Jean Patou • Joy • Fragrances

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gmstrack on 2/2/2013 2:25:00 PM more reviews by gmstrack

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

Joy by Jean Patou can be described as the quintessential vintage fragrance overflowing with rose, aldehydes, and civet. The civet is definitely loud and dirty, but it blends with the sweet, juicy aspect of the rose rendering it velvety and luscious. When I wear Joy, I conservatively apply it and keep a modern appearance. I’d love to meet someone who swims in this fragrance :)

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lindyloo on 6/5/2011 9:03:00 AM more reviews by lindyloo

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This review is for the pure parfum.
This is the Summer of my quest for a signature scent and so far it has been disappointing. After years, and years of being a perfume junkie I am going back to the classics, trying to find that scent that will "just do it" for me. My latest expenditure was Joy pure parfum. Again, relying on the book Perfumes the Guide, and their raving review of Joy parfum, I threw all fate to the wind and spent the $275. Well, 3 days later I am still asking myself - What were you thinking? It goes on pungent, I mean really pungent! Very hard to take. So pungent, you don't want to be around others so as not to offend anyone. After 30 minutes a bouquet of florals opens up - rose, jasmine, tuberose - but not distinct. Bold, overpowering. I was waiting for a smooth symphony of bold florals, something to send me soaring, but it never came. I kept waiting for that beautiful aroma to waft up from my wrists that would sooth me, make me feel sensuous - nothing. Then came the dry-down. I can only describe it in one word - horrid. On me, the low note comes across as a strong civet. Repulsive, cat pee repulsive. After the third day of wearing it, waiting for something different to happen each day, I gave up. I cannot wear this again. What an expensive lesson to learn. There is never the pure parfum on display in the store as a tester. I shoud have tried the edp and then made a decision. Thank God my husband was on a business trip and was not around to question "what the hell are your wearing now/'

9 out of 14 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Msdoodle68 on 10/11/2010 7:11:00 PM more reviews by Msdoodle68

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Oooh this is such a vintage, classy smell. When i first got this for Christmas, i couldn't stop sniffing it, and i wear for daily use or going out, it is an amazing perfume worthy of it's amazing reputation, i love telling people i own a perfume that used to be the costliest perume in the world! :)

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

sunnyonne1 on 8/12/2010 5:14:00 PM more reviews by sunnyonne1

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

a most boring floral. Not even worthy of me wasting my thoughts and words. It stinks like a gazzillion flowers. Lacks originality and complexity. If you love carrying armloads of bouquets, this one is for you. Long ago, it was a gift from my mother-in-law. I loved her, but hated this gift.

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happywoman28 on 7/5/2010 1:38:00 AM more reviews by happywoman28

Age: Unknown   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Ok this will sound crazy but when I apply this I actually hear it rolling down, like someone sliding his hand down the strings of a cello, and then a hushed thump of a bass drum. It rolls out the rose, sort of wheels it down a red carpet. It then continues to evolve and morph, showing various angles of the rose garden and jasmin blooms. And talk about money! If you could actually smell what being rich and of the top echelons would smell like, this would be it. It's intimidating. There is not a woman on earth that I am aware of who could possibly live up to the heights of elegance and goddess-like sophistication this incredible fragrance displays (possibly Catherine DeNeuve now that I think of it). I have to wear my hair in a French Twist and have my skin and eyebrows perfect when I wear this. It is SO worth the money for the real perfume, if being transported to a higher realm is important to you.

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

*TOP REVIEWER* Meg2005 on 6/24/2010 11:06:00 AM more reviews by Meg2005

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Joy has earned iconic status in France ever since its introduction, in the 1920s, and is probably Jean Patou's most prestigious perfume to date - famously known far and wide as the most *expensive* perfume in the world. If I have so far neglected to review it, I must have had a very good reason. I hesitate to write about any scent I do not wear myself, no matter how impressive or glorious it really is. Joy, sadly, is just such a scent. I still have a nearly full bottle of the pre-reformulation Joy which I treasure, yet hardly ever reach for. I cannot tolerate jasmine very well, and Joy does feature a huge bouquet of jasmine blossoms whereof the accompanying roses are fairly muted, not to mention any other flowers; nonetheless, I detect some precious woods and a major civet backdrop. Sounds grand? It is. This perfume epitomizes the woman I never was and in all probability, never shall become. Nothing girlish, tentative, shy or demure about it, rather it evokes a very knowing Mother Earth sort of presence, portrait of a lady who has seen it all, done it all, triumphed over it all, and remained a solid figure, complacently ever-present for the rest of us mere mortals, ready to reassure, comfort, and offer sound advice in dire straits.
It may be noted that this fragrance is very powerful even in EDT form - one spritz is quite sufficient to transform my whole house into a dreamy log cabin hidden in the wilderness, somewhere in the remote depths of an undiscovered country, on a warm sunny day, where the air is redolent with moist earth, dry woods, and beautiful flowers at the very height of their bloom. Too rich for my blood or my skin, admittedly, but if, upon spraying a little in the air, I should happen to accidentally spill some on my hands, it would be the sort of lucky accident of which I may never complain.

9 out of 11 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

chrystelica on 6/14/2010 9:14:00 PM more reviews by chrystelica

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I'm afraid the bottle I got from a swap was probably a few years old, or had "it's day in the sun" already, so to speak, but this was pretty rank. It was an EDT. It reeked of old lady civet, perfumey enough not to even smell animalic, and then a drydown of stale, aging, decaying jasmine. Not freshly blooming jasmine, but jasmine that had been picked, and turned all brown, and then rubbed all over your body. I get the "old-lady talcum" another reviewer described as well.... thank God I sprayed this on a friend!!

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Pattsieloves on 4/14/2010 7:53:00 PM more reviews by Pattsieloves

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

I've only tried the parfum but my, what a masterpiece. True luxury. Rich, seductive and deserving of being one of the greats. Not at all old fashioned. Pure luxury

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

*TOP REVIEWER* tessture on 3/26/2010 3:00:00 PM more reviews by tessture

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Candy tuberose with aldehydes. Goes on gloriously sweet flowers with only the faintest edge of mothballs, which my skin always brings out of Tuberose, Jasmine, Gardenia or Lily of the Valley. Unfortunately, heavier application makes this scream of mothballs on me, and it's awful. I will keep my sample for times when I need to be reminded of how bad this can be on me. It really started so nicely.

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

*TOP REVIEWER* technopixie on 3/23/2010 6:30:00 PM more reviews by technopixie

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I have a Nordstrom sample of the Eau de Parfume. Glorious on the tester card; a riot of creamy spring flowers caked with buttery yellow pollen. Unfortunately within minutes on my skin it breaks down into nothing but rose. A very pretty, true-to-life rose, but it makes me feel very scrubbed clean with high quality French soap and really I'd rather shell out a few dollars for a bar of soap rather than over a hundred for this. So close, but F- on the follow-through.

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

LuckyTiger44 on 2/4/2010 8:20:00 PM more reviews by LuckyTiger44

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Silver   Eyes: Hazel    

When this first came out years ago it was a big deal, because of the expense. But I say eh...it's just ok. I've smelled better and would not purchase it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Melloney on 12/17/2009 1:19:00 AM more reviews by Melloney

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Other   Eyes: Blue    

EDIT : Review for Proctor and Gamble version- Parfum extrait. No worries ladies- this is saved ! Joy is more or less the same - nothing to worry about. I will continue to buy and wear this perfume in extrait form.
This is for the vintage Made In France Joy parfum extrait and not the new P & G versions.

Firstly, the color of the juice is deep golden . When you open the bottle, it has a fine cognac smell tinged with roses. Applying this extrait is like joy itself- ,you need a acouple of drops on either wrist and you are immediately embraced by a warm golden rose smell - which reminds of the deep gold color of the extrait itself. It is in one word - exquisite. The perfume slowly rolls out roses( joy is mostly roses on my skin ) , a little jasmine, some powder and all the while a slight animalic background. I am sure a lot of people are put off by the civet in this but it adds that clasic French perfume aroma - slight skank well done enhances and deepens this perfume .
Joy extrait is like a rose wine on my skin . The drydown is slightly musky, a little civet, some rose and powder that whilst seems unappealing to read ,it is pretty wondrous to smell .
I have no doubt there have been changes to the formula in accordance with the IFRA amendment coming into effect from 2010 but I also have no doubt, I will continue to love new Joy . Better some Joy than no Joy at all.

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

SZQueue on 10/22/2009 12:50:00 AM more reviews by SZQueue

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I am not a fan of the great classics- No. 5, Fracas, Shalimar, etc.; all that dirty vanilla makes me think of that stale smell in "antique" furniture. Joy is somehow different. Elegant and sumptuous, classic but not dated. Love.

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

coco24 on 10/15/2009 8:00:00 AM more reviews by coco24

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

For many years this has been my signature scent and I it will continue to be. I think it is sophisticated elegant sexy and of course it is a classic. The bottle is simple and chic.
Every time I wear it someone usually comments on how beautiful I smell. Will purchase indefinitely regardless of the price.

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

sltj77 on 9/30/2009 12:45:00 AM more reviews by sltj77

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

Bleh! I was very disappointed since I have read so many good reviews about this scent being a classic. Way too floral and it never seemed to settle into anything remotely pleasant.

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*TOP REVIEWER* browneyedelise on 9/3/2009 2:48:00 PM more reviews by browneyedelise

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Hmm---I'm a jasmine lover, and often rub pure jasmine oil on myself after a shower (and follow it with perfume, of course). As far as single notes go, jasmine is really the definition of who I am, how I want my skin and essence to smell, what I want to surround myself with (generally if it says jasmine, I'm there--laundry detergent, toothpaste, hand cream; like a lavender lover, except that I hate lavender with a passion). So I don't like it when the glorious jasmine note in Joy gets stifled with rose and the animalic notes underneath that give it its "old-lady" undertone. The effect is somewhat like bubblegum, not sensual at all. I find this to be kind of like a big bouquet of beautiful jasmine and gorgeous roses that would be better kept apart but are smushed together in their cut-glass vase, in an old library packed with the scented gloves popular in Louis XIV's reign. It's all right, but it just doesn't seem to mesh as well as it could.
On the other hand, I feel like Patou 1000 allows the same type of jasmine note to express itself a bit more--maybe it's the violet. This one is just not for me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Dagney on 8/20/2009 12:05:00 AM more reviews by Dagney

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

My review is for the edt. Opening notes are beautifully floral. I don't smell a whole lot of Jasmine or Rose at all. At first Joy reminded me of Diorissimo quite a bit. Then a lemony note comes through making things very interesting. Finally dries down to a beautiful soapy-floral scent. Very classy.

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

Jenblossom32 on 8/15/2009 11:17:00 PM more reviews by Jenblossom32

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

Joy, I tried and failed. This is just too sophisticated for my nose.

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

JenJenofAz on 8/6/2009 4:46:00 PM more reviews by JenJenofAz

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

NICE bottle, but what a stench that comes from within! TOO much sweetness and an overload of flowers! Hated it in the bottle, and hate it out of the bottle!

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lauractinapay on 8/5/2009 9:37:00 PM more reviews by lauractinapay

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I really hate this! I got it due to a rave by this girl on youtube. And then, I ended up getting it in a perfume shop that don't have testers out. I got home all excited, sprayed it on my wrist and----AACKKK! I smell so friggin old! And cheap soap! I was so angry. I called in the perfume and asked about their return/exchange policy. No refunds. Just exchange if the item is unopened. This really isn't my day at all. Lesson learned though, don't buy perfumes unless you've tested them and learn more about return/exchange policy before actually purchasing just in case.

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