Eternity for Women

Eternity for Women opens green and cool. Freesia, mandarin, sage and a crisp lemon blossom give a dewy, almost watery first impression that feels clean rather than sweet. Within minutes the heart takes over, and it is a crowded one: carnation with a faint clove edge, lily of the valley, white lily, narcissus, jasmine, violet, marigold and rose all pressing together into a single dense bouquet. Wearers often call this part powdery and a little soapy, and the carnation and lily are the notes people name first. The base is soft and quiet by comparison. Musk, amber and heliotrope give the powder, with sandalwood and patchouli adding a little wood underneath. The overall feel is cool, polished and formal, the sort of scent associated with late-80s and early-90s office wear. Some find it elegant and nostalgic, others find it cold or too synthetic, and a few find the clove-like carnation heavy. This is a strong scent. A small amount goes a long way, and it lasts for most of the day with a large sillage, so it rewards a light hand. It reads as a spring or daytime floral and still holds up in cooler weather. It was launched as an eau de parfum, and it is the original, not one of the many later summer or flanker editions of the Eternity name. It sits in the same family as the other big green-white florals of its decade, and it is more crisp and less sweet than most of them. If you like a classic floral with real presence, it is worth a try. If you prefer fruity or gourmand styles, it will feel dated.