grew up in the 70-80's remember bottle cap candies? Especially the root beer flavor? That's what Galliano smells like at first.. then keeps getting better.

It was love and first spritz. Honestly this could be my new signature. Beautiful and does not resemble anything in my current collection. It's sweet but not that sickening sweet candy smell. It's got something else mixed in that I am trying to figure out. Sort of a spice note that helps muffle out any candy or cloying notes. All in all this is gorgeous. I think this is suitable for any age really. It's not vintage smelling or overly young it's just beautiful. As I type this the lovely aroma keeps floating off my arm and even after a half an hour it's going strong I continue to detect it and there is no anosmia there.

Quality: 10
Silage: 10
Lasting power: To be determined.

kiskionok

I have it, and I love it. Safe haven from all reformulations and low quality new products.
Longevity is extreme, sillage not overreaching ones personal space.

Momenti

"Scent Of A Ghost" ***

You know she is near by this smell. The ghost has a sad soul -ghosts are souls! - and even if she disappears again, her scent will surround you.

In the past, she was a beautiful woman, and the memory of her beauty remains in her portraits around you.

You light a candle, the only way of preserving her smell all day: pale, ethereal, and ghoulish.

loischanricky

Last night I applied very little juice on my skin, because I thought this can help me fall asleep.

And then I was like
"OMG I SMELL SO GOOD!
OMG I SMELL SO GOOD!
OMG I SMELL SO GOOD!
OMG I SMELL SO GOOD!
OMG I SMELL SO GOOD!" (for like 1000 times)

so it is proved that John Galliano EDP is indeed fantastic and it does not help me fall asleep at all.

EDP: for special occasions only.
EDT: daily use

Chocolate lady

Maybe I am not ready for that scent yet or it simply doesn't work for me. Honestly, for me this is the most horrific smell, ever. It makes me sick!

To me it smells like diet coke and somehow reminds me the smell of blood (very sharp and sweet) covered with powder and roses.

It is true that it is a dark and unusual scent, I can imagine zombies smell like that.

If anyone is interested i am swapping/selling it.

lord montifer

Love love love this! As a gothy girl who loves rose and incense I suppose I would! Mine is a 60ml made in France with a box with a sticker over the Selective Beauty label with Perfume Holding so assume it is the reformulation; but am loving it anyway so would love to smell the original! Comes over very violetty and powdery on me with a lovely smoky drydown. Definite love hearts vibe at the beginning. Top shelf!X

scarlett.angel

Thank you so much for this lovely explanation Angeldaisy! I'm so glad I read all the reviews here first, as I almost blind-bought the reformulated (current) version. I could only find 3 bottles left of the 90ml, but plenty of the 40-60ml. I will have to investigate this further.

Angeldaisy

Dear Scarlet Angel...it was reformulated by Perfume Holding and apparently it's not a patch on the original, which was by Selective Beauty. just check with buyers on eBay (or elsewhere) which name is on the bottle. Selective Beauty produced 60ml and 90ml for sure (not sure about 40ml). Perfume Holding produced 40ml and 60ml only.
i could only find 90ml (missing its original box), so i think i'll be getting a tester bottle. but if you ask the sellers, some of them still might have 60ml by selective beauty aswell.

i received an exquisite miniature today 7.5ml and have just tried it. it is sweet on the opening with big aldehydes and some dark fruits to begin.
then i get lemons and soapy flowers...then all the while, notes come and go - iris and lovely lavender...soapy...amber and patch base warms it up and balances the changes throughout for me. And (for a change) i am actually getting all the notes that everyone else gets. hoorah. incense and rose. oh my.
it is an amazing perfume with so many stunning changes and nuances (everything a perfume should be IMO) and so far, i love it! sweet and intoxicating. a massive wrist sniffer this one...i have arm ache.
i am sure you'll find yourself a bottle soon. enjoy it! there are a couple of 90ml bottles left on eBay from the my seller (without original box).

and if you like this, you might like: Illusions Noires Si Lolita Eau de Minuit Lolita Lempicka...on my skin, it's got the same kinda changing boozy purple lusty soapy thing, with different floral notes and replace the incense with pepper. but a bit lighter compared to Galliano. that one is discontinued also, but you can still find it.

scarlett.angel

Hi there! So I now know that this has been discontinued, and can only be found on eBay... but is it true about the reformulation... and if so, what is the difference between the current and original (vintage) version?

This fragrance has been number 1 on my 'Want List' since I became a member here, and I can only find it on eBay... So I just want to make sure I buy the right/legit one.

Thanks in advance! :)

EDIT: I just found on eBay there are lot's of listings available for the REFORMULATED EDP (60-90 ml format) - which I'm guessing is what most people have.

I found only 3 listings for the Original EDP (90 ml format).

Likute

Gothic flowers :)

orangetree

I wanted to love this- but its just too extroverted for an introvert like me. I find it too strong and that little burnt note it has kept turning me off!

MadeiraD

Sweet, floral intro to incense incense... and yet, all the people who call it ghostly and haunting have a point, maybe iris is a scary flower... but it does have a cool dark passageways in an empty house chill under the warmth of incense and the sweetness of rose.

I love the bottle and I find the entire thing quite charming.

SilverZeru

Review for the reformulation. I was apprehensive about this at first. I was afraid the incense would dominate the fragrance. I smelled a pleasant incense, a bit sweet which are surrounded by the rose and powdery violet notes. I can see why people described this as a bit dusty and musty as well. It is dusty and musty but in a good way. Longevity is good 8+ hours and projection strong to moderate. Simply beautiful.

Leah lilly

Very interesting, nice bottle and strong scent. I bought for mom a 60 ml which about 65$ and it was very hard to find it in Sweden but it's worth the price.

Dinkum

(90 ml bottle, original formula)

I mostly get the incense and lavender. Smells much more expensive than it is. Can't stop smelling my wrist when wearing this.

miha.vld

A beautiful incense-rose-powdery perfumeA good quality for low price.Lasts few hours and it's perfect for evenings.It's a blind buy and I have no regrets.

babydoll77

OMG I can't stop laughing because despite reviews to the contrary, this scent is so clean and soapy on my skin...where is the darkness, the mystery, the WOW?!?!?! So sad that this is so "plain" with a "dusty" drydown...NOOOOOOOOOO, another failed purchase :/

LDzneladze

This is the fragrance that i bought for my wife several years ago, really love it. Not for everyone though.

alfarom

Now, this is (was) some truly compelling designer stuff and, of course, they had to mess up with it.

Original Formula:

A tremendous balmy / incensey floral with a dense yet smooth texture. Green aldehydes, rose and white floral patterns on a woody / ambery (as opposed to woodyamebry) base with incensey facets. Perfectly unisex, easy to like yet anything but dull. A true gem in the designer panorama. It could have very easily been one of the most successful latest Amouages or whatever other fancy-niche offering.

Rating: 8/10

Current Formula:

They completely messed up with it. Thinner, more screechy, overly synth and in the end, dull. They amped up the iris and, apparently, this resulted in an overall greyness that didn't play in the fragrance favor. If you liked the original John Galliano but you can't find it, I'd suggest to completely dismiss the current iteration and jump directly to Etat Libre D'Orange Archive 69. Same perfumer (Christine Nagel), same style.

Rating: 6/10

Shimoldeam

Second review for this.

GIVE IT TIME. It is, umm.. quite striking at first, to put it mildly! After the initial medicinal twang (not a word often used to describe perfumes but it seems appropriate), after well over an hour it becomes an intoxicatingly dark and sexy fragrance, that makes me think of Victorian powder rooms (if I'd ever been in one :-S ), or a vixens boudoir, filled with silks and velvets! Definitely wont suit everyone, but well worth a try.

Sillage and longevity -unbeatable, lasts days. Seriously, if every perfume was like this I would smell glorious 24 hours a day!

turtle91

I love the top notes (which only lasts a few minutes) and base notes. Middle notes are rather soapy but I think I would grow to like it. The top notes smell the "darkest". I have the 60ml version, which is a bit weak and does not last very long. I think I have figured out what aldehydes smell like in perfumes - French soap.

solitaire

My late Nanna (born in 1907) had a bottle of some Spanish perfume in her wardrobe. I remember smelling it when I was a kid - mid 70s last century. The perfume was vintage already, but it smelled exactly the same. Exactly. Dewy rose and iris on a bed of incense. I wonder if John Galliano ever came across that fragrance that my Nanna had? Maybe it was his inspiration? Who knows?

Perfumegoddess23

Vampy, Boudoir , Romeo & Juliet vintage timeless...... This Smells intoxicating it captivates feminine beauty & injects the pin up era into the air , such a tantalizing vibrant dark sexy scent, This envokes Antique & high fashion grunge attached with a burst of seduction that would get any love interest weak at the knees ! This smell belongs to bold authentic retro glam beauties that love a dark vampy twist on old hollywood, this is what a vixen smells like, must be worn with dark sexy lips to envoke the temptresss & Warrior princess like mood that suckers you into this twisted world from a distant past if Mortisha from Adams Family were a fragrance she would be this diamond here! This agrees with my skin & lasted allday! Never over spray this, less is more! & prepare to be complimented & to be remembered as a goddess that smells unique & vintage

Megamind

This perfume opens with a burst of aldehyde and angelica. It's so beautiful but unfortunately it lasts less than a minute. Then I detect incense with lavender, iris and a hint of rose on the background. There is just enough quantity of musk giving this moderate sweetness and slowing down a huge incense power. It perfectly melts in incense giving a little creaminess to this scent. Depending on the skin chemistry musk either turns into creaminess or powder. It's so well blended!
Amber and patchouli are mentioned as well in the dry down notes. Usually this mixture results in oriental and powdery scent but hopefully these notes are hardly detectable on my skin. It's interesting but my husband said that he can smell orange. I suppose it comes from bergamot but I do not detect it myself.
Definitely is in my "love" category. This perfumes brings me to another world.

Megamind

I have an original edp version.
it can be only blind purchase as is not distributed in big parfumeries.No way to get a sample.
Frankly speaking I was so worried that this purchase would not meet my expectations. Personally I do not want smell like an old lady or like a church. Hopefully It's different. Well, "gothic", "balsamic" and "dark" is a good wording for the description. The form and a colour of the bottle perfectly reflects this astonishing juice.
After several days of wearing I lOVE it. I immediately purchased the second bottle even if I could not wear it often. It's not an innocent everyday flagrance.
Very long lasting power and projection BTW.

Alison Wonderland

I think I need to buy this simply because of the bottle and I owe it the signed copy of The Ocean at the End of the Lane I own (my most prized possession...Neil Gaiman drew a monster inside!)

The review below me sounds amazing, will read all the other reviews before deciding but the fact its also purple (my favorite color) and the low price may be enough to sway me.

I will have to wait until next month as I'm budgeting myself, but it looks like it may be between this or an Anna Sui or Vivianne Westwood for my gorgeous gothic perfume fix.

Sorry this is not a proper review I will edit this when I buy, some perfumes just have me all excited! >.

KSC7

I really wanted to fall in love with this perfume but it just didn't mix well with my skin chemistry. I love dark, sexy scents but on me I can't smell anything but powder. My friend mentioned to me that it really didn't suit me too which confirmed that it really wasn't for me.

The bottle is beautiful. The scent did become more bearable after several hours but it's just not for me sadly. I have a 60ml bottle should anyone want to swap or take this off my hands.

Mohd93

What a beauty! I'm glad I blind bought this, it's such a beautiful, enchanting scent. I wish they made bigger bottles, I noticed it's becoming hard to find, I hope I can get this easily next time after I empty my new bottle.

For me, it starts off with citrusy Aldehydes, although I hate overpowering citrus, I really like this. It becomes much better a few minutes later, with a lovely smoky Iris + Rose + Violet combo. Aldehydes is still there but not as strong as in the opening. Very good sillage and longevity.

This feels vintage, classy and dark. It's like taking a trip to Medieval time. Also, I grew up in the 90s and this beautiful perfume gives me nostalgia, I feel like I've smelled it before, when I was younger. As an Arab, I can say this definitely has a bit of an Arabian vibe to it, maybe it's the Incense, sometimes we use incense (which comes in a variety of smells such as Jasmine, Oud etc.) in our homes to make them smell better, especially when we have guests coming over.

Overall, a very beautiful, smoky, magical masterpiece. Added to my Re-purchase list.

Shimoldeam

Dark and sexy!! The initial spray made my eyes water to be honest - a balsamic almost spicy blast, but it soon dries down to a soft violet incense, but somehow powdery too. Its feminine, but so dark and mysterious! Not a scent for everyone, definitely try before you buy.

Sillage is impressive - I had lovely wafts of this all day, and even after I showered I could still detect it on my wrist! So unusual, incomparable!

Ivyswirl

Despite my initial disappointment at first sniff, I love this! At first, I thought it smelled nice, full of powdery iris, aldehydes and a smidgen  of rose jam almost with a tinge of incense, rather 'transparent' I thought. It conjured up the image of a beautiful but cold and untouchable woman standing alone in a cold church at Christmas. I don't feel it's a perfume that invites people in, not in the way some florientals seduce you.
Naturally though, I figured that with my rhino dry skin it will vanish in seconds! Nope. An entire day at work and I can still smell a deep, earthy yet powdery smell of amber, musk and patchouli. It's now a bit more human and inviting, even warm almost. I even got compliments from my colleagues in the morning, which is a rarity! Suspect I'll be keeping this in the permanent collection.

Lipglossjunkee

Ok, my bottle was 'Made in France' and I don't know if that's good or bad in the grand scheme of things, but I DO know it smells lovely, the bottle itself is pretty awesome looking, and I love the box it comes in...
Ok, let's describe the scent:
I get a smidge of Victorian soapiness in the opening---those would be the burst of aldehydes/bergamot/and I'm guessing the Angelica, although my nose isn't sure that's what I'm smelling. :) It is not unpleasant, but too much could be headache inducing (again, that's the aldehydes, I get that reaction to a lot of them).
I've been wearing this one for 2 days and I truly like it...the middle notes are a bit of dusty patch, incense and sweet lipsticky violet....that softens into powdery violet, amber, and musk on the drydown, with that layer of incense throughout. It has a lovely sweet/smokey thing going on that is very reminiscent of times gone by. It is by no means sharp on me, nor is it a beast (but then, my skin eats up scents). Inexpensive and well worth the blind buy.

Lacrimosa

❀ I was mesmerized by this perfume!
It's diabolic n' dark but at the same times smells like catharsis of a christian soul...
...such a confrontational sense & thought for my mind..!

ATTIA**

This is one concentrated perfume!! this is how perfume should be long lasting.Its got all the right notes to it,i feel happy when i wear it.xxx

boheme_maras

I just receive a bottle of 60ml. This perfume is loud strong powdery and very sensual!! I think its on the same family with Loulou I mean both are powdery incensy floral monsters. Loulou is based on jasmine Galliano is based on violets! This bottle is gorgeous and I think its a perfume with the same character with L'agent ! I really like it! Dark boudoir vintage lipstick scents blended with lilac and incense fumes.

JoeMacchiato

I can see the similarities between JG and Lyric Man, both of which I own. However, there are obvious differences that one can easily detect. Let's put it this way. If I smell JG on someone, I will not mistake it for Lyric Man.

JG to me is very aldehydic. There is also sweet powedery in it that I believe comes from amber. Rose is there but not a major player despite the rose relief on the bottle.

aber19

I finally bought the original perfume because when I tried the reformulated 60mls EDP smelt weak, bitter, alcoholic and really terrible on me. There is a considerable difference. I was tempted to buy a EDP 90mls bottle of the original when it was only $29.00. I guess it could not hurt, at least the bottle is lovely.

Firstly, it has less lemon and bitterness. The main notes are rose, lavender and violet. I would be bold to say it has the original Anna Sui smell, linked to lemon and rose. I can understand the night and bedroom fragrance of seduction. The curiosity of a synthetic smell is unique. Would I classify this as a Gothic smell? On me, perhaps not, but a lavender, lemony rose vintage smell. In the beginning, I smelt Dior's addict briefly and there is a incense smell linked into the lemon. The richness reminds of YSL original NU without the sweet, boozy and cinnamon notes and toned down a lot. It lingers on the skin nicely as the lemon and frankincense merge has the sweet rose is trying showcase its sweetness. As present I have been wearing this for only 15 mins and have only spray it once on the skin. It is quite strong. I can smell it about 30 cms away from the wrist. Would I say it is a masterpiece, well not really. Compared to Midnight poison no. I would say Midnight poison is more Gothic. It is a fantastic bedroom fragrance for intimacy with a loved one or to smell on yourself. It is fragrance where you are always smelling your wrist. Now the lovely raspberry jam rose smell is becoming more pronounced.I would say this fragrance may take a while to appreciate. Now it transforms to a little like the fantastic Hermes Rouge original. The rose now becomes the masterpiece as violets and lavender are surpassed. Because this a rare perfume, I had to have it. If you spray a small amount on the skin or clothes it is wearable everyday. If you douse yourself with the perfume, you become overpowering. Less is more with this perfume. If you want to try this perfume properly. You need to purchase only the 90mls bottle, because there are too many reformulated versions in smaller bottles. The reformulated version is really horrible and bitter so beware. I would give a 7/10 because the lemon smell limits the sweetness of the floral array. I wish it smelled more sweeter, less linear and more richer. For me the perfume is more conservative, church like rather than artistic and really out there. Finally it smells better on clothes than the skin. It lasts longer and sweeter. It smells lovely in the end similar to Visit for Women Azzaro for women. On clothes it lasts for over 10 hrs.

Turtledove

People talk about how gothic this one is, and I don't quite get that. It does have a pronounced lemony church-incense note at the beginning, but it's blended with floral/aldehyde notes in such a way that it feels stylishly retro, maybe like a lighthearted 50s pinup rendition of dark and gothic. It would go great with red lips and pin curls!

I can also see maybe bohemian/artsy though. It feels comfortable to wear for me, unlike most "noir"/gothic kinds of fragrances, which almost always bug me. I REALLY like the fruity/honeyed rose note in the base, it's a teensy bit synthetic, but it doesn't take away from the overall effect I think. It's lovely rose, very warm and sweet, with a touch of spice or smoke to it. It reminds me a little of a warmer version of Pacifica's Persian Rose.

apndx

This is a splendid Halloween perfume. Just went to my local groceries shop in my creepy black dress and a trail of this incense filled intoxicating fume. The feeling was quite unreal, at least for me :)

lirael00

This perfume kinda gives me the creeps but that's one more reason why I own it and think it's a really special one. First of all I love the gothic witchy look of the bottle I think it really suits the scent itself. The opening is very strong, but if you wait for a little bit you'll get this amazing iris-incense smell. When I smell it I'm brought to this wonderful dark twisted world. It really is not a 'today' kinda smell, I would say it belongs to different era or maybe even different world. I think this scent would be perfect for witches and queens in fairytales. It's very complex, femminine, creative and intriguing. I'm very impressed by it, but I have to be in a certain mood to wear it and to really feel it's power. Love it!

drugstore classics

Stunning floriental.

Galliano is everything I love in a modern scent - balsamic notes, iris, patchouli, and incense. In other words, a powerhouse with fantastic flair!

Sadly for me, the only 'modern' note in the composition ( PEONY ) doesn't mesh at all with my chemistry, creating harshness and imbalance where lush warmth is intended. Even so, I feel very privileged to have met this beauty.

Conclusion:

Galliano has my respect for giving us such a dazzling creation for the modern perfume market. Five Stars!!!

malencar

EDP is a sexy and flirty scent! I dont get much insence ...definitely best for night time! Perfect for a Vampire ...not really unisex ...but not only for girls .... Very unique ... Very Galliano

nikkibom

Received my bottle yesterday. I think I have found a spicey incense that I have been searching for so long!! Cannot stop sniffing. Smells exactly like when entering Orthodox church - the incense and the candle wax. Will treasure this for a long time.

Bublegum

Such sexy and mysterious perfume. I love this one. Maybe it is the incense, but it has depth and mystery. Definitely a night perfume. It has big longevity (more than 12 hours) and radiates in 2 metres (6 feet).I cannot distinct between the florals since I am only getting an incense blast, but I love incense. I give it 9/10.

auroramaria

Giog since when in Italy we would use poor materials in perfumes? After all we are number one in the world for so many things and quality is our trade mark in fashion,food,accessories,fast cars and style of living.
Sorry I had to get this out of my system.

lilywhite13

Well said Beatrix75! That comment about money and intelligence was totally pathetic! It's a matter of taste and we all know that "De gustibus non est disputandum".

beatrix75

Giog!!! this is not your problem if people like what they like here people write opinions about perfume does not require intelligence or money's !! not ??

Amal Elyahyaoui

simply, my favorite

Musume

I actually prefer the reformulation of this perfume, the original had an astringent drydown that I didn't find comfortable to wear. The reformulation starts like the original: aldehydic, powdery in a laundry fashion, but then you're left with an amazing vanilly-incensey violet scent. I find it very victorian-style, it should be the perfume that Eva Green wears in the Penny Dreadful show.

Angela Agiannidou

I am glad I didnt review this scent immediately, first I tried it on paper and all I got was a kind of purple fruit, BUT, maybe sensing the potential I gave it another go on my skin, and, omg,what a difference!!! This is a beast of a scent!! There is a distinct smell of violet and bergamot oozing through incense,heady,strong and alluring, this is a kind of powdery intense, retro,nostalgic and intoxicating juice. It is best IMO to wear it in the evening and during a colder weather as it would be too heavy for the summer months, nevertheless this is a great scent and very feminine.

Leetronf

If you want the original, hunt the 90 ml, because when they reformulated the scent did not produce a plus size big. That's why there are so many 60 or 40 ml Galliano at bargain prices, are reformulated that are not worth anything. Look for the original, that was Great ;)

malika1979

It's a disturbing scent for me, very different on many level from commercial perfumes, more interesting, you start to ask questions like after a good movie or something! I personally don't like to wear it, it was a gift, but I had a bizarre feeling wearing it, as if I was wearing a clothing not matching my style.

beatrix75

I do not know how i would explain but the plum jam reminds me yes my mummys plum jam speaking very positively delicious sweet wonderful delicate and feminine mystic !!!

Bloodlust

As soon as I received this fragrance, I bathed in it, pretty much.

I find this certainly a very whimsical, romantic, feminine scent- as the imagery associated with it implies: very boudoir-inspired, vintage, powdery and synthetic. I am not usually a fan of scents of this nature, but I think the incense note saves this from being a little too "old school"/aldehylic/full-of-iris, for me!

I like that you can detect every flower, somehow! Iris first, then a combination of violet & lavender. While it's very "Moulin Rouge", it's also reminiscent of fancy bath soaps/relaxing luxury bath salts, a la the purple flowers. And then of course, the dry-down is straight sweet incense.

Certainly something I'm not going to be wearing every single day, or spritz on liberally for work in the morning - but it's a novelty in my collection, and I'm addicted to the feel of this fragrance!

Edit: Hah, "Not wear every single day" - yeah right! I wear this one to death!

nikoleta1

Beautiful bottle and a box, very artists and romantic work, however the perfume is heavy on essence with synthetic origins, nothing else is going on there, unfortunately this perfume didn't work for me, I wanted it for a long time.

halalula1234

What a gorgeous scent!! Wow! I am transported to a boudoir in Moulin Rouge upon spraying this. The scent contains a very dominant Iris note which stays prominent throughout the application, its absolutely beautiful! Long lasting for a very affordable price + amazing presentation.

Morrigaan

There's not much to say about it, other than whenever I wear this perfume I feel like I'm in a french boudoir! My compliments to Monsieur Galliano.

sophywt

EDP version is totally different from the EDT version. The latter one smells almost crystal bright floral, while the EDP turns out to be weird on my skin.

It's a very typical dry soap powder rose. Too dry, it reminds me of talc stone - a soft stone material that people use for praticing traditional Chinese seal cutting. I learned this craft in my school days, and I still remember the dry but soft chill touch of talc powder left on all over my palms. Now, John Galliano EDP combines this with the super soapy notes together. There are certainly other notes, but so less impressive that I only remember the scent's super dry soapy notes.

I won't wear this one, but think it's a interesting one. Skin chemistry varies vastly that I saw seldom people get same impression on this.

Jernê Knowles

English:

John Galliano EDP was one of several perfumes that I had to try several times to understand that he came, for I confess that despite being a highly potent perfume that involves from the first spritz it to my humble nostrils not "spent" more Floral Sweetened poignant one. He's talented hands and nostrils Christine Nagel, a nice lady who had created a bit of scented perfumes that make our heads and skin (Exclusive lines Dior, Cartier's, Giorgio Armani Exclusives, etc..) In this big world of my God. In trials I did on this fragrance realized he is not pure aldehydes as many weave to review it, now in its out you realize yes, aldehydic notes, but fused to a bergamot juice with ice and splashes of brains Angelic and this initial mixture gives a memento to red fruits in syrups that can confuse even the nostrils for a moment. From there, John Galliano EDP becomes a very impressive floralzão and pulsating on the skin to evolve; hats off to the spectacle that is the Peony in his heart, something sublime and white and determined, and refined, sleek and decided. The Rose with Violet are also extremely evident at this stage of perfume and pave the way for the touch of makeup that Iris is the large balcony of this fragrance, since this heavy scent of makeup goes to its base it is possible to see the wonderful incense made from raw cedar wood, burned in roots of Patchouli giving a dazzling end smoking; gives also feel, subtly some amber notes wanting to excel, but they are shy and so close to the end it takes a great effort to see them. Conclusion after many experiments the same! It is a scent that is worth having it, especially those who like the portentous perfumão line background with sweet and semi-Oriental, as fixed footprint and design very well, me 10 hours with few doses. Do not know your EDT version, however endeavor from then to know it, because that's EDT, in my view, are always more open, shiny and happy.

I dedicate this review to my friend Mademoiselle_C!


Português:

John Galliano EDP foi um dos vários perfumes que tive que experimentar inúmeras vezes até entender a que ele veio, pois confesso que apesar de ser um perfume altamente potente que envolve a partir da primeira borrifada, ele para minhas humildes narinas não “passava” de mais um Floral Adocicado pungente. Ele é das mãos e narinas talentosas de Christine Nagel, uma agradável senhora que criara um bocado de perfumes cheirosos que fazem nossas cabeças e pele (Linhas exclusivas Dior, Cartie’s, Giorgio Armani Exclusivos, etc.) nesse mundão de meu Deus. Nas experimentações que fiz sobre esta fragrância percebi que ele não é puro Aldeídos como muitos tecem ao resenhá-lo, já em sua Saída você percebe sim, as notas aldeídicas, porém fundidas a um suco de Bergamotas com gelo e toques de miolos de Angélicas, e esta mistura inicial dá uma lembrança a frutas vermelhas em caldas que podem até confundir as narinas por um momento. A partir daí, John Galliano EDP se torna um floralzão bem imponente e que pulsa sobre a pele ao evoluir; tiro o chapéu para o espetáculo que é a Peônia em seu Coração, algo sublime bem branco e decidido, além de requintado, fino e decidido. A Rosa com a Violeta também são extremamente evidentes nesta fase do perfume e abrem alas para o toque de maquiagem da Íris que é a grande sacada desta fragrância, uma vez que este aroma pesado de maquiagem vai até à sua Base que é possível perceber o maravilhoso Incenso feito a partir de madeira bruta de Cedro, queimados em raízes de Patchouli dando uma defumação final mirabolante; dá para sentir também, de forma sutil umas notas ambaradas querendo se sobressair, mas são tímidas e tão próximas ao fim que é preciso um esforço muito grande para percebê-las. Conclusão após tantos experimentos do mesmo?! É um perfume que vale a pena tê-lo, principalmente quem gosta da linha perfumão portentoso com fundo adocicado e com pegada semi Oriental, pois fixa e projeta muitíssimo bem, em mim 10 hs com poucas doses aplicadas. Não conheço sua versão EDT, porém me esforçarei a partir de então a fim de conhecê-la, por conta de que os EDT’s, na minha concepção, sempre são mais abertos, brilhosos e alegres.

Dedico esta Resenha à minha Amiga Mademoiselle_C!

2746cstreet

I love iris, incense, angelica and Christine Nagel (Madness!). So I kind of instinctually knew that I would love John Galliano.
Angelica is one of my favorite notes and sadly underused in the world of perfumery. It is herbal and bittersweet and entirely unique. When I first sprayed this one, I nearly swooned from the massive dose of angelica that wafted up at me.
I have to agree that there is something slightly gothic to this fragrance, but to me it's very tongue in cheek. It's fashion gothic, and that's very in line with John Galliano's aesthetic.
So no, nothing spooky here.. just some dark lipstick and fishnets.
But that aside, this really is a "love" for me. It just hasn't filled the graveyard dirt, cobwebs and carroty iris void in my life. I may just have to bite the bullet and acquire Lutens' Iris Silver Mist.

nise

Sadly NO violets whatsoever on me which I was really hoping for (I don't smell any rose or lavender either), but it has the most amazing smokey incense all the way through. After the initial aldehydic green blast, I get a peek of bergamot which doesn't last long. After an hour it is gorgeously warm, sweet and smokey and stays that way, mellowing right down to sweet smokey musk. One spray on each wrist is quite sufficient, sillage is huge as is longevity. I could still smell it on my wrists the next morning.

EDIT: this is not just incense, but frankincense, which I love.

FURTHER EDIT: This perfume has grown on me so quickly, crept under my skin and into my mind. Keep sniffing my wrists to get another fix. I do believe I am hooked.

This perfume has so many things going on, I get wafts of different scents each time I spray it. I'm sure I get a whiff of peppermint in the top notes too.

EDIT: I wear this perfume when I'm grieving for my husband.

chimidoro

Warm and welcoming.
Aldehydic jammy incense.

What can I say that hasn't already been said before?
This is truly a work of art to my nose!
It also contains the most realistic and alluringly attractive incense (especially in the drydown) that I've ever encountered/experienced in a perfume.

Churches, yes. But where I differ is that I'm outside of the church. I'm on the church grounds and it's been raining heavily. An abundance of sodden, wilted roses - left lovingly, intermingling with candle wax, smoldering incense, and the rising scent of the dampen external walls of the church are drifting about me as I gasp for air between sobs.

This could indeed be a boudoir. But where I differ here is that it's not the nineteen twenties for me, though I can certainly see something of the boudoir in this.
Like it was meant to stand beside the eponymous Anna Sui scent, surrounded by lanterns, empty bird cages, strewn stockings and (preferably fake?) fur coats and lace underskirts.

Strangely, this is the sort of scent I can envisage each and every one of the women who were horrendously slaughtered by Jack the Ripper to have been doused in. For me this is the décolleté of the dead amid the stark formality of death.
The bittersweet, earthy & potent, sorrowful memory of a woman. It's the afterlife with a memorable presence left behind.
A feeling of unrest. Disquiet. Smog hangs heavy in this street, with the dreamily sweet scents of a bakery nearby and the wry crows of laughter from a brewery. A woman lays alone, forgotten.
What I feel for this scent is a romanticized version of a grim reality.

Somebody in a review voiced the opinion that this is a "modern vintage" fragrance, and I agree one hundred percent. This is a timeless style recreated to meet more modern standards.

This is at once a heavy juice while remaining subtle.
The sillage with two sprays is enough to fill a room. It mellows in around three hours, but remains quite strong and very present.
Beautiful. For me this is a scent to rival all scents.

Wholeheartedly agreeing with the links made to D&G's red cap scent! But for me this is darker, sweeter - more brooding and complex.
Similar, in fact, to the pre-reformulation of Givenchy's Ange ou Demon.

This demon juice lasts extremely well. One spray can last from morning til night!
All being said and done, it's actually not such a dark scent; it all depends on your mood at the time of wearing it. (Personally I've found myself prone to applying this scent liberally on a hot summer's day!)
It's heavenly. It's contradictory. It's balanced perfectly with a sweet jammy aspect, keeping it lively. The iris here is done to perfection - without becoming a powdery overload - it's like the softest of caresses, and there's also a cool hint of fallen green apples left to sit in the sun.
It just toys with being dark without being overtly so. Not a down-heartening heavy oriental/spicy scent with a "been there, done that, bought the (500 different versions of this) perfume" kind of vibe.
Also - it's distinct from other aldehydic scents I've tried. Though I do see the similarity to D&G red cap, it's not so alike that you'd buy only one of them and to hell with the other.
My female pet cat seems very taken by this one, too. (Obviously a very intelligent and refined cat. My male cat prefers Escada's Cherry in the air).

One negative I have found is that the bottles are extremely hard to spray! (My fingers are not long enough!)
Perhaps Galliano had in mind the spindly fingers of a spider to be apt for using this scent? Or maybe this was meant for men?
This is one of the few fragrances in the world that, if I smelled it on somebody else, I'd find myself unable to resist asking what it was.
It's incredibly feminine, but I do believe that a man could pull this off well.

Unique, opulent, enticing, sweet, alluring and charismatic. This just screams "signature scent!" and I'm very proud to have it in my collection.
It's one of my favorite perfumes.

(Review for the "Selective Beauty" 90ml EDP, made in France.)

pravda48

On me this is a heady, deliciously dark (conceptually) blend of fine incense and deep purple florals that manages to be 'light' in feeling. There are touches of rose and something sweetly spicy beyond just the incense; a lovely kind of patch w/ bergamot, methinks. (My bf's comment was "mmm, it reminds me of cocoa powder!", I can see where he got a sort of raw cacao spiciness impression.)

Definitely powdery, but in the most beautiful way. I.e. not just a non-descriptive 'baby powder' kind of scent, but soft aldehydic powder. Like the powder impression of a stick of fine incense, or apparently a tad like dark cacao powder ;)

Will continue to test but this one may be fb for me!

P.S. 7 hrs later this is a luscious vanilla (?) & purple florals (lavender, violet, & iris all still here) skin scent. Mmm now that the sillage isn't so big I have my wrist glued to my nose. Mmm...

samsara82

Dear Readers,
What can I say about Galliano's ?
all I can say is Oohh ca va mademoiselle !.

Wow, I got to try 2 versions the toilette and perfume of Galliano's and it did impress me a lot and I lament to hear its been discontinued .

The perfume on its own without putting it on me was sensually complex that I could not tell what note was talking , but I smelt it all in singing in harmony to my senses that make my eyes roll when inhaling her

And this perfume ,has that lovely classic French style of perfume that many before us have been enchanted by . Its very without a doubt feminine ,seductive and a lot of class of character..
And perfume has a little naughty side to it but in a flirty way that isn't cheap or annoying for this perfume is very confident and has silk like charisma that just feels suave and good to the senses.

On me, both toilette and perfume did not make a difference on my chemistry like it did on other's, in this case Im not complaining, because its a lovely perfume and took quite a liking to my chemistry,
The violets and roses definitely came to life on my chemistry which made it a very creamy rosy experience like smelling high end sensual lipsticks, inviting you to get closer and closer, more intimate than before and enjoying the sensual and intimate world, like reading off a novel of Anais Nin or becoming one of her character for someone else's intimate sensual experience.

I recommend this perfume to those who enjoy fine quality French perfumes, this has a good modest balance of elegance and sensuality, with a whisper of romance , if your body chemistry is compatible with the perfume of course.

This perfume has a lot of charisma and character to it that will make you stand out in a sensual way and very bewitching I must say so. Definitely a exquisite gift and experience.

Viva Galliano and the house of Galliano, please bring this back !

Henriette

My 60 ml bottle of EdP says Made in France (on the box the wording SELECTIVE BEAUTY, 1 Rue des Blés, 93210 Saint Denis La Plaine, Paris, France) which attests its original formulation, so no concern about lower quality for this size as expressed in another review.

John Galliano truly resembles Chanel N°22, a sort of bad sister to clean, polite Chanel N°22.
It's Chanel N°22 with a luscious evening gown instead of a simple school uniform with regimental tie;
it's Chanel N°22 wading through puddles on a pouring rainy day instead of sitting comfortably home sipping Earl Grey tea watching rain out of the window in a comfy sitting room.
No other instances given, you get the picture.
Could a woman be wearing and loving both? I do.
Must a woman decide which is better than the other? No, she needn't.
May a woman feel like an elegant, polite lady and minutes after (or before) feel like a little child wishing to laugh out loud instead of simply smiling? She has every right to do so.

ecerusen

bottle full of peace. when this stuff is on me, i become a cat who purrrsss all day :) its notes are a bit out of my knowledge so i cant say that "this note is high, this note is low" but all that i can say is this scent smells like church and i became addict.

ON ME(capital letters for personal opinion) it smells exactly the same with coco chanel's last phase(because of incense, both of them used incense successful.no synthetic incense in them) but this one was more acceptable because CC creates headache on me.

anyway, at first you can think it is strange and hard to wear but after using 2-3 times you'll get used to and maybe become addict like me.

lanuitblanche

On me, this is the most mysterious violet-incense that is at once shaded and goth, but shimmering and radiant at the same time. I have never smelled a violet that was as vampy as this one -- usually to me, the violet note smells very melancholy and introspective (like Apres l'Ondee), but not this! And Jolie Madame's joyful violet seems too pretty-pretty compared to this one.

I wore this to Sleep No More in New York City, and it was as if the fragrance was made specifically for that occasion. I could see Elisabeta's character from Bram Stoker's Dracula wearing this JG gem. Love.

SumoTigerCat

Had sampled this once before and thought it smelled of gin on my skin. Yuck. However, I could not stop thinking about it, because the notes sound so sublime. So... ordered a FB, 60 ml. It arrived today and, omg! is it ever pretty! I am finally getting incense from it, and the Iris and Violet come through nice and strong. The Bergamot serves to brighten it nicely. All in all, I find this Galliano to be an enchanting fragrance.

Gjilchrist

From the shared notes of angelica, rose, amber, and incense, I imagine this smells like Creed's Angelique Encens, which I am dying to get my hands on. In complete ignorance, I feel like Marlene Diedrich when I wear this, and I completely love it. As romantic-sexy as it comes! I'm going to have to start stockpiling while I still can.

rhaineclayton

I bought this blind because I love the smell of incense and who could resist that bottle?
On first spray it smelt like shampoo to me - not an altogether bad thing just not what expected from a designer fragrance, the middle notes really didn't smell too great, which surprised me because the ones listed here are some of my favourites.
The dry down is better but still a disappointment to me sadly. Very incense and cedar.
I love the smell of incense (and I find Bill Blass Basic Black very incense-like) but obviously I was associating it with the sweet new age style incense (that I get from my Bill Blass) rather than the strong churchy type. It's more like a strong sage smudge stick rather than incense to me.
Either way, I do love the shape of the bottle - I'm not a fan of how it sprays (comes out in a concentrated squirt).
I would say after the dry down this could be a unisex scent.

Soutty123

Just bought the 40ml bottle and it is gorgeous! Really unusual. Soft and powdery on my skin rather than heavy and incensey. A very successful blind buy.

VintageViolet_

Can anyone tell what this smells like in comparison to Lush's Tuca Tuca fragrance?

Angel in the South

Fantastically beautiful perfume. I have no idea where some people get the idea that only the 100ml bottle is the one to buy. I have just purchased the 40 ml bottle and it is wonderful, everything that I had hoped it would be. Dark and mysterious indeed. Do not be put off buying a smaller bottle it is still as fabulous as the larger bottle.

Mortazuma

Ooh la la Galliano what sorcery is this? I have found a new guilty pleasure. This is not a fragrance I would wear outside of my boudoir, as a matter of fact this isn't something I'd like others to smell on me either. I don't want anyone asking me what I'm wearing nor offer opinion, this is a perfume I'd wear for ME, like a portal back into a very private world.

I received this in a sample vial with no idea what to expect, I went ahead and without even smelling the fragrance directly from the vial, I just gave my wrists a couple of good spritzes.

I really liked the complexity, extravagance, eccentricity and dark overtone of this and will share a bit of a secret. One of the real reasons why I prefer to keep it within the boudoir is (and I mean this in a role playing fun kind of way), it reminded me of a opium smoking, absinthe drinking 1920's french flapper with a penchant for poetry, séances, and debate. A sensual rebel that is in a league of her own. There, I said it.

The advertisement embodies this fragrance quite well and vice versa. This is a treat to the senses and I can feel better knowing that real talent is still out there. It spins visions of such velvety opulence and dark coloured lasciviousness I could not ignore nor keep a straight face with. And finally, patchouli done RIGHT! Oh my stars, fantastic!

It is a potion, concealed as a perfume. A liquid magic spell...the forbidden spindle that didn't put this Sleeping Beauty into a state of slumber, but instead...became an awakening of sorts. Quite bewitching.

aber19

I have tried this perfume today, when I went into a Toorak Chemist in Melbourne. It was on special for $49.00. I tried the EDP 60 mls version made in France fragrance. Unfortunately, this fragrance smelt terrible. On my skin it feels like a reformulated perfume as mentioned by other fragranticians.

On my skin it smells like a bitter and weak version of the Gautier original perfume. There is a horrible smell that makes me sick. It is not a nice floral or sweet fragrance, but has a rose, jasmine, bitter lemon and vanilla cheap fabric softer smell. YOU WILL NEED TO TRY THIS FIRST!!!!

If you are a fan of this fragrance, and it works for you, then visit the Toorak Village, to pick a good priced and discontinued perfume. There was two 60mls available for you to enjoy. However, for me it just did not work. The fragrance turned into a horrible stench. The perfume was not too strong, It lingered close to the skin making it a moderate smell.

Ciceronek

I tried the 90 ml: fabulous, something of niche quality, really fantastic. Floral, rich and realistic, with a beautiful Gothic incense in the bottom amber.
But I found the small bottles, and I noticed that they were much less beautiful and different.
Both were EDP.

Pay attention to the bottle and examined it, because the small sizes have been produced not in France but in Italy after the sale of the brand, with low quality and different than the original.

The original one is pure perfection: 10+

The reformulated one is less in all: 6

Elmyra

I dont get how some people feel that this can be a unisex scent...i tend to disagree. This scent is as womanly as it gets.

dhoakohime

Very intersting little jewel! Very hard to find nowadays, and definitely an oddity among non niche/indie frags!

It starts off with a very very soapy mix of aldehydes á la Chanel nº5 but paired up with a dark base of incense. The incense is not very strong, not very photorealistic (nothing like Comme des Garçons Avignon), it simply adds a tad of darkness and interest the mix. We could say it starts very oldschool but with a twist.

As it dries down the aldehydes vanish being replaced by a combo of anised violet, slightly powdery quite sweet iris and rose that borderlines something pretty conventional. However the dark bed of not very dense incense remains under the flowery combo, which adds a velvety darkness to it, giving it that dark "boudoir" feel to the mix. Definitely not as original as the opening, but very very pleasant and feminine.

Projection and longevity are quite good for a designer. Very happy with my little dark bottle!!<3

ScarlettX

I like this powdery, creamy, spicy scent. It is very interesting and enjoyable.
I think this is the best incense scent ever!
Extremely long lasting! This could last many days/showers/handwashes.

mihaela01

Just looking at the picture from the box and then at the bottle I knew that this is something new for me...something I have not smelled before,I was not sure I will like it....but I love it.It is the smell of a cathedral,incense powdery woody vanilla,great lasting power,in my opinion works wonderfull in colder months.

Elmyra

One of my top 10. Ive had two bottles of this over the past two years, definitely want another. Its one of my favorites, which i try to by as soon as i run out, it remains on my want list!
Extremely sensual and feminine, very long lasting with great sillage, just perfect.
A tad similar to D&G femme, the new one, but Femme doesnt have much sillage, and staying power isnt great on it...id go for Galiano any day, and i am a D&G lover.
The composition is very complex here in this frag, and alltogether works and notes blend beautifully. The musk base note prevents it from being too sweet, and it definitely doesnt smell like insense. Its subtly there, but only hints of, mainly i sense smoky rose and musk, but not fresh and crisp musk - rather a sensual musky rose, deep purple orchid, passionate scent - reminding me of Very Irressitable Sensuel by Givenchy.
Bottomline: Galiano rocks!!

blaiseantoine

beautiful creation the original and precious juice is only into 90 ml bottles all the others are reformulated versions






9/10

miss mills

Bought a sample of this based on reviews of its similarity to POAL by Malle. This is nothing like it to me. This is a floral concoction with a saccharine dry down, a jumble of violets and weakly strewn flowers. Not the complex patchouli sex beast number I was craving at all! (Apologies to the lovers here, no offence, just not my cuppa tea). Sexy bottle though.

lyciumchld

The combination of bergamot and incense blends on me to form a somewhat strange, sweetly sourish blackberry vibe. Galliano is powdery, deep, somewhat floral, and just a tiny bit green. Someone had mentioned this was somber juice, and I agree. This is not a joyous scent, nor is it light. That said, I don't particularly go for light fragrances, so Galliano's depth and seriousness are no obstacles for me. I find that in character, Galliano is very similar to Alien (on a whim, I tried them both, one on each hand, for comparison). The two are, in my opinion, like two sides of a coin; Alien is the warmer of the two, and Galliano is cooler, more powdery. Both have a slightly "strange" quality. I like it.

Pinnacos

hansito:

This fragrance is about as unisex as that bottle.

patxaran

I am wondering if my smoke-o-metre or incense-o-metre is broken. This was a blind buy based on the raving reviews and I like this scent very much, just that I don't perceive it as smokey at all. Incense aside, I was hoping for an intense violet and even that didn't manifest quite as expected. So, for me this scent is essentially a mysterious aldehyde, with a sparkle that reminds me of "brausepulver" sweets I ate as a kid in Germany - think of love hearts and similar sweets and you have the idea. It's like sleeping with the lights on... longevity is very good, and what would be topnotes long gone in many fragrances, seems to last forever. Where o where is that dark gothic chapel people are talking about?? John Galliano EDP suddenly made more sense to me when it mixed with the Insolence EDP that was left on my jumper - tadaa, radioactive violet basenote downloaded and installed. Aaah this is how it rocks for me!! I

AgataScheffers

I bought it blind, because of the reviews here and I am certainly not disappointed! It is mysterious, sweet, has a lot of incense - just what I was looking for.

KATERINA LABROPOULOU

This is indeed a gothic perfume well blended and very long lasting. It is very unusual yet dark and sweet all together. I like the bottle even if some mention that is kind of grotesque. For me along with VW Boudoir are the most gothic perfumes and all collectors must buy one soon. Thanks a lot Mr J Galliano for your master piece.

Orsyna

I have just a sample.This is very intensive fragrance I recognise incense and violet on it and some other smokey.Maybe it good for just evenings and winter time.
Very strong but I like this fragrance.

hansito

this frag can be unisex, what do you think?

flowers-in-the-springtime

Sultry, smoky and dark are three words I will use to describe this amazing fragrance by John Galliano.
Now I was never a fan of JG's other frags as they bore me to tears with their predictability. John Galliano EDT is such a meh frag that I really didn't want to try the EDP version at all, however I asked a few fellow Fragranticans on a post and the general consensus of opinion was EDP is definitely one to try.
Wow!! I'm glad I tried this one as I am now hooked and it has taken a well deserved place in my perfume collection.
This frag is dark and sensual, it's vampish and almost gothic, how I love it!!
I usual detest aldehydes, but I can't really detect them in this composition. I get amber, patch, florals, peony and some violet.
The bottle is pretty lame, cheap plastic and I keep wanting to take the lid off to spray this but there isn't a lid!!
The frag gets full marks from me!!
I wore it last night and I was surrounded by a gorgeous aroma all night, I kept looking around to see what it was, until I realised it was me!!
Fabulous creation 10/10!!

dormir6

Beautiful bottle, i wanted to like it.I couldn't.It's headache inducing. Unique and I appreciate it, but brought back an awful olfactory memory. My sister got a gypsy friend's leather jacket and it had the similar stomach-turning aroma. This perfume is nice, but the link between this and the awful memory makes it ismpossible to wear.

Nikkiteus

I bought this perfume just reading the reviews. I have done the best buy ever! I have to admit that it was the combination of incense and angelica that intrigued me and caught up my attention. I love incense! This perfume is.... magical,sophisticated,high class and so Goth. On my skin the incense last from the begining until the end blended with flowers. This is something magical for me.It last about 6-7 hours. Pitty there is no body lotion to combine them.

MsPriestess

My absolute signature fragrance! Sweet powdery floral which deepens into a balmy sweet incense smell. Very beautiful, very complex, smells like Paris 100 years ago. A masterpiece. Does anyone know if this fragrance is being discontinued?? The EDT smells nothing like the more mature and avant garde original. LOVE.

djuzz.becuzz

Sample review, thanks dear A!
I can be short on this one.... in a good way though!
Dark, sweet, smoky & powdery scent with violet, iris and amber in the lead! Wonderful for somewhat colder weather!!

vintage_scent

I am coming to an undeniable realization that I have an affinity for the combination of violets, iris, and angelica. Something about this combination to me is so magical, nostalgic and melancolic. Pure enchantment. And that's exactly what John Galliano is. Incense joins in on this beautiful medley and pretty much stays dominant throughout. This is the stuff of fairies and poetry, the ultimate romance. I think of William Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe with this scent...dark, gothic, and hauntingly beautiful.

I think of A Midsummer Night Dream, and Edgar Allen Poe's Annabel Lee. Simply beautiful, powdery, unique, special.
I can just imagine the fairies dancing among the wild angelica, irises, wearing violets in their hair on a Midsummer Night's Dream...magic....
This is the scent the beautiful Annabel Lee would be wearing coming out of the mist and fog in her kingdom by the sea, under the light of the moon, waiting for him...

irishenka

Ohh my beloved John Galliano EDP... Deep, rich and so special.. magical, mystic and somehow tragical. Very beautiful fragrance

bananas

I have reviewed this fragrance once before.
Now I'm just reviewing it again, wearing it on a cold rainy Autumn day in Australia.

It has lasted an entire day & some....got wafts of it's scent intermittently throughout the day...so STRONG, so floral & smokey & 'cool' in it's composition.

I hold this fragrance with high reverence.
It is unique & utterly exquisite.

id

Nice violet, iris plus rose and aldehydes scent. I don't feel incense as a heavy or a prominent note in this fragrance at all. It is very well blended or at least it sounds very beautiful on my skin. Elegant, interesting and long lasting scent. As it was mentioned in the comments it smells like mint tea with a twist. Fresh and not boring the same time.

cherry_lips

"This is very original one, among all notes there is no place for weak, delicate ones: all are intensive or even extremely intensive. Wearing this scent is extravagant, its power fills the interior, and ones can say that silage is even tiring, though lasting power is not inferior, not in the least."
I totally agree with this quote of Hagakure!
I fell for this scent first smelling it on blotter. On my skin the first 1 hour smells like mild soap and mostly incense, but then comes the drydown which is amazing - violet-learthery-incense blend!
I'm thinking that perfume would be just perfect during winter time. Oh, I find the sprayer very tricky to work with, which is a let down.

Hagakure

This is very original one, among all notes there is no place for weak, delicate ones: all are intensive or even extremely intensive. Wearing this scent is extravagant, its power fills the interior, and ones can say that silage is even tiring, though lasting power is not inferior, not in the least. I am from Poland, hence I perfectly know how ecclesiastical incense in church that remembers middle ages smells. I can agree with such comparisons, however I would precise that in Galliano's scent this note is ragged with smoked wood, what doesn't mean anything negative, but then from the ascetic it rather becomes a smell of stale boudoirs upholstered in velvet and soaked with the smells of heavy alcohols, warmed essential oils and leather. It was a birthday gift from boyfriend, very useful as it perfectly suits old-fashioned evening events such as classical music concert or premiere at the theater. I must also admit, that despite it's pomp and intrusion it is intoxicating and addicting.

 
Perfume Encyclopedia
Perfumes: 89,600
Fragrance Reviews: 1,699,770
Perfume lovers: 1,184,412
Online right now: 2,410
Register
Perfume Reviews
Al-Rehab
Soft
by sntiago
City Rhythm
Miami
by Fresh Prince of Fragrance
New Reviews
Article Comments
Classic Men's Scents by Murphington
Most Popular Perfumes
Most Popular Brands
Jump to the top

Fragrantica in your language:
| Deutsch | Español | Français | Čeština | Italiano | Русский | Polski | Português | Ελληνικά | 汉语 | Nederlands | Srpski | Română | العربية | Українська | Монгол | עברית |

Copyrights © 2006-2022 Fragrantica.com perfumes magazine - All Rights Reserved - do not copy anything without prior written permission. Please read the Terms of Service and Privacy policy.
Fragrantica® Inc, United States