Maja Eau de Toilette (reformulated and repackaged verison)

I have only tried the new formulation so I can't comment on vintage versus reformulated. However I will say that there's a reason fragrances get reformulated - because tastes were different in the 50's, 70's, 90's and you have to modernize or else. That being said, I do detest most department store fragrances. I have a wide range of perfumes for my moods, some of which …Read more

The new EdT is a common place jumble of rose and fruit with only a pale undertone of the cool resins and green powdery nots that make the Maja shower gel so delightful. Very disappointing.

Inexpensive but oddly enough this is hard to find in Australia. The soap is sold almost everywhere but I only know of two chemists that sell the edt. On me this is short lived and rather bland, First blast smells like a fairly fresh eau de cologne with notes of citrus and lavender. Within ten minutes it has dried to a lightly spiced carnation, and within an hour it has completely disappeared. Now …Read more

I smelt the original in Tenerife when I was a teenager and I remember recoiling from the heavy pungent notes, especially strong in the heat. So after thinking I did not like it I was dubious about the reformulation. But magically I was wrong, totally wrong. Think fresh citrus cologne added to spices with a vanilla drydown - simply beautiful and cheap. This is far and away the best drugstore …Read more

Sadly, even I (probably an older woman on MUA) don't remember the original Maja, which was one of the grand perfumes back in the day. This review is for the new version, which I indeed found dirt cheap after Christmas. I already knew I liked the fragrance, because I often use Maja soap, which smells divine. I was a little afraid to try the edt, thinking it might be a little too much like …Read more

I just received a vintage bottle in from an E-Bay purchase. As soon as I took the top off I was reminded of an old Avon fragrance from the 60's, Rapture. It was the one in the cute teal green lamp bottle. My mother still has a full bottle of it. Maja was created by Jean Carles who also also created Tabu, Ma Griffe, Miss Dior, and Shiaparelli's Shocking. All of which I love. I …Read more

I came about this fragrance totally by accident. <p>I had started an online business selling cosmetics and perfume, and a friend gave me a box full of Spanish products that her mother had lying around that she wanted to get rid of. Inside this box were unusual soaps, fragrances and a gift set of (what looked to me) like a dated, 80's fragrance along with the matching soap and powder …Read more

I was originally going to pan this re-orchestration of a masterpiece. But I cannot. The new Maja has none of the raw spiciness of the original, and is decidedly less pungent and aggresive. What is left is a dry, herbally, mildly citrus fragrance that segues into a powdery vanilla accord at the dry down. I can still catch hints of lavender, angelica, geranium and tonka. What this has become …Read more

I am bitterly disappointed. If I were reviewing classic Maja, my rating would be 5 lipsticks. A beautiful earthy-sweet Oriental, with no pumpkin pie spice scent, unlike most Orientals (don't get me wrong, I like those spices, but appreciated an alternative Oriental like Maja). But this reformulation is simply atrocious, and to my nose, bears absolutely no resembalance to the Maja I know. It …Read more

I must say I prefer the old Maja, the uncompromising Maja that smelled like the flamenco -- hot spicy, racy, and a bit tawdry. This stuff exudes sensuality. Light and floral it is not. It is animal and deep. Ole!