Oscar de la Renta • Oscar • Fragrances

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*TOP REVIEWER* cdo0208 on 2/10/2008 10:52:00 AM more reviews by cdo0208

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

My mom no longer wears this, so she passed it on to me. I'd describe Oscar as a very strong, but pretty floral scent. It isn't a fresh floral, it is more of a powdery fragrance with some spicy notes, making it quite warm. It's nice, although not really "me." I like it and find it to be very feminine, but it is something I can never imagine wearing on just a casual jeans-and-tee type of day. However, I could see myself wearing this perfume at a fancy event. It is long-lasting and very sophisticated.

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khourianya on 11/29/2007 10:29:00 AM more reviews by khourianya

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I have always been really sensitive to scents and can't wear alot of perfumes. Trying to select a scent for myself is nearly always torture (migraines, swollene eyes - I mean torture) so I don't go often...it's probably why i have worn the same scent since I was 16 :) And that scent? Oscar, of course!


I still remember the first time I smelled Oscar. I fell in love with it. When I tried it on, it was like I found myself in a perfume. It was so pretty and feminine, but not overpowering...and best of all it didn't set off any of my allergy triggers. I remember adding it to my Christmas list thatyear and was so overjoyed when my aunt bought me a very small bottle of it (it was so expensive back then - nowadays I can buy a set with a large bottle and a purse size edt for about $20 CDN at Walmart)


The reviewer who called it a spicy powder scent got it dead on. I've tred to describe the scent before and now I have the words to do so! Thanks!


So now, at age 31, I've been wearing Oscar for nearly half of my life and I don't see myself ever straying from it. It is a part of who I am and I will forever love it!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Gretchen76 on 10/14/2007 7:40:00 PM more reviews by Gretchen76

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

I first experienced Oscar when I was babysitting for this woman about 15 years ago who always smelled so nice! She was a no-nonsense woman who wasn't afraid to state her mind. I bought the edt a few years ago and was really repulsed by it (I think I put too much on!) I recently went to Sprawlmart and saw they have the parfum mini for under $10. I decanted into a rollerball bottle (better to control the application) so I can dab lighly without over-spraying. Oscar comes across as a spicy powdery scent. I've saved this one to wear now that the cooler weather is here. I wouldn't wear this in summer- that would be too much. Try the parfum- you may be pleasantly surprised!

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*TOP REVIEWER* CecileCecile on 4/15/2007 10:42:00 AM more reviews by CecileCecile

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

EDT: The current formulation is just OK for me. It is a sweet and safe floral though sort of one-dimensional, overblended. My memory of it from the early nineties is that of a more faceted floral. Others have described it as a 'white' floral but to me it is very much 'pink'. On a whim and because it is so inexpensive I bought a small bottle for old time's sake but probably will not purchase ever again. Perhaps the Parfum has stayed more true to its former self. I am amazed at the story (three reviews down) of the saleswoman trying to pass Oscar off as the very saccharine Ruffles, how dishonorable. Tsk-tsk.
UPDATE: I have actually been enjoying this a little more than I thought I would. I have been layering it with other scents too - in particular, I have found that it works surprisingly well with BS Fantasy to create a hyper-pink, ultra-girly aura! I have raised my rating to 4 - will buy again.

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rebdab on 1/14/2007 9:46:00 PM more reviews by rebdab

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

A total scrubber of a smell (can't be classified as a fragrance!) I wonder if this is the same perfume as described in the positive reviews? I'm no stranger to strong or unusual scents (hell, I even like SL Miel de Bois) but this REEKS. Harsh, chemical cleaner note as mentioned before v's $2 talc. Can't believe the perfumier who concoted Opium is also responible for this!!!!!
EDIT: WOW! Can't believe the 180 turnaround on this fragrance. I really think the perfume I tried the first time round must have been off. Was reinspired to try again after smelling something divine on a co-worker which she said was "Oscar".... maybe a difference in skin chemistry? Gave it another go, and ended up buying a bottle. Smells soft and powdery, a little old fashioned, just like expensive powder and lipstick used to smell, very lady-like. Glad I gave it another go!

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*TOP REVIEWER* FeatherHen on 12/31/2006 9:36:00 PM more reviews by FeatherHen

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Other    

I am so happy to read coolfreshair's review below, because I have always told my mom (who wore Oscar up to the late 80s) that Oscar smells like Vanderbilt, and she has always told me I'm nuts.

This is a very difficult scent, as it evokes too many memories of days past.

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ge1shh on 12/12/2006 6:35:00 AM more reviews by ge1shh

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

My first perfume by Oscar de la Renta was an eau de parfum called Ruffles. It was gorgeous. Then it seemed to stop, and I could only get Oscar. A saleswoman told me that it was the same perfume but that they had just dropped the 'Ruffles'. However, I couldn't get along with the Oscar eau de parfum at all - it seemed different. Then somehow I acquired an Oscar Eau de Toilette and found the smell more agreeable. I still wasn't convinced about it, and felt that it was too light and didn't linger long enough. However, my husband really likes it so I do still use it sometimes. I've also had other products in the same range and I've always been disappointed with the packaging - tops breaking, spray mechanism going wrong etc.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Sherrie11 on 11/3/2006 2:21:00 PM more reviews by Sherrie11

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

I wore Oscar in the 80's, though it came out in the 70's. It was a lovely fragrance on me then, a creamy white floral with a bit of spice. I used to receive compliments on it. Today, I'm revisiting Oscar edt (Marshall's bargain bought on a whim), and it's not doing it for me anymore. Either my chemistry has changed or Oscar has. It's not as creamy and lush as it once seemed. It smells more like a cleanser, Softscrub or something. It's not *bad* smelling but just not as luxe as I recall. Again, it may just be me. Either my taste has changed or my skin chemistry has.

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*TOP REVIEWER* drc98x on 8/1/2006 6:04:00 PM more reviews by drc98x

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Beautiful, unique classy fragrance. I can wear this all year round and have received many compliments on this. I especially like the Espirit de Parfume, long lasting and richer than the edt., but like the edt. too.

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coolfreshair on 7/2/2006 5:29:00 PM more reviews by coolfreshair

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This is horrible - it reminds me of the 1970s. There's nothing classic or timeless about it - it just shouts "70s Retro!!" at me. Endnotes also remind me of Gloria Vanderbilt's "Vanderbilt." Definitely not one to keep.

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*TOP REVIEWER* MyBuddy on 4/29/2006 10:06:00 PM more reviews by MyBuddy

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

I just discovered this in a scent strip for a Mother's Day ad. I had never tried this before, and I can't believe I've been missing out all these years. It launched in 1977, when I was only 17. It contains basil, coriander, jasmine, and lavendar. It is an evening-type elegant fragrance, and very timeless. I wear it in the daytime with dressy clothing.

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Fawny on 1/19/2006 5:21:00 PM more reviews by Fawny

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

I have never worn it but my Mom has worn it ever since I can remember. I love the smell so much, every time I smell it I think of my Mom :) I bought her a bottle for Christmas this year and it came with a candle that I kept so I can smell it whenever and feel like a child again. I personally love Oscar De La Renta Violet and wear it everyday. Too bad there isn't a place to review that on this site!

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magnificent on 11/25/2005 11:09:00 AM more reviews by magnificent

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Hi SwedishGirl26! Nice to read your subscription. If you love "old" Oscar de la Renta and RED DOOR, you should try legendary L'heure Bleue by Guerlain and inexpensive Gloria Vanderbilt classic (lilac package, cute bottle with a swan). Same "perfume-family" and absolutely worth a try!!!

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SwedishGirl26 on 8/26/2005 8:58:00 PM more reviews by SwedishGirl26

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I bought this on my summer-vacation to Italy ! And I sooo absolutley adore it! This is my new fave fragrance! It is a very wearable fragrance, excellent for daytime and warm weather, exquisite for evening. Soft, subtle, sweet, powdery and very very sophisticated. *** UNIQUE in every way ***
Year Introduced: 1978
*** Scent Type: Floral - Ambery ***
*** Top Notes: Orange blossom, coriander, cascarilla, basil, peach, gardenia ***
*** Heart Notes: Jasmine, tuberose, ylang-ylang, May rose, lavender, orchid ***
*** Base Notes: Clove, sandalwood, amber, myrrh, lavender, patchouli, opopanax ***

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*TOP REVIEWER* Simply_beautiful on 8/22/2005 9:39:00 PM more reviews by Simply_beautiful

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I used to regard this as a fragance for very old women. I got a bottle for free, lucky me, so i had nothing to lose to wear it! And then I realised that it is actually a very seductive and warm fragrance. I think I judged it without trying it on, it needs some time to develop on the skin. I m not crazy about the packaging as I am a fan of luxurious and fancy bottles but nevermind.. It is one of my favourites now and I m only 23!

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*TOP REVIEWER* syltetyta on 7/20/2005 1:03:00 PM more reviews by syltetyta

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

This fragrance has a warm and classy sweet scent that smells gorgeous on everybody BUT me. I fell in love with this in the early 90's but unfortunately this is a disaster blended with my body chemistry. I've tried this on every once in a while since then hoping something has changed, but on me it gets nousiating every single time.
So, for the body chemistry - mine has not changed in 14 years. And since I still get the sickly rotten smell, I guess they haven't changed anything in the fragrance either.
I guess I have to stop hoping and trying, and just enjoy sniffing it on other women...
UPDATE: I came across a 60ml tester of this for really cheap, and bought it in spite of chemistry. And the strangest thing...it smells on me like it smells on other women. I don't know what happened - maybe I've just been sampling it in the wrong seasons all of the years?
Uppgrading one lippie.

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*TOP REVIEWER* JonMoss on 7/10/2005 2:56:00 PM more reviews by JonMoss

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Tan, Neutral   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Why are all these women whining about 'something has changed'? It smells nice to me. Very soft and powdery almost like cacherel's anais anais.


Update: I really like this perfume and I am updating my lippie. It doesn't smell like anais anais( I like it too), more like Red Door and Vanderbilt. So elegant, so feminine!

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*TOP REVIEWER* GlamDiva on 6/3/2005 9:03:00 PM more reviews by GlamDiva

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Other, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I've gone through several bottles of Oscar, the lotion and the body cream. Oscar is nearly as good now as it was when I first encountered it back in the late 1970s. A light soapy powdery floral classic, rather
dressy. Was my wedding fragrance in 1985. One point off, as I
do believe it has been changed
a bit over the years.

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stickman on 5/11/2005 1:16:00 PM more reviews by stickman

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

Yes, something has definitely happened to this. I wore it in the 80's also but now it just smells disgusting. How sad.

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gugy on 4/22/2005 9:53:00 PM more reviews by gugy

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This smells sooo beautiful. I love it. With one little problem, it's too expensive for me =(. I got this as gift and i've only wear it in special occasions. If only i could find something cheaper(and longer lasting) with scent.

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