Brocade
Avon (1967)

Brocade by Avon (1967) is pretty and typical, so I guess you could call it "pretty typical" for the period; another fragrance for mom to wear while the younger ones wear something racier like Elusive by Avon (1969) or Charisma by Avon (1970). The ads for this one read "Find your own enchantment" and showed various models wearing brocade veils, which honestly isn't the sexiest approach to make, as the results feel more "funeral" than "wedding". Full fragrance and toiletries sets were issued, and one could buy these things piecemeal as well, with Brocade lasting well into the 70's, but not beyond. Of particular note, this one was popular in the UK, which tracks with the generally more-conservative styles of perfume they have their anyway.

The opening of Brocade is fairly standard soft aldehydes like Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant (1913), a very safe style for sure. Beyond that we get jasmine and rose-by-way-of-geranium and carnation twisted together, with some heliotrope, vetiver, musk, oakmoss, and Avon's patent amber. As things quiet down, more of the white floral materials emerge, alongside nitromusks and sandalwood with the amber. Quite safe, quite clean, quite pretty, but quite boring. Performance is deceptively soft, but quite tenacious to be sure, with that musk thrumming away into the small hours if you let it. Perhaps there is a slight demure undercurrent to Brocade I am unfairly dismissing?

In either case, most of the show Brocade presents is not very much different than a number of similar musky white floral things Avon circulated in and out of the catalogs of this time, making me feel like if you had one, you had them all. That said, Brocade is objectively high-quality and well put-together, using a shorter list of materials the quality of which would be reserved only for $400 luxury perfumes in today's fragrance market landscape. Therefore, if this sort of traditional French perfumery of the early 20th century by way of American regurgitation is your sort of bag, you really can't go wrong here. Don't forget to put on your little veil before wearing. Thumbs up

They just don't make them this good anymore! It's like taking a shower with the 60's! All Jasmine, soap and musk. I don't usually like aldehydes but it works here giving a soapy sparkle in this jasmine forward fragrance with just a hint of rose and vanilla. I super love this on a hot day! It's all clean and bright with some spice but the biggest thing I get from this is the jasmine.

Beautiful & vibrant, predominantly white floral bouquet with ylang, jasmine, etc. on a musky base. Reminded me a bit of Casaque.

High quality spicy roseI had this in my stash and decided to give it a try today. What struck me was it's similarity to vintage Ombre Rose or Houbigant's Lutece, both of which I've been searching for. This is a spicy, musky, powdery rose, appropriate for wear anytime of year, in just about any situation. I'm glad I rediscovered it.It's going into my more frequent rotation now.Pros: A lower cost alternative to Ombre Rose, LuteceCons: Getting harder to find."

Another Avon from the 60's with aldehydes and musk. This adds in florals and some spices. I detect carnation and vanilla but it's more spicy and musky than anything. Good sillage and longevity for this one.