Regence
Avon (1966)

Regence by Avon (1966) is a simple, elegant aldehyde floral on a soft bed of sandalwood, musk, oakmoss, and soapy rosewood. The glimmery green bottles really dressed this up back in the day, compared to others from the Avon catalogs in the period, almost like a premium line among the normal ranges, even if prices weren't necessarily different. Unusually, this fragrance came in a format called "cologne silk", which was sort of a goopy oil-type thing that had skin conditioners and a typical cologne strength scent-wise, dispensing in a pressurized spray.

The opening of Regence is soft and honey-like, with aldehydes, rose de mai, jasmine, and some lilac, heliotrope, and carnation. After a while, a soapy rosewood and santal combination underlays the moss and nitromusk combination, with perhaps ever the slightest hints of violet for a touch of floral green, so that the color of the bottle is at least somewhat represented in the scent. This is sheer, musky, soft-spoken floral class, the scent of a dignitary or visiting monarch, with that returning honey note whispering behind the florals. Tenacious but not projecting, the "cologne silk" I'm reviewing is quite nice.

Like most mid-century Avon feminine market scents, this goes toe-to-toe with the old designers of the period, inferior only in lack of complexity or number of materials as Avon made cost by using simpler formulas; but long after production stopped, remains more-accessible to vintage enthusiasts overall due to the lack of reverence most have for Avon, and its overall lack of brand cachet because of it. Pay $500 for an old survivor Patou, Chanel, Lanvin, or something similar, or maybe $50 at very most for a well-preserved (often unused) entire set of a single Avon fragrance of similar stripe. Thumbs up

Regence is absolutely stunning, which is hinted at in its original marbleized green and cream-colored packaging. This was definitely the highest quality fragrance of the vintage Avons of the 50s through the 70s. It is quite similar to original Madame Rochas, which came out a few years before, with it's glorious lemony aldehydes, rose/jasmin/lily bouquet, and compelling, sharp yet warm and powdery soapiness.

I find that the "perfume rollette" concentration is heads and tails above the "cologne" - and that's a general rule for all vintage Avons: the perfume rollettes are the way to go.

I would highly recommend this beauty, Regence, from 1966. The scent stands out conspicuously among Avon's offerings from this time period for its beauty and quality. Every time I wear it I fall more and more in love with it and, as a vintage perfume lover, I could see myself starting to wear it exclusively as a signature scent.

I wear this and it smells FAB ! I love it, one of my FAVORITE Classic Avon Fragrances...

Opens with lemon and muslk. Dries into a cool sparkling aldehydic musk. Sorta soapy. It feels classic.