Xi'a Xi'ang
Cologne, Revlon (1987)

If we can look past its disconcerting Orientalist exoticism (this is forgivable, it was released nearly 40 years ago), Xia Xiang has what I regard as an irresistible charm in that thrifty, cheap-but-cheerful drugstore frag way. Sure, it may seem a bit too simpering for those who crave that opulent "depth" in perfume, but it has moments of intrigue that would almost make you forget that this was being sold for under ten US dollars at the local CVS when it was last in production.

Its florals are surprisingly warm and radiant—orange flower, rose, and ylang-ylang is most pronounced to my nose, wonderfully nebulous and swirling. I also detect a pleasant dollop of peachy lactones that emulsify the florals, so to speak. Yet it is the plastic-and-styrene amber and Easy Bake Oven hockey-puck cake vanilla that delivers the nostalgia for me. This re-animates in my mind the zeitgeist of 80s aunts, teachers, and secretaries somehow, eliciting flashbacks of grade school antics. It would make a great addition for the cheapie-vintage enthusiast.

This was the first perfume I ever bought. It came out while I was in middle school, just entering high school. I still remember that Christmas going to the mall and buying a gift set of it in the beautiful shiny box, and being so proud of it. The scent was beautiful on me, and I wore it for a year until I discovered Beautiful by Estee Lauder.

I remember the commercial for this. The way the man said "Zeeee, ahh, zeee-ahhng..." But I don't remember ever having smelled it until just the other day. I came across a bottle at a thrift store (I go on scent hunts...you'd be surprised at what you can find in thrift stores!) which was about a third full. I sniffed the cap and said "I'll take it!". The initial waft was intriguing and when I saw the name on the bottom, home it went.
Xi'a Xi'ang is incredibly good. Like a deliciously resinous and powdery bouquet of exotic flowers.
Revlon is usually quite dependable; occupying that rare niche between drugstore and department store (a niche which Revlon seems to have invented)-but this smells much more high end--in the YSL realm. And this does seem to be a latecomer to the oriental fragrance game of the mid 70's. A floral-oriental as opposed to a spicy one; perhaps because spicy had been so over done by the late 80's. But X-X doesn't seem to have found a core audience. It certainly wasn't publicized very much. That commercial only aired a few times. It's too bad. This stuff must be good, because my partner, who never says anything about fragrance, asked me what cologne I was wearing the other day. Revlon should bring it back. In a new bottle though. My only gripe about this is the bottle. It's a bit on the tacky side.

This was the very first perfume I ever wore and owned. Every time I smell it, it reminds me of my early days of womanhood. Summer days, dress up and first love. I also believe this fragrance influenced my preference for Oriental florals.

My skin changes 99% of perfumes into something totally gross and acid... I only found two perfumes in my life that I could wear! One was a solid and my all time favourite was Xi'a Xi'ang... I dearly missed it and have not found another one that smells nice on me since! As for the name, Guy Cook in his book "The Discourse on Advertising" indicates (on p. 83-84) that the perfume's logo is reminiscent of a stylized calligraphy of the two Chinese characters meaning "Distant Thoughts" and "Daydream".... I also heard (where was that from?) that in Chinese Xi'a Xi'ang with a different intonation could mean something like "pink cloud".Wish they would bring it back... :o)

I really liked this as an "office" fragrance. Light, subtle, never offensive. Even freshly sprayed it never offended anyone. Not much lasting power though. I am sorry it has been discontinued, cheerful pretty little scent.