Giorgio Beverly Hills

1981.

Nose: Bob Aliano.

In its time this was loud, harsh and abrasive but also beautiful and definitive. And above all else chic. It embodied every hopeful, positive and pleasant thing about the 1980’s. And for that reason it was extremely popular. It made people happy to smell it. It was the Baccarat Rouge 540 of its time. Actually it was probably more popular. So overly popular it had to be supposedly banned in some restaurants. Maybe they had a hard time enforcing that ban. But I think it makes sense that it might not just be a myth. Because it’s abrasive and a few sprays last and project and people plastered themselves in fragrance in the 1980’s, if I’m not mistaken.

According to Fragrantica the notes are:

Top notes are Orange Blossom, Apricot, Peach and Bergamot; middle notes are Tuberose, Gardenia, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, Orchid and Rose; base notes are Chamomile, Oakmoss, Vanilla, Amber, Musk, Sandalwood, Patchouli and Cedar.

I used to hate it. But in my 30’s I started to understand it. And now I love it. It smells good on me and intriguingly people seem to like when they smell it around me. So…I suspect I’m fortunate enough to be able to wear Giorgio Beverly Hills. I also own a vintage bottle and that’s very fortunate because the vintage is sublime. It’s not unusual in that the reformulation ruined it somewhat at least. But the vintage has held up, thankfully. Or mine has.

If you want to understand perfume this is a fragrance to smell. It’s historic. It’s…divisive but it’s also important.