fragrance review & notes on inspiration
Cinnabar by Estée Lauder needs no introduction, really. It’s well known at least by name to most perfume collectors. Its magical name accounts for much of its mystique, but the scent, bold, spicy, dense, plush is also cause for its reputation.
Cinnabar was Lauder’s stake at the end of the 1970s into the spicy oriental race which also gave us the legendary Opium. Developed however without direct influence from the YSL fragrances, although the packaging does indicate references to YSL’s idea of the inro with the tassel, but rather from the progenitor of it all, Youth Dew by Lauder again.
With its intense cloves and spicy lily heart, Cinnabar therefore harkens back to Youth Dew and its mellis accord, but lightens the balsamic base notes by focusing on the incense-y tonality and the patchouli which nicely sidekicks the spices. The recent repackaging into the Classics collection, in the oblong bottles, is supreme, retaining the essence of the original and projecting like an amulet of spicy delight. A legend unto its own.