J'ai Ose by Guy Laroche: launched in 1977. J'ai Ose, name means "I Dare" in French, was created by the designer Guy Laroche, promoted and marketed by the cosmetic company, Lancome, and backed by its parent, the giant French hair product and cosmetic multi-national, L'Oreal.
The perfume was inspired by Menceau's interpretive sculpture of modern woman. Guy Laroche commissioned the sculptor Serge Mansau to do a fantasy bottle for his wicked perfume, J'ai Ose. Each, fine of kind.
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J'ai Ose was available in the following:
Glass, 19890:
So what does the original version smell like? It is classified as a spicy floral oriental fragrance for women.
I purchased a vintage sample of the parfum and find that it is very green at first, lots of galbanum and oakmoss. An exuberant burst of aldehydes, zesty citrus and a fruity note of peach tickle my nose. Warm floral notes of jasmine and rose absolutes, punctuated by the spicy herbal fusion of coriander and chamomile. Soft hints of oriental woods, cedar and sandalwood, are layered over the dusty, earthy notes of vetiver and patchouli. Finally, traces of balsamic benzoin and powdery ambergris emerge from the animalic base of leather and musk. My overall impression is that this is an elegant and seamless blend, with the oakmoss remaining from beginning to end. Certainly a skin scent, not a loud, sillage monster.
The perfume was inspired by Menceau's interpretive sculpture of modern woman. Guy Laroche commissioned the sculptor Serge Mansau to do a fantasy bottle for his wicked perfume, J'ai Ose. Each, fine of kind.
J'ai Ose was available in the following:
- 0.25 oz Parfum
- 0.50 oz Parfum
- 1.0 oz Parfum
- 0.17 oz Parfum Purse Spray
- 0.38 oz Parfum Purse Spray
- 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Splash
- 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Splash
- 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Natural Spray
- 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Natural Spray
- Dusting powder
- Bath soap
Glass, 19890:
"A Silver Star, together with the Glass Manufacturers' Federation special award for the best glass container entry in Starpack, was won by the J'ai Ose atomiser marketed by Parfums Guy Laroche. This 25g eau de toilette bottle was manufactured at Rockware's Nottingley factory in flint glass with white printing. The unusual spray through cap is in Bordeaux Red and completely conceals the neck."
So what does the original version smell like? It is classified as a spicy floral oriental fragrance for women.
- Top notes: galbanum, aldehydes, citrus notes, chamomile, coriander, and peach
- Middle notes: cedar, jasmine absolute, rose absolute, sandalwood, vetiver, orris, patchouli
- Base notes: olibanum, leather, oakmoss, ambergris, patchouli, musk and benzoin
I purchased a vintage sample of the parfum and find that it is very green at first, lots of galbanum and oakmoss. An exuberant burst of aldehydes, zesty citrus and a fruity note of peach tickle my nose. Warm floral notes of jasmine and rose absolutes, punctuated by the spicy herbal fusion of coriander and chamomile. Soft hints of oriental woods, cedar and sandalwood, are layered over the dusty, earthy notes of vetiver and patchouli. Finally, traces of balsamic benzoin and powdery ambergris emerge from the animalic base of leather and musk. My overall impression is that this is an elegant and seamless blend, with the oakmoss remaining from beginning to end. Certainly a skin scent, not a loud, sillage monster.
The fragrance was reformulated and is now sold by Jai Ose Parfums Paris, not Guy Laroche. So, if you want the original vintage fragrance, be sure that the box says Guy Laroche on it.