Mon Chéri
Gabilla (1910)

Gabilla – Mon Cherie (1910)

I am experiencing a vintage bottle from the 1930s, although the scent was created in 1910. This is the first Gabilla scent (she created over 125) that I have sampled. As expected, it is a rich, deep, dark, floral chypre – extremely fragrant after all these years and so smoothly blended that no single note (from its eleven oils) stands out.

It manages to do the impossible, to seem both bright and dark simultaneously. The undercurrent is reminiscent of L'Heure Bleue, with its vanilla/tonka/amber accord of cookie dough. Yet it is still vibrant and heady with its jasmine, musk and opopanax. (Opopanax is also known as sweet myrrh and imparts a warm, honeyed, smokey, powdery, balsamic quality.) The dryness of the orris lends a suede-like aura as well. This was certainly an era that did not stint on quality or quantity of pure aromatic oil bases in its perfume creations. The dry down has the effect of a leather/tobacco combination. Perfectly unisex by today's standards and I imagine equally irresistible on both men and women.

Truly a unique and luxurious treasure, which I purchased on line from a stellar perfumista. I believe there is still one left. Hint to the lover of fine vintage perfumes.