Fragrances from the 90s and 2000s that I miss

The nineties is not just a decade, it's a mood captured in glass bottles. Perfumery was at its peak then: each new fragrance became an event, and their creators seemed to compete over who could surprise more. From fresh sea sprays to sweet gourmet fantasies - these scents became part of my youth, each connected with warm, vivid moments. Let's spray some memories and inhale the aromas that defined an era.

XS Pour Elle by Paco Rabanne (1994)

Top notes: Water jasmine, Peony, Mandarin

Middle notes: Freesia, Neroli, Amber

Base notes: Ylang-ylang, Musk, Sandalwood

XS Pour Elle - this was my college romance, sunny and carefree. Citrus, white and yellow flowers, a light bitterness and aquatic trail - nothing complicated, but how captivating it was! I first tried it in a miniature bottle, a gift from a friend, and then, after saving up from my scholarship, I bought the coveted bottle. With it, I felt on top of the world - young, bold, and incredibly happy.

Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani (1995)

Top notes: Peony, Musk vodka, Pineapple, Lemon, Peach, Banana leaf, Violet

Middle notes: Lily of the valley, Lily, Hyacinth, Jasmine, Freesia, Calone, Ylang-ylang, Rose

Base notes: Musk, Cedar, Sandalwood, Amber, Styrax

Acqua di Gio was like a breath of sea air - salty, fresh, with a grassy bitterness and fruity splashes. The flowers in it seemed so transparent, as if sprinkled with pineapple juice. It was my ideal of freshness, unlike anything else in the 90s. I tried the 2019 reformulation, but it's just a shadow of the Acqua di Gio that shone on my table at the end of the decade.

Sotto Voce by Laura Biagiotti (1996)

Top notes: Peach, Plum, Mahogany, Coriander

Middle notes: Tuberose, Orchid, Heliotrope, Orange blossom

Base notes: Vanilla, Tonka beans, Sandalwood, Musk

Sotto Voce burst into my life through a scented page in Cosmopolitan. It was magic: sweetly woody, with juicy fruits and elegant flowers. It was sophisticated, but with a slight spark of playfulness. Resistance was impossible - I bought a miniature and wore it with pride.

Les Belles de Ricci by Nina Ricci (1996)