Estee Lauder • Cinnabar • Fragrances

Where To Buy?

*TOP REVIEWER* Olfactoria on 3/21/2013 2:34:00 PM more reviews by Olfactoria

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

I definitely prefer the vintage Cinnabar to the reformulation now on shelves for $35. I started out with a bottle of the new stuff a couple years ago, wanting to relive my memories of this simmering, incendiary, boozy spice-rack, which various older relatives rocked beautifully when it first came out in the late '70s. (For me, The 'Bar has always beaten Opium hands-down.) From
my reformulated bottle, I got a decent approximation of that scent-- almost like a designer imposter of the real thing. I noticed the color of the juice was lighter and the packaging cheaper than I remembered; still, enough of the signature cola top notes and earthy patchouli-spice base was there for me to like wearing it.

But after a while, I just felt something was missing-- something that made the current version harsher and less well-blended, and I scored a vintage bottle on eBay. (Vintage spray bottles are distinguished by having an almost-black juice and a heavier cap with a gold band around it rather than plain red. Splash versions of Cinnabar are always vintage.) It came tightly packaged, but even through the taped box I smelled something magical. W-O-W there she was, the fiery fragrance beast of my youth.


I say "beast" fondly, because really, Cinnabar is a hefty Oriental, but still a smooth and gorgeous one. On first spray of my vintage bottle, there is a lush and very boozy fermented-peach note, as sumptuous as fine brandy. I immediately think of a well-appointed living room with velvet couches and Oriental rugs and a roaring fire, all in shades of deep scarlet and vermilion. Then come the deep florals and a panoply of spices tempered with the loamy coolness of patchouli. At this stage Cinnabar almost smells like a hippie headshop where some fantastic incense is burning and mixing with the patchouli on the owner's wool poncho. Or maybe it
smells more ancient, like an Egyptian love potion. After a couple of hours, Cinnabar is much closer to the skin, but no less complex and beguiling.


Definitely not for wallflowers, but when I think, "Awesome, soulful, distinctive vintage fragrance", there is my Cinnabar. (btw I hate Youth-Dew and can't wear it--
Cinnabar is in a similar vein but so much more smooth and attractive!)

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

pinupgirl1949 on 1/29/2013 6:17:00 PM more reviews by pinupgirl1949

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I love cinnabar! I first started wearing it in high school and still love this perfume.It is one of my all time favorites!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* pinknika on 11/24/2012 1:12:00 AM more reviews by pinknika

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

Horrifying. They say perfume is a matter of taste, and I agree. I have really tried to expand my horizons and try different perfumes and notes that sound delicious and have great reviews. I really am truly trying to love each different note as their own and find good qualities in many, I think that's what perfumers do, they love every scent and try to mix them together to make something beautiful. As for me, as much as I would like to be a perfume connoisseur, sadly I can't. I went to Macy's today and tried to try this stuff. I looked at the SA and told her I want to smell this one, she gave me a tester strip, I uncapped the bottle, took a sniff and couldn't bring myself to spray it. I even said it, I was like holy moly, I can't spray this, I don't even want to, for my sake, my family, and everyone around me. No way. I don't know what the hoopla is all about, but I think maybe you just have to be really old to like this. Sorry!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

ihughes123 on 7/31/2011 4:19:00 AM more reviews by ihughes123

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I see a red convertible speeding down an autumnal lane. A swirl of gold and red leaves burst forth in her wake. Bright skies and the pursuit of mischief lay ahead. A confident yet warm woman with easy going charm and vintage pin-up style, set of by a vermilion smile...


For me a perfume must possess two characteristics. Distinctiveness and duality, be it clean/dirty, fresh/spicy or feminine/masculine.


Cinnabar is at once as clean as it is spicy. The opening is full of impact, yet it settles to a clean, comforting, spicy and original scent. This is softer, less complicated, fresher and more durable than Youth Dew, and about as American and fun as Cherry Cola.


Is it only me or does anyone else LOVE the packaging????


I appreciate the dependable 'clunk' of solid plastic tops over glass, and prefer portable, practical, simple and elegant presentations to pretentious, over-designed, statement packaging. Anyone else agree? To me the packaging is as classy and classic as the matt red, indeed cinnabar, lipstick that its top recalls.


Also is anyone else irritated by the constant "It's way too strong" comments. Honestly, JUST PUT LESS ON! - Some people want, and have paid good money, to actually smell the scent they are wearing! (If you feel a scent is too strong for you just wear one spray shared between both wrists, away from your face for a more subtle effec, giving you a bit of breathing space.)

13 out of 15 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* mmarrs on 3/27/2011 2:00:00 AM more reviews by mmarrs

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Way too strong and overpowering gives me headache

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

peonygirl on 12/24/2010 9:20:00 PM more reviews by peonygirl

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Dark   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I first smelled Cinnabar at work. I am a nurse harboring a secret desire to quit my job and play with cosmetics and perfume all day! Anyway, about six years ago I was walking in the hall at work when I smelled a sophisticated, patchouli-like woody smell. I immediately looked around to see who it was. I remember looking for a well dressed woman visiting a patient- there was no one like that around. I obsessively walked up and down the hall until I found it! One of the house keepers was mopping the floor and I asked her what fragrance she was wearing. Immediately she said "Cinnabar" like- of course! She had been wearing it for years and I noticed her makeup was beautifully done and she quietly went back to work. I have always remembered that day and I bought some for myself. I do like it alot but only when the weather is cool. When my body is too warm, it is smouldering and too cinnamony sweet but in the cold it's fresh, clean and spicy. I want to try the lotion too!

8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* dioraddict84 on 12/2/2010 3:22:00 PM more reviews by dioraddict84

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

This is a spicy oriental scent. I find it to be very overpowering. Top notes are spices, peach, cloves, bergamot, tangerine and orange blossom; middle notes are carnation, cinnamon, jasmine, ylang-ylang and rose; base notes are tolu balsam, sandalwood, amber, patchouli, benzoin, vanilla, vetiver and incense.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* youdroppedabalmonme2 on 10/13/2010 3:07:00 PM more reviews by youdroppedabalmonme2

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Oily, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

Maybe this was better "back in the day," as so many classic fragrances have had to be reformulated-- but I can't find a single thing to like about Cinnabar. And that's coming from a lover of strong, retro, nonconformist fragrances.


From the name and the Asian-themed packaging, I expected something cinnamon-y, maybe a little ambery and vanillic too-- along the lines of Opium. To my nose, Cinnabar has all the worst aspects of Opium with little of the cozy spices that make Opium so delicious on some women. It's got tons of indolic jasmine and strong cloves and on me it smells like dog poop mixed with toothache medicine. Just funky, fetid, dated, and wrong. I won't deny that some folks can carry this off, but it just dies a thousand deaths on my skin and is absolutely sickening. I usually do Orientals well, too.

5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* earthymoon on 8/13/2010 11:35:00 AM more reviews by earthymoon

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I've bought this fragrance for my mother for years. It's an Old-Skool oriental that applies very strong but settles. When I still lived with my mother, I would actually borrow it now and then.
It's strong and spicy. The name is perfect. It's very cinnamony. There are other notes but they're pretty much over powered by the cinnamon. There's a bit of anise and clove but mostly cinnamon..lol.
This is perfect for fall and winter. A def holiday scent. It's strong and long lasting. It takes a pretty bold personality to wear this during the day (which my mother is).
If you are an older female (nothing wrong with that) and you like Ciara, you will probably like this.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

marchesa on 3/15/2010 5:00:00 PM more reviews by marchesa

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

Spritzed some on and was instantly repelled by the opening notes. Cinnabar is quite hard to describe but the initial mish-mash was not at all pleasant and made me feel nauseous. It smelled like curry powder doused in whiskey and cat pee ... blech!


This stuff simply does not work with my chemistry. I should have known as I've experienced similar troubles with other old-school orientals such as Youth Dew and Opium. Serves me right!


However, after it settled down a bit, Cinnabar was actually quite nice. The pee note vanished and the whiskey note mellowed from stale, two-day-old alcoholic's breath to something rich and gingerbread-esque, rather reminiscent of a fuller-bodied Dune. Not for summer, and not really for me either, mainly because of the heinous opening. Yet on a person with the right chemistry, it could be spectacular.


Packaging could definitely do with a revamp. The fragrance might benefit from a little reformulation too, toning down the animalic notes and softening the spices.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* shereenmohsen on 3/2/2010 9:09:00 AM more reviews by shereenmohsen

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

wonderfull elegant scent .very spicy & oriental
also nostalgic scent .if you like oriental perfume & the smell of incense
this the one for you .as for me I prefer this kind of perfumes as I am
not a big fan of the fruity scent
although at first I loved the scent but after using it I felt like it suits
older ladies more

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* tawnyinthepink on 2/26/2010 1:41:00 AM more reviews by tawnyinthepink

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This was first introduced the year I was born (1978). I first started wearing this in high school. I still have a bottle in my fridge today! I adore this fragrance. I often use it in combo w/Philosophy's Hot Dots 3-in-1. :) I just love how this scent is spicy and warm.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* boombutt on 12/16/2009 6:23:00 AM more reviews by boombutt

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

i have always been drawn to this fragrance. i love the distinctive clove and sandlewood notes in this. it lasts and wears so well on me without being overpowering. a classic in my book.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

DeeDee1957 on 11/26/2009 3:38:00 AM more reviews by DeeDee1957

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

This is a sex perfume, you put it on when you want to have sex.

7 out of 13 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Brid1 on 2/13/2009 4:34:00 AM more reviews by Brid1

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I rediscovered this fragrance recently as I have with many of the other EL fragrances. So many smell the same these days and I always crave somthing different. This is a comforting smell and I agree Youth Dew without the yuk qualities other describe. I love the warmth of this and the fact that I can still smell the next morning! I don't find it overpowering but then again I like strong scents. I found it at Bicester Village for £25.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* youdroppedabalmonme on 2/11/2009 6:30:00 PM more reviews by youdroppedabalmonme

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

This is my Opium, since Opium smells like silkened spice in the bottle but takes on a rotten, fecal aspect on my skin. Cinnabar has that same heady, spicy, slightly cola-like Oriental feel (NOT "floriental"-- it's pure spice) and works better on me. It is like Youth-Dew minus the wacked-out aldehydes, and as much as I get in a Youth-Dew mood every once in a winter's while, Cinnabar is more straightforward and smells better on me than YD.



I took off one lippie because the jasmine in this scent has a tendency to turn a little "poopy" smelling on me if I overapply. It's like a mini-version of what Opium does on my skin, but bearable. The overall effect, when I apply Cinnabar correctly (spray onto a cotton ball, and lightly wipe that on my neck before putting it in my bra), is of a rich autumnal sexed-up incense with delicious foody vanilla-cinnamon-cola notes. I'm a redhead and this scent just "matches" my coloring and fashion sense.



The bottle is quite clunky and cheap-looking, although it was probably very chic when the scent debuted in 1978 (and I'd be willing to bet that when EL moved this scent to the back burner after its heyday, she skimped on the packaging). But hey, a $35 bottle of Cinnabar EDP can last many years, and it is a cold-weather pleasure for me. Cinnabar is a bold, unique scent that requires confidence and presence to carry off-- as well as a love of spice and incense notes. If you like Opium, Shalimar, Angel, Obsession, or Must de Cartier, you may really like this!

8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* KelseyP on 1/2/2009 9:32:00 PM more reviews by KelseyP

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I guess I was a little mislead by someone saying this had cinnamon - I ran to Ulta on my lunch break and spritzed it onto my hand, only to discover a heavy mess of some of my most unfavorite notes - jasmine and an animalic musk scent. The notes are *so* heavy and flat. Eyick.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* flairgirl8 on 12/10/2008 8:52:00 AM more reviews by flairgirl8

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I decided to purchase this fragrance based on the postivie reviews here stating that it was spicy oriental fragrance with clove in it. Top notes are jasmine and orange flower. Middle notes are clove and lily. Base notes are listed as pathcouli and sandalwood. This stuff positively reeks. I cannot stand it. It is a powerful blend of cheap fragrance oils that are poorly blended. It does not smell like spice/clove at all. On me it was jasmine and lily blend of crap that made me want to hurl like when I sniff a bad Avon fragrance. The scent is extremely long lasting. Just a tiny spritz will linger all day and night making you long for a shower to remove it. Definitely headache inducing. It does not even deserve the one lippie.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Lexx13 on 12/9/2008 11:51:00 PM more reviews by Lexx13

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

Migraine inducing warning.
Made a huge mistake and spritzed some of this on, oh wow the headache came instantly.
It is so strong it takes your breath away.
Definitely not a good match with my chemistry, smells like rancid fruit and urine.
If you do wear this, please spritz sparingly. Everyone around you will be grateful.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Shayron on 12/8/2008 4:10:00 PM more reviews by Shayron

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I love Cinnabar and wore this exclusively many years ago in my early 20's. My grandmother was an Estee Lauder customer and she had an abundance of their freebies. She always gave the Cinnabar and other things she didn't want. One of my coworkers back then loved it so much I bought her a bottle for Christmas. I hadn't thought about it in years so I recently purchased a bottle for myself. It's just as I remember it...wonderfully exotic and spicy.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No