Passion Perfume

Twenty-six materials work across three stages of Passion, an extraordinarily dense structure for a fragrance built entirely around classic spiced orientals. Aldehydes, coriander, gardenia, artemisia, ylang-ylang, bergamot and lily of the valley crowd the opening into a bright, powdery burst typical of classic-style perfumery from its era. Spicy notes, sandalwood, honey, tuberose, patchouli, heliotrope, orris root, cedar, jasmine and rose build an enormous floral middle, rich and spiced, the kind of density rarely attempted today. Incense, civet, leather, oakmoss, sandalwood, musk, cedar, vanilla and coconut round things out dark and resinous, giving Passion Eau de Toilette its signature dense, long-lasting finish. Oriental is the fitting classification on its own, dense enough for evening wear while remaining workable on a cooler afternoon. Elizabeth Taylor built this for formal events, dinners and any occasion calling for old-school glamour. Fall and winter favor the resinous, leathery close most, though the floral middle holds its own presence regardless of season. Few fragrances from its era still command this kind of structural ambition decades later.