Revlon • Charlie • Fragrances

Where To Buy?

*TOP REVIEWER* MissBehaviour on 1/11/2013 10:44:00 AM more reviews by MissBehaviour

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

My review refers to what is now being sold as "Charlie Blue", presumably the modern day formulation of the original Charlie.

I am not a fragrance snob and am always on the lookout for a drugstore bargain, in fact I am doing my best to work through all the classic, even iconic drugstore fragrances still available today. My mom loved and wore Charlie for many years and still does on occasion, so my associations with it were previously positive.

I picked up a bottle two days ago when it was on special at my local drugstore, but unfortunately this one is no longer a winner in my book. I found it sour and boozy with a dominant geranium note . My husband said it smelled quite pleasant, if unremarkeable, but I found it cloying and somehow off-putting.

To those unfamiliar with Revlon's Charlie line, there are many flankers available. I am quite partial to Red and Gold, and have White on order based on positive reviews. At the affordable prices these sell for, they are all worth a try.

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av8r on 10/9/2012 11:52:00 PM more reviews by av8r

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I wore this in the mid/late 70's in high school and during a grad school work study in England. I remember they had a whole makeup line to go with it. Smelling it always reminded me of that time in my life.

I picked some, up just for nostalgia, and wore it one day. My long time boyfriend who was born 10 years after Charlie came out sniffed my neck and gave me his first whole unabashed "WHAT are you wearing, you smell so good?". He'd never smelled it before. He works for an international company and travels a lot so he can get me anything from Paris or London, but Charlie is STILL his favorite scent on me.

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beautyprincess303 on 6/20/2012 9:16:00 AM more reviews by beautyprincess303

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I love this fragrance!! I keep it in my locker at school for if I ever forget to put on perfume before school. I sometimes spray it after gym class if I'm really sweaty, so that I can atleast smell good!! It has such a fruity smell, the smell actually reminds me of Orbit chewing gum (the mixed berry flavour). The bottle's great as well, I once dropped it by mistake as I was picking up something off my dresser and it fell off, the bottle wasn't even cracked! Looked just the same! Make sure you go out and buy yourself some of this perfume, it's great!

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fcirone1 on 4/25/2012 2:50:00 PM more reviews by fcirone1

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

I remember this fragrance when i was in gr. 5, i so loved it and i would feel so grown up whenever i wore it. I had the smallest spray bottle.

I picked up a bottle of the eau de toilette for an extremely reasonable price - for 3.5 oz, $8.99...brand new in box from a reputable retailer. I do enjoy the eau de toilette...this IMO is the closest to the original charlie i remember. I once purchased the cologne version and it paled in comparison...so definately recommend EDT.

I think it is a versatile scent, i can see it blending well in an office, nite or day or any occasion really. I also love MM Destiny, Jontue, Enjoli, Giorgio..i would be curious to see what the common notes are which are most likely white flowers.

I am definately enjoying this and dries down and melds amazingly with your skin....3 or 4 spritzes and you will feel lovely wearing this. Although i don't smoke, i know this is the type of fragrance that would smell great ie. in a niteclub lol...i love fragrances like that!

Again EDT instead of cologne is the way to go if you have not liked the cologne version...consider picking up the EDT!

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KendraCB on 3/24/2012 1:14:00 PM more reviews by KendraCB

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

The original Charlie was my very first experience with perfume. My mother wore it all the time when she was young and I always loved the way it smelled on her (Dad must have too since he gave her a bottle for Christmas every year). Mom traded up to Tocade and Chanel #5 when she was older so I always think of it as a scent for younger women even though it's considered an old-fashioned fragrance now.

I bought some Charlie Blue spray cologne in college in a fit of nostalgia to see how it would smell on me, but was sad to find the scent had been reformulated with some horrible cheap-smelling base, so I tossed it. I tried several of the more expensive green florals but wasn't thrilled with any of them. Then a couple of years ago I saw "vintage" Charlie concentrated cologne on eBay and decided to order some and... TA-DAH!! It's exactly the fragrance I remembered - a very warm inviting floral, slightly sweet but not cloying with a soft hint of musk. It's become my usual daytime scent and I often get compliments when I wear it, thankfully no one has accused me of smelling like a grandma yet. I've also found it layers very nicely over a touch of Shalimar extrait for evening wear, the drydown lasts forever and guys are gaga for the flowers & vanilla combo. I just really hope the people selling the vintage stuff don't run out! I recommend trying some if you've only sampled the icky stuff Revlon makes now, it's usually available on eBay for a very reasonable price.

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pixiekitty on 3/16/2011 4:21:00 PM more reviews by pixiekitty

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Olive, Warm   Hair: Other, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I'm only 20 and I beyond adore this perfume. I got it from a friend's mom when we were in elementary school, and to this day, still love it - it's sweet and sexy, and strong (which I like) - the only problem is, I never wear it out because everytime I do, I have atleast one person asking who smells like their grandmother! I just wear it around the house, people just can't appreciate 70's fragrance ;)

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*TOP REVIEWER* chayaNY on 2/13/2011 7:57:00 PM more reviews by chayaNY

Age: Unknown   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

My mom wore this when I was a kid. My mother was (and still is!!!) the "cool mom!" She wore the popular clothing styles of the day, hair and makeup styles too, while many of my friends moms were more matronly. My mom was always the only one in the bunch who built sandcastles right there in the mud with us kids (we grew up by the beach), has never taken herself seriously and is still my beauty icon. This smelled great on her and even if I tend to like much sweeter scents so it isn't really my thing (my grandmother's favorite likely would not have suited my mother at the age my grandmother wore it either), it brings back but nothing but fond memories.

Many scents are timeless, and some are very much of their time. I can appreciate both types and add that some women can pull off scents from any era, and people young and old want to know what they're wearing! My mom still occasionally reaches for this and I have heard total strangers remark how nice she smells, and ask what it is? Yep, still smells good on my dear mom and I'd buy this again so she will always have some on hand!

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rcastiglione on 2/13/2011 7:40:00 PM more reviews by rcastiglione

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I'd never had an allergic reaction to anything until I caved into a wave of nostalgia while at Walgreens and purchased a bottle of fondly remembered Charlie.

An hour later, and through the next day, my eyes and nose would not stop running, random and violent sneezing fits made the idea of driving suicidal, and I was reduced to a state of histamine misery I never even knew existed.

I am less reactive than a glass bowl, I neverevereverever have issues. So I'm putting this out there for anyone else who assumes they're impervious to allergies. This one is definitely Try Before Buy. Actually make that, Try, Wait a Bit, Buy.

May you learn from my woe.

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*TOP REVIEWER* renia22 on 1/29/2011 8:59:00 AM more reviews by renia22

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

There are some things from the 70s & 80s that I wish were still around (Bonne Bell Ten-0-Six Toner, Flex Shampoo, Tickle deodorant), and some that I didn't like then nor do I like now. Charlie falls into the 'don't like' category. However, I don't remember it smelling this bad. A friend of mine used to swear by it in the 80s, but she was so beautiful and sexy that kitty piddle probably would have smelled good on her. I don't know, it just smells so cheap and fake now. Mostly the carnation stand out to me, but in a toxic, harsh, chemical haze. I am not getting the 'green' notes that people are describing, and I do not see at all the comparisons to Chanel 19 or Rive Gauche, both of which I like. To my nose it just smells like cheap dime store cologne. The nostalgia factor is there, but that is about it for me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* tessture on 6/26/2010 2:06:00 PM more reviews by tessture

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

Soap and Arpege. On me it's all tarry plum aldehydes and Camay soap, ending dusty/gummy, but that's probably because it's made so cheaply now. As a child I remember it being very harsh and loud. I still don't like it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* crickett85 on 5/18/2010 12:05:00 AM more reviews by crickett85

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

A blast from the past. I wore the original Charlie back in the 70s. I loved its green florals then. I find that I still like them now.
I'm not sure that this is the original formulation. It still goes on as a nice green floral. But I don't remember the original Charlie drying down to a soapy scent. I've tried the new Charlie plus Charlie Red and Charlie White and they ALL dried down to some soapy smell. Quite odd.
I remember this as quite a nice if somewhat strong green floral scent. Strong enough to kill the aroma of tobacco and quite possibly other smokeables. It seems to have less sillage than I remember. I'm not sure that it could now cover the aroma of smoke from any source.

This is certainly inoffensive. It's not sophisticated but it doesn't smell really cheap either. For a department store brand it's actually quite nice. And it's $9.99 for a 2 plus ounce bottle at Walgreens.
Not really my cup of tea anymore but I can certainly stand being around the scent. Thus; 2 lippies.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Therealslayergrrl on 3/28/2010 10:40:00 PM more reviews by Therealslayergrrl

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

My Mom wore this when I was a kid. I remember how lovely it smelled on her.It reminds me of when she was getting ready to go out. She would spray this on and put on her patchwork suede coat. Give me a kiss. The smell of her coat, lipstick, and coat mingled and lingered around for hours after she had left. Sadly on me it turns sour and is very strong. Too bad. Great memories of the 70's. Maybe they changed the formula? 4 lippies just for the great memories.

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*TOP REVIEWER* boombutt on 12/16/2009 6:30:00 AM more reviews by boombutt

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

i confess i own this but havent worn it in a long while. this fragrance best comes to life in a room filled with cigarette smoke. i hate cigarette smoke too but i remember growing up breathing in this scent along with those toxic fumes and loving it. the last time i sprayed this i whiffed in that smoky green note and recalled when this was all the rage. i can appreciate it for what it is even if i dont love it.

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Jandie on 11/26/2009 9:40:00 PM more reviews by Jandie

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

After reading the reviews here, I went to the drug store to pick up a small bottle of Charlie. I was a kid in the 1970's, and I remember how popular Charlie was at that time. I liked the scent back then, but the current version is just not good. I wanted to see if, after wearing it, my opinion would change. It didn't. I threw the bottle out. It made me sad to do that, but it really smelled bad on me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* youdroppedabalmonme on 6/1/2009 12:29:00 AM more reviews by youdroppedabalmonme

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

Charlie is one of the best drugstore bargains, IMO. Yes, many other Revlon/Jovan/Coty-level scents smell as cheap as they are, but Charlie is at this point a vintage scent, having burst onto the scene in 1972, so it has a loyal following and I am one. Charlie is a green floral, very much along the same lines as Ivoire de Balmain, Norell, Chanel No 19, and Halston. I am a little embarrassed to say that I prefer it to any of its more expensive competitors as it doesn't turn sharp and "soapy" on me. It just exudes a fresh, sexy, extremely feminine and sunny aura all day. I get lots of compliments, including from "fragrance snobs."



Charlie was the mass-market fragrance that accompanied women's liberation in the early '70s, and through the years Charlie ads have spotlighted women going to work, pinching men's butts, and generally doing their own thing. It's fresh and pretty, with galbanum and green notes, but with enough florals to make it sexy and not just generically "clean." My husband notices and appreciates when I wear this. Green florals are out of vogue now, but many classic green florals have stuck around for a reason. At about $5 for a small bottle at Walgreens or on eBay, what have you got to lose?

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*TOP REVIEWER* PARA_NOIR on 1/6/2009 8:32:00 PM more reviews by PARA_NOIR

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Oh wow. This smells very dated, and on my skin, it picks up a certian note, that I can only describe as a ''feces'' note, that no perfume should ever should.. I have tried this perfume more than once and each time, after 5 minutes, it starts to smell like a Porta-Potty on me. It's very odd, and quite disgusting. Would I buy this product again? In one word, NO!

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*TOP REVIEWER* KingTaco on 10/16/2008 5:16:00 PM more reviews by KingTaco

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

While at CVS recently, I took a whiff of the original Charlie and memories came flooding back. Charlie was my first real perfume, and I remembered how sophisticated I felt at 13, wearing my Charlie.
Do I really want to smell like a 1980s teenager now? Yes, yes I do!

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karmarge on 10/15/2008 11:20:00 AM more reviews by karmarge

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

As I was picking up some necessities at my local CVS I noticed some early holiday promotions. The large bottles of Charlie were displayed and I couldn't help but pull off the cap and breathe in the original version. I brought me back to my just pre-college days when my mother and grandmother each had a bottle of this. Back then I did not like truly green fragrances and wore very little fragrance but now over thrity years later I found I really liked it. For $9.95 I bought the 3.5 ounce bottle. I guess a dose of happy memories and maturity in my own tastes brings me to Charlie.

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*TOP REVIEWER* MalibuMands on 8/13/2008 10:43:00 AM more reviews by MalibuMands

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

I was surprised by how overwhelming & strong CHARLIE is at first. All of the key scent notes hit me at once. It just gave me an impression of an artificial peach scent, followed by a tangle of florals.


The drydown was the best phase. There was a masculine hint thanks to the mix of sandalwood & oakmoss. The vanilla softens it slightly. A nice contrast.


The price is right, the staying power is excellent & I like the simplicity of the bottle design. There’s no harm in trying this, but migraine sufferers should avoid this one.



Scent notes: Citrus oils, peach, hyacinth, tarragon, jasmine, lily of the valley, cyclamen, carnation, cedarwood, sandalwood, oakmoss, and vanilla.

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*TOP REVIEWER* CecileCecile on 4/4/2008 10:27:00 PM more reviews by CecileCecile

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

(EDT) I have had more pleasant surprises with Revlon scents in the past year than practically any other house. I honestly wasn't expecting much, but after sampling I really think that Charlie is a rather good scent. On me it is soapy at the top with a dry chypre-green sort of base that reminds me of a gentle Halston. It has presence that could be imposing if one wasn't careful - one little half-spritz of the EDT created copious sillage and lasted all day. My kind of scent actually! My mother wore the original formulation back in the 70's for a short time but I am not sure if what is currently available is comparable to that. I have my doubts since there are two categories for Charlie in the review section. Don't let this put you off - This would be a good versatile scent for a mature woman or someone mature in attitude. It's a serious yet pleasant fragrance. I wouldn't mind getting a small bottle for those times when I want something big, soapy, green and unmistakably 'perfumey'. When you see it next, give it a try - you may be pleasantly surprised!
UPDATE: The more I become accustomed to this scent, the more I notice that one bad note some others have mentioned. It's a dark, dirty note that darkens the whole mood of the scent but not in a good way. Ratings adjusted accordingly.

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