Nina Ricci Perfume: L’Air du Temps
Would you freaking believe that this perfume was created in 1948 and not only is it still on the market, but it remains the best seller of the perfume house?
I don’t own this Nina Ricci perfume for women, but I am lucky to have my old dear aunt Mercedes, who has this one and many others. If you think I am a perfume geek, you should see her closet. She doesn’t like to experiment as I do, actually her perfume collection hasn’t changed for years (she’s set in her ways I suppose)
But every time I go visit her, I remain spellbound in front of the perfectly arranged perfume bottles (a skill I definitely did not take from her).
My aunt Ingrid is a fan of Nina Ricci perfumes, so last time I was at her house, I decided to go there “unscented”, to come back with something from her collection on me.
And I chose this Nina Ricci L’air du temps.
The notes
The opening has an old (really?) floral touch, with a very soft citrus note. The two things together remind of a traditional floral water. There is a stronger note, which stand out, probably carnation and roses. My aunt claims that in this phase there is also a soft note of gardenia (“your nose is not old enough for that, my dear”).
In the middle notes, intensity leaves place to delicacy. Carnation and roses are still the main note, with a jasmine peeping in in the background. The base notes are with iris, with aromas veering towards violet (geek’s corner: iris can tend more towards violets or earth, depending if the leaves or the dry roots are employed).
The final, after four hours on my skin, is with sweet roses and iris, with still a hint of carnation.
To sum up
Nina Ricci perfume is a classic. It means that no matter how old it is, this perfume has still a place in the modern perfumery arena.
Although this starts like a classic fragrance of the forties, this feeling doesn’t last very long, and the aroma keeps very mild and delicate and not at all intrusive. It’s not for the floral notes per se. Think of YSL Paris, an intrusive floral. I would wear it at work and for very informal night outs, when you’re not with people you have to impress. On the romantic side, well, I wouldn’t know, I’ll ask my aunt next time I go visit her.
Tags: nina ricci L'Air du Temps, nina ricci perfume, nina ricci perfume for women, nina ricci perfumes