Tabu

I have a mini edp in a screw cap violin bottle of Tabu, I have no idea how old, and it is WONDERFUL. It is my favorite of all the spicy ones, Opium, Coco, Cinnabar, Youth Dew, etc. This is the only one I can wear that doesn’t soon wear me out. Much as I drool over big orientals and admire them on others, my skin doesn’t tame them or bring out their subtler nuances. This vintage Tabu lasts all day and night without clobbering, softening as it reveals its various facets, sweet, spicy, resinous, animalic, smoky, etc. Tabu is just the one for me of this genre. I would much rather wear vintage Tabu than a new Opium. This is how I wear it: I put one drop - and I mean only one very carefully tapped drop - into the palm of my hand. Then with my other hand I pump some unscented lotion into the palm holding the drop of Tabu, which I then mix between both palms and use as a scented body lotion. I do this a couple of times to cover lower and upper body. That to me, is the best way to wear Tabu, only two drops mixed in lotion. The residue on my hands, I rake through my hair. Tabu loses nothing by diluting it this way, it merely keeps it closer to my own person and less invasive of others’ space. So, for everyone who dislikes Tabu, more for me! And if there is a fragrance you love which seems too potent or big to wear out, just try using a drop or two in unscented lotion and wear it under your clothes. It will be more subtle and last for ages. I have done a this with Youth Dew bath oil and Opium, as well as others.

I was sitting at the computer and curiosity-looking for some discontinued scents I have loved, scents like Trouble by Boucheron, Cristobal by Balenciaga, Habanita by Molinard, Theorema by Fendi, sweet spicy scents that most suit my fragrance personality. There is a real element of "we always want most what we can't have" to perfume collecting. While browsing and yearning to experience some of these fragrances again, I noticed the fragrance on my own skin and it was rather intoxicating and lovely. It was my Tabu that I had sprayed sparingly. Always sparingly ladies! Keep repeating "less is more." Decant to a roller ball bottle if you find that easier. I recommend it with heavy-hitters and Tabu can be that! I've never reviewed Tabu and it's qualities have been expounded upon so much more eloquently than I could do so I'll make it short: If you have no bad associations (I do not) with ANY fragrance and it has the elements you love then for goodness sake try it! Especially when it costs next to nothing and is available almost everywhere. Get over your prejudices strip off the name, the packaging, the comments from other people. Tabu has been around for many generations. While it is so important to support and keep that fire going under the new perfume companies, there is a history that also needs to be appreciated, explored and honored. Tabu is one of those great-grandmothers of some of the spicy fragrances that came after it. Add me to the list of fans. I love orange blossom, spices, vanilla, patchouli, incense and the boozy-cola-whatever-the-magic is in this stuff. It just works! Fragrance is fun. It should always be fun. If it ever stops being fun then stop "doing" it! Enjoy your fragrant journey.

My mother wore this for many years. I'm revisiting Tabu because for me the fragrance is poignant and I absolutely love Patchouli. If I could find a fragrance that combines Patchouli and Musk I would be in olfactory heaven