Esprit d’Oscar Oscar de la Renta for women

Esprit d’Oscar Oscar de la Renta for women

main accords
powdery
citrus
white floral
vanilla
violet
iris
floral
aromatic
amber
musky

Perfume rating 4.08 out of 5 with 1,645 votes

Esprit d’Oscar by Oscar de la Renta is a Amber Floral fragrance for women. Esprit d’Oscar was launched in 2011. Esprit d’Oscar was created by Frank Voelkl and Ann Gottlieb. Top notes are Amalfi Lemon, Citron and Bergamot; middle notes are Iris, Violet, African Orange Flower, Tuberose and Jasmine; base notes are Heliotrope, Tonka Bean, Musk, Ambergris and Vetiver.

Design house Oscar de la Renta has gotten its perfume license back and has announced a new fragrance, named Esprit d'Oscar. Esprit d'Oscar is the updated and modern interpretation of the debut fragrance, Oscar, from 1977.

Retaining the original oriental-floral character, the new composition begins with citrus notes of Sicilian lemon, bergamot, and citron, leading to the floral bouquet heart of Egyptian jasmine, orange blossom, and tuberose. The base is oriental, creamy, smooth and very long-lasting with musk, heliotrope, tonka, and vetiver. Perfumers Frank Voelkl and Ann Gottlieb collaborated to create this marvelous composition.

The perfume bottle design is reminiscent of the original with a more elongated shape and also features a glass stopper resembling a flower. The fragrance is available as 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum.

Read about this perfume in other languages: Deutsch, Español, Français, Čeština, Italiano, Русский, Polski, Português, Ελληνικά, 汉语, Nederlands, Srpski, Română, العربية, Українська, Монгол, עברית.

Pros

Pros

43
0
Smooth and feminine fragrance
44
2
Old-school glamour vibe
41
0
Comforting and pretty
28
0
Powdery iris and creamy tuberose notes
27
1
Gorgeous and wearable
26
0
Perfect heliotrope scent
22
1
Pure beauty and perfection
19
1
Strong sillage and long-lasting
Cons

Cons

28
1
Some may find it too powdery
18
1
May not appeal to all tastes
13
3
May dry down into a comforting rather than exciting scent
6
8
May not be a universal appeal due to difficult notes like vetiver and heliotrope
3
10
Similar to L'Heure Bleue but with a dirtier drydown
2
8
Powdery dry down may not persist as long as desired
5
16
Citrus notes may be medicinal
3
18
Not suitable for party occasions

Note: The pros and cons listed on this page have been generated using the artificial intelligence system, which analyzes product reviews submitted by our members. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, we cannot guarantee the complete accuracy or reliability of the AI-generated pros and cons. Please read the full reviews and consider your own needs and preferences before making a purchasing decision.

Fragram Photos
Perfume Pyramid

Top Notes

Amalfi Lemon
Citron
Bergamot

Middle Notes

Iris
Violet
African Orange Flower
Tuberose
Jasmine

Base Notes

Heliotrope
Tonka Bean
Musk
Ambergris
Vetiver

Become a member of this online perfume community and you will be able to add your own reviews.

All Reviews By Date

Violinhead8120

I'm going to be quite honest, this brand was my first love when I was initially getting into fragrances 10 years ago. I used up an entire bottle of another Oscar fragrance around that time years ago, called Live in Love, and I still think it's an absolutely delightful fragrance. This fragrance, Esprit, honestly doesn't smell so amazing from the atomizer. I actually tried giving this away last year due to the fact that I hadn't reached for it in quite a while, so I held a bit of a get together with my neighbors. I lived in the midwestern US at the time, and many of my neighbors took one sniff of the atomizer of Esprit, didn't spray it, and most of them turned up their nose and said 'Bug spray.' Without saying that I agreed with them, I thought to myself: That's exactly why I haven't been reaching for it, because I hadn't sprayed it in so long, I've just been smelling it out of the bottle and saying the same thing, so I forgot how beautiful it was on the skin.

So at the end of the get together, nobody had taken the beautiful Esprit, so I chanced another spray, despite all the negative comments towards it. Then I was enveloped in a cloud of beauty. The scent that I sprayed wasn't the scent I smelled from the bottle. The scent you smell from the bottle can't even compare. Once sprayed on the skin, this quickly becomes the most womanly, heavenly, pillowy fluffy, soapy heliotrope musk with some fizzy citrus in the opening, with this slight tinge of aldehydes that I LOVE, as well as this vintage lipstick freshness that drives me crazy in the best possible way. I bought my bottle in 2020 and shortly after, it was unavailable for quite some time. Now I'm seeing it on Nordstrom Rack, and I hope my current bottle is the formula they're still using for this beauty.

Please don't judge it from the bottle, because from the bottle, It smells so non descript and dare I say, cheap. But once sprayed, this scent transforms into the most demure, sophisticated, beautiful magical dreamy veil that it is, and reminds me so much of the love child of Chanel 5 Eau Premiere and Chloe Love, Chloe Eau Intense. There's this freshness to it, but it's not scratchy or laundry-esque like so many fresh fragrances are nowadays, the freshness is moreso a feeling, or a texture, and I liken it to a thin beautiful veil of scent that is prominent, yet still maintaining a translucency on the skin, where I can still smell my natural skin musk; Esprit just enhances it and beautifies it. It's not a thick blanket of scent, and it won't wear you. None of the notes overpower one another. They're seamlessly, expertly blended. Suffice to say, this has become a mainstay in my fragrance wardrobe once again. Lasts quite well, between 8-9 hours, with moderate-leaning-intimate sillage, and that depends upon how much you spray. I can spray 5-6 sprays, which is much more liberal than I'm used to spraying, but this fragrance is so inoffensive and likeable, I can get away with slightly overspraying, and it projects pretty moderately for 4 hours before turning into an intimate scent.

I cannot imagine this fragrance offending anyone, and although it's quite a sweet one, there is 0% gourmand or food-like touches to it. I see it being described as 'almond-like' from the other reviews. While I can somewhat agree since heliotrope is often known to smell like almonds, Esprit never goes into marzipan territory. It just smells classic, French, perfectly mixes with the natural clean musk scent that our skin naturally produces, and from what I've learned, it's actually still a very popular fragrance in France, and they certainly do NOT like gourmand scents in France. They know best, so if you do not like gourmands but love vintage classy powdery luminous scents that shine and give off a womanly feminine soft nature, while mixing perfectly with your natural chemistry, then this is for you.

I highly recommend.

LivingForPerfumeFrenchie

This is in my top fragrances of all time!

I hope they will never reformulate the current version or stop the production. If anything, they should release bodylotion, body wash, bars of soap and powder. Don't fix what ain't broken, just release more products with this exact formula!

Powdery, creamy, fluffy Iris dreams.

I wish it was a bit stronger (you need quite a few sprays for it to last longer). Would be awesome if they released a high quality pure parfum with this exact scent.

This fragrance smells bridal to me. Very classic, elegant and feminine. Some might find it too powdery of soapy, but it has a very creamy quality to it too in the dry down especially.

A young woman in her early 20ies stopped me in my tracks at the drugstore and asked me what I was wearing, she loved it! She was ordering it straight away. So even young women who love classic scents could appreciate this gem.

cheleine

Vintage lipsticky iris-violet combination with citric top notes. In the profile of Chanel No5 and Guerlain Initial.
I like retro scents but this smells kind of mature and dated to me.

kittywhiskers

To me, this is the perfect workplace perfume. It has excellent sillage but is not too overpowering, it lasts well over 12 hrs on clothes, and I don't see how this could be offensive to anyone smelling from afar. Perfect for a professional setting. Other than that, I don't get too much use out of this perfume. I'm not super into powdery scents to begin with, and lipsticky-iris scents are usually a turn off for my nose... which is why I've barely worn this since buying it a year ago. I think there's a sharpness to the iris that keeps putting me off; it comes and goes and lasts only a second, the rest of the body of the scent is actually quite lovely. I spritzed some on tonight for a professional event, thinking hey, I'll give her another chance... and wow, while I'm still not 100% hooked, it is an excellent winter fragrance with amazing performance for the price. I may be reaching for this one more often.

Creamy_ambrette

I wanted to love this and I almost do! I love the powderiness and the waxy, lipstick like Iris with the fresh citrus opening but it’s also soapy, too soapy and not aldehydic soapy, that I like, this is more like shampoo soapy which I just can’t get along with. Great longevity and projection! It’s doesn’t smell like N°5 edt or EDP but it’s close to Eau Premiere.
The cap is awful- I twist it in and off. That helps a bit
Have a 3.4 Oz to swap if interested.

Ms_Meghan

The lasting power on this is no joke. I sprayed this lightly after a shower before bed and it is still going strong 9 hours later. It's very floral and very powdery. To me it's the perfect comforting wear to bed fragrance, (definitely not sexy on my skin.)
I'm unsure if I would wear this during the day without layering it with something else, as I feel it's too powdery for me to wear during the day.
The bottle is beautiful and for the $20 CAD I paid it was well worth it, even if I just wear it occasionally to bed when I feel the need to be wrapped in a warm hug.

Sexbox1814

Ok so this is very guerlain l'heure bleu it turns more floral I see people comparing it to no 5 but it’s much More like coty l'aimant but more violet and citrus and definitely more wearable the after smell is sexy powdery I actually love it

Lotte_Liese

If I had not used and loved the original Oscar for close to 10 years, I might have enjoyed Esprit d'Oscar a bit more. In the EDP formulation, you are presented with a lighter, albeit more powdery and soapy derivative of Oscar, the DNA is the same but the expression is different. Other reviewers have described the scent quite well.
I will add that it is an EDP with EDT longevity and performance. You can use this with abandon without fear of it overpowering the senses of passers-by.
Although I desired a more powdery version of Oscar, bringing it into my collection has only made me long for Oscar even more and I will most likely repurchase my 6th bottle of the darling stuff soon.

Fragrancewonder

A powdery fragrance that is perfect for bedtime. This is clean with subtle sweetness which mades it an reach.

suzanne_ronald

CARTE BLANCHE. Imagine drinking a steaming London Fog while wearing all white on a snowy morning. To me this is a white-musk scent, but elevated. It's powdery, fluffy, creamy, musky with some sweetness and has a timeless quality that may read as vintage for some. This has its fans, and it's a gorgeous scent, but I need to be in the mood for this, or at least have donned a monochromatic white outfit. Anyone could wear this, but personally, I think it would be best worn by someone with a big personality to underwrite the 'carte blanche' aspects. Nevertheless, it's a love for me. Enjoy!

ingrid.superstar

I spray Esprit D'Oscar with abandon. Not because it doesn't last (it does), but because it's just the kind of scent lends itself well to creating a warm, golden, diaphanous, soapy, sweetly powdery scent-cloud. This scent smells like expensive bath powder and soap -- fizzy and aldehydic in the top notes. This unfolds further as iris, violet, and heliotrope enter the picture, revealing a sweet lipstick accord that flirts with, surprisingly, almond scones or carrot cake. I'm frequently searching for scents that remind me of Dusita Splendiris, and Esprit D'Oscar fits the bill for me despite its lack of "greenness" -- by no means an exact dupe, Esprit D'Oscar still has the rich, sweet orris of cosmetics and that surprising carrot cake accord (for which the iris is probably also responsible) that I so love about Splendiris. If soap, powder, and pastries all mingling together sound repulsive to you, you have a good imagination; but the creators behind this fragrance have better imaginations, and they pulled this off beautifully. The dry-down is mostly musky, almondy tonka bean with the pleasant, earthy bite of vetiver hanging on in the late stages.

If you love powdery, cosmetic fragrances with a retro vibe, you must give this a try! It's frequently on the shelves of the discount stores, but as other reviewers have noted, would be at home on the Chanel or Guerlain counters of the department stores. Why? It has that cohesive, posh, well-groomed aura about it..though I concede it has no punchy, moody, complicated basenotes like those venerable classics. It's like a L'Heure Bleu eau fraiche or Chanel no 5 Eau Premiere with a sweet/gourmandish twist.

(Re: the cap issues -- I had a bit of trouble removing mine the first time I opened it; I haven't put it back on since the day I got it in case it damages the atomizer by getting stuck and needing to be muscled off again.)

HoneySmoke889

When I first opened this about a year ago I was revolted honestly. It reminded me of a fragrance one my grandmas wore I never wanted to smell like that! But I think my taste has matured slightly, and maybe the bottle left sitting for a while has blunted my negative emotions. I would wear this now. I would spray this after shower as it is a musky skin like scent which can blend with your natural musk. If you have classic taste anyone can totally rock this. I don't like labeling perfumes by age because it's subjective and depends on your age when it was released and the memories you had with the scent. So yes it may be dated, but it's pretty! Very comforting, slightly matronly smell. Good to have one of those <3

Update: I tried wearing this out but it's just not me, it feels like I'm wearing someone else's perfume. I smell like one of aunts! It's nostalgic but not wearable for me.

sopelka

For those of you who experience a tight bottle cap, I had the same issue but was able to loosen it with a round metal file rod and a small piece of fine sandpaper. Halfway deep inside the cap, there are three small plastic bumps that hold the cap on. Be careful no to file off too much, or the cap won’t stay on.

I agree that it smells very similar to LHB, but easier to wear. The anise top note is missing, but since I don’t enjoy it, it’s a plus for me.

VintageMaven

This is a go-to whenever I want to feel well put together in the mornings. Goes perfectly with the vintage aesthetic but still modern enough. I spray it on my hair in the morning and by evening, it becomes a comforting musky skin scent perfect for bedtime. I often layer this with Live in Love (also by de la Renta) for a refreshing citrusy zing. Such a bargain! It's the only fragrance I've ever bought back to back bottles of.

swedishmilk15

I just love this type of scent. It references itself, of course, but also L'heure bleue, Vanderbilt, and L'origan. I agree with others that this is a fresher, modernized take on those, and it's wonderful. Makes a great "dumb grab" and smells classy, feminine, vintage, and yet FRESH! This will see lots of wear this spring.

The lid is a downer. I had mine break and had to glue the metal neck back onto the plastic part, and now it works fine but I treat it delicately. It's very pretty, but they could charge a few dollars more to upgrade that part and I would gladly pay.

Happy spraying, everyone!

JamieSmells

It smells almost exactly like the original. There are obviously some differences, and I can pick out the creaminess and freshness with this one. Its a very clean and safe scent, and for the price I would buy it blind fully given its price. I received it just a day ago and wore it only once, but its perfect for out of the shower and during warm to spring weather. Performance I'd say about 5 hours, but that's because I did not smell it on me after that. I'm a heavy sprayer just for reference. It might be longer since often we can't smell ourselves but others sure can! Its worth purchasing it, I plan to wear it lots when the weather warms up.

Forgot to mention, the cap is very difficult to take off. All the people who mentioned this were not lying, its actually awful. I was scared I was going to damage the sprayer, sadly the cap doesn't loosen up with time so just be careful when you open the bottle.

Brittany1122

I found this at Ross for fairly cheap. I can see how the cap could be an issue but for me it’s been fine. As far as the fragrance, I like it. It was a blind buy for sure. It is powdery but clean. It doesn’t make me think of powdery/stuffy makeup vibes. I would buy this again if I found it for cheap again. It smells clean and cozy but slightly powdery. I wish I could smell more lemon but it not super strong to me. Overall it was a decent blind buy and I’m finding myself liking more and more every day.

Prab101

I got this at shoppers drug mart for $21.99 after seeing on here it was powdery with white floral (my fav).
I got home and I just could not get the cap off, I finally got it off but the whole thing that sprays came off with it, I pulled it out with some tweezers but then the metal part that goes around the spray thing was still stuck, I tried my best to get it out but it just wouldn't budge and anytime I put the cap back on and took it off again the whole thing would come off again. So I went back and returned it, hoping for an exchange but they had no more left, I went to another shoppers and I was going to get it again buttt I was scared to waste my money just in case the cap got stuck again.

I really loved the smell and the girl helping me with the exchange smelled it as well, as it was leaking because of the cap and she loved it as well.
It doesn't exactly compare to Chanel NO5 but it is close, kind of like its little sibling.
It's very powdery I wouldn't recommend it to people who don't like powdery and settles into this nice powdery, white floral scent.
I may buy it again and just hope the cap doesn't get stuck, but I did like the perfume a lot.

SerenaLovesKanye

Golden almond cake with white/yellow florals. Minimal silage, skin scent. Excellent longevity, on paper it smelled gorgeous the next day. Warm and and comforting.

1037

A vintage-style perfume for the modern age. This would sell like hotcakes if it was available at Sephora and advertised as a classy clean girl aesthetic perfume. It has a vintage feel but it isn’t actually dated. I’ve been burned by a few vintage blind buys and MAN do they smell dated no matter how much I wish they didn’t. But this is very wearable for me as a 27 year old who wants something more grown up sometimes. You just have to love powder. Esprit d’Oscar is the IDEA of a vintage perfume but executed in a more current fashion. I agree with the review by Maki, it will probably only smell vintage to younger people. It’s like a period movie. All the beautiful things we love about an era, watered down and repackaged for a modern audience. Some of the people who actually lived through the time would will be like “Hey, that isn’t authentic!” and maybe feel like something is missing or off about it. But it’s a great intro into older style perfumes. The opening is a very airy and fizzy baby powder. It’s really clean but creamy and warm. It doesn’t change a ton in the dry down but some of the initial baby powder vibe goes away. Works in any season and smells high quality <3

My only complaint is that darn cap. It’s very hard to get off and I’m afraid of breaking it. When I was researching this one online I saw some 1 star reviews complaining about a cap that wouldn’t even come off the bottle, so I guess my bottle is one of “those”. There were literally 5 of these at TJ Maxx and I wonder if I just picked a bad one or if they were all like this. I love the box and bottle though! One of my favorite presentations of my whole collection. Kudos to whomever designed it!

Dawnya7b

Smells like old fashioned but expensive soap. I like it but I don’t love it. It’s good for a fresh out of the shower perfume. I got it for a really good price second hand and full so I will be keeping it for now. More updates to come.

Edit: I dont like it and will be decluttering. I perfer Chanel No 5 Leau. They are the same style but this one is just weird.

MauveBee93

Starts off as a slightly sweet, powdery lemon drop before gently easing into a soft pillow of florals and finally settling into a delicate soapy musk.

Yes this perfume is powdery, but not in a stuffy or “grandmotherly” way. This is a light fluffy blanket of clean powder and soft florals that envelopes you and imparts a feeling of comfort, familiarity and safety. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing this out in public I’d still recommend this as an evening scent- something to slip into and get cozy with before heading off to bed.

I’m very impressed with the scent profile and performance, especially considering you can find this at many discount stores. This smells much more luxurious than it’s price point would have you believe! I’ve heard this described as a mix of Chanel No 5 with Guerlain L’Heure Bleue, and I can understand why. I can see similar traits from both of those perfumes in this one- a wonderful combination really!

If you’re someone that appreciates fine perfumery and isn’t intimidated by a fragrance that doesn’t fall into the crowd pleasing “light fruity floral” or “gourmand” categories, I would definitely recommend you give Esprit d’Oscar a try.

fragmore

There are people who smell old ladies all the time and they describe fragrances like 'old lady scent'. Since I have no idea how old ladies smell, I don't know what that scent is like. I tried EDT Esprit d'Oscar years ago and didn't like it. Recently I tried EDP and liked it. But I sprayed it on the collar of my cardigan and could smell it even a week later. It's an elegant scent. Now about being powdery. No me powdery scents are similar to Avon's Far Away. EDP Esprit d'Oscar is NOT like Far Away. So, it's not powdery in my books.

blkleather_redlace

I picked up this fragrance because it has been compared to the ever increasingly difficult to find Apres L'ondee, only to discover that it is being compared to L'heure Bleue.

This fragrance does not compare to L'heure Bleue. At best it is a pale shadow. It's really not useful to try this fragrance if what you're trying to do is get an idea of what LHB is like.

This perfume is powder and almonds, with a delicious creamy lemon note up top. It is fine in its own right, and worth trying if you love vintage perfumery, especially at the price point ($30 at Nordie Rack or Amzn). But LHB is much more complex, and the anisic and lush floral heart notes, not to mention its more substantial amber base, make LHB less of an almond overdose. LHB is known for being one of the more confectionary Guerlains, but L'Esprit is sweeter and more simply pretty. LHB is a bit melancholy.

I am writing this based on a new bottle of L'Esprit, not one of the supposedly better bottles from its original launch, which may be more substantial in some way. If you want a fragrance more similar to LHB, you want Coty L'Origan.

Unruly Julie

Sometimes you just want to feel soft, fresh and clean. 🥰

SheRays

This is such a unique powdery fragrance that I absolutely adore! It's very powerful without being strong at all. The performance is pretty good ( I still was able to smell it on me in the morning from some evening sprays) . Not headache prone. Just simply divine. I have nothing like this in my collection. So happy to have purchased the 3.4 oz for 25$ at Burlington:)))

tessture

Oh, yes, very like L’Heure de Nuit and also Poudre Desir. Poudre Desir has brighter green citrus and L’Heure de Nuit is more violety, but Esprit is VERY close to LhdN. Close enough that I”d say you don’t need both and yay for that cos L’Heure is so ridiculously expensive it isn’t feasible, and I also don’t think it’s worth $600 a bottle, even though I really love it passionately in the dry down. Esprit is a bit softer and more powdery, but not in a baby powder way. Very lovely, in the same comforting soothing way that Sylvaine Delacourte Florentina is. Great find! Dirt cheap as far as perfume goes these days too.

RandomPatterned

This belongs in the Hall of Fame of excellent designer affordable "cheapies" Yes, it's powdery and floral but it retains some freshness and warmth which makes it appealing and an easy reach to wear for most seasons and occasions. People who don't appreciate powdery/vintage floral leaning fragrances should test first.

Kitty9

Who wouldn't love this kind of scent, it's wow, I love the smell Very much. This smell is sister's. From chanel no. 5 The smell is very similar, but the aroma is very close, but it's not exactly the same. Esprit d’Oscar It's bright and not too ancient. The smell of fragrant is very fabulous and Very good Price. ❤️❤️

LSAUG

I've been revisiting my mini of Esprit d' Oscar and think I need this in a full size. It really reminds me of Sylvianne Delacorte Florentina now more than Guerlain L'Heure Bleue. LB is just unwearable and very dated in my opinion, and I love older fragrances. I gave it a positive review because I knew it was a great perfume, but it just wasn't for me, so I gave my bottle to my elderly neighbor. Esprit is fresher, softer and more in line w/ my tastes. The lemon and citron in the beginning are sweet and soft, not sharp like it is w/ many fragrances that use lemon. The violet and iris in here are pitch perfect, powdery but not overly so, a soft blanket powder. Nothing heavy or dusty. I love heavy and dusty powders but at times they can be too much for others. This is an office friendly type of powder. Fresh, soft, light, w/ a delicate muskiness. There is a brightness to this fragrance that makes it very likeable. I will search out a full bottle, my mini is vintage, the juice is dark. I'm sure a vintage bottle of this will cost a lot less than Florentina. While I enjoyed Florentina and Dovana they had terrible lasting power and that in my opinion made them not worth purchasing. Esprit is a much better value.

I was able to get a nice price on a bottle of this in parfum form on FragranceX.com and I am so glad I did. The juice is dark, and the smell is just divine. I didn't think I needed this when I first smelled it, but I was so wrong. It grew and grew on me in a way that Jean Patou Joy Forever did.

jesz

ALMOND and Lemon Blossom. Citrus. Wisteria. The perfect early spring fragrance.

Layers well with a cherry fragrance like Sweet by Lolita Lempicka.

churinl

I'm sure I already reviewed this at some point. I had a bottle, I really enjoyed it, but the nozzle broke and I never had much of a chance to wear it.
Flash forward to this past week. I was browsing Ebay and came across what appeared to be an amazing price for vintage Oscar EDT - an earlier version from when they used to put the entire name "Oscar de la Renta" on the box. I loathed the new version, so I purchased the vintage, curious to smell what many consider a classic. This search also led to an amazing price for a large bottle of Esprit, and I jumped on that too.
Since this isn't a review of the OG, so I will simply say that it is infinitely better than what is sold today. As for Esprit, I have no idea about the vintage but still really like it. However, I don't understand the comparisons to the OG. Not that flankers necessarily have to suggest the OG, but since this was considered an updated version, I don't think the share much in common. Esprit is definitely lighter, certainly not like the wall of white flowers and spice that washes over you with with the original. This has everything to do with purple flowers - iris, heliotrope, and violet - an a fluffy base of clean musk. I'd go so far as to say it's the antithesis of the original.
There's no doubt in my mind that the original is superior in composition and rather revolutionary for it's time, but it is definitely dated. An appreciation of older fragrances is required, though it's still very wearable. Esprit is far from revolutionary, but I am such a sucker for iris fragrances that I actually prefer it.
BTW - I did compare on different wrists, and while I stand by my experience of the two being completely different, the end dry downs have more in common. I also must note that Oscar in EDT form equals or even surpasses Esprit in terms of longevity and projection.
Final verdict - they are both worth owning. It just comes down to a matter of personal preference, and considering the price, it will not break the bank in most cases. Just make sure to purchase vintage Oscar!

GoodVibrations

This needs more than one review. There’s a delicate balance between a clean L’Heure Bleue and a non-lactonic No. 5 Eau Première here.

GoodVibrations

Finally, all the character of L’Heure Bleue is here without the few notes that make it smell like one needs a trip to the doctor or a downtown deodorant. Esprit d’Oscar was introduced 99 years after L’Heure Bleue, for modern consumers who have to smell like they are at least moderately clean in order to be socially acceptable.

I love absolutely love L’Heure Bleue, yet few people would want to be near me if I were to wear it. Just thinking about women wearing Edwardian-era fashions without air conditioning or modern deodorant products and knowing that L’Heure Bleue smells fabulous and disguises an array of stank with outstanding class makes perfect sense of why L’Heure Bleue is as it is.

The combination of clean powdery lemon notes, indolic florals, and elegant musks like ambergris make Esprit d’Oscar a safe, gorgeously classy foray into modern, powdered, slightly sweaty but clean enough womanhood. The vanilla just gives it an impressionistic hint of something like Guerlinade. Esprit d’Oscar is authentic and continues the L’Heure Bleue story over a hundred years after L’Heure Bleue changed perfumery for the better in 1912. Esprit d’Oscar is not evocative of sadness the way L’Heure Bleue is, and it doesn’t smell genuinely blue the way L’Heure Bleue does, but there is a lot of classical perfumery beauty to appreciate here. There is genius in Esprit d’Oscar.

The longevity is excellent and the sillage is just right.

The original YSL Paris EDP came close to this with the beautiful powdery violet, but it has sour rose notes that smell like a blatant refusal to bathe for weeks.

Esprit d’Oscar is thankfully devoid of rose, which is for the best.

This bottle says made in USA, so perhaps this dodges IFRA. If so, that’s even better.

chinook

I saw Esprit d’Oscar at a discount store. When I saw that people think it smells like the blue hour and people who like this also like Shalimar, I took a chance and blind bought it.
It does smell a lot like L’heure Bleue, which I wanted for a while. However, it lacks the animalic dirty notes in L’heure, which is what I loved about L’heure. Esprit’s heart notes feel more soapy. It brings me back to my childhood bathroom when we had stacks of bar soaps. These small differences make Esprit feels more modern with its straightforwardness, if a powdery perfume can ever be modern. It’s still not something I’d wear to the office or first dates though.
Esprit makes me think of a tall lady wearing a white evening gown. It’s elegant. The powder also feels mature and motherly. Wearing Esprit feels like a dress up game. Overall I’m feeling a like, not a love, but i’d like to get to know her better.

uno

This scent takes me back to my childhood. This smells like baby powder.

Noveight

This smells so much like Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo in the yellow bottle. I really like it, this is not to insult it. IT's powdery, soft, with yellow florals and a creamy lemon (not a bright/sharp lemon). It reminds me of the color yellow, and how babies smell after a bath. I like to wear it in the daytime, spring or summer, when I want to feel relaxed and casual. It is pretty enough to be an inoffensive daytime office scent as well.

MakeupNeverSleeps

This scent has risen to the top of my favorite florals of life. I've been looking for something with violet that wasn't too much and too cloying. I love how the iris mutes the violet a little without being "lipstick-y". I get an almost even distribution of iris to violet to heliotrope. It's creamy and clean in a slightly soapy way, but not very literally soapy. The tonka works in a very soft and supportive way to the musk, as it's not over-powering. This performs better than most of the scents I wear, because modern perfumery is deliberately poor performing. I get a solid 5/6 hours out of this with projection and sillage. It smells gorgeous from the first spray to residual dry down. I've tried a couple OdR scents before (Live in Love and Live in Love Paris), and they smelled relatively cheap (to me). Such is not the case with this absolute gem. It smells completely modern and not dated, at all.

angienotesjunkie

With so many of my favourite notes together, I knew that I would love this. A successful blind buy that absolutely does not dissapoint!

The opening is bright yet soft, sparkling citus. White florals intoduce themselves, playing well together, no one note shouting for attention as they often do. Then we get to the best part, the beautiful dry down ❤️ Purple florals, tonka and musk, with a whisper of soft citrus and vetiver.

Personally I don't find this to be at all soapy. Powder is definitely there but it doesn't smother everything else. Longevity and silage are moderate to strong. I see the comparison to L'Heure Bleue but not No. 5, other than it is also slightly sweet, classic and definitely signature worthy.

I like to layer this over anise oil but love it worn alone just as much. This is one I reach for this when I'm in need of something comforting, to lift my mood and soothe my soul.

I adore it ❤️

sueshow

The perfect soapy scent. One of the best perfumes I have ever smelled.

ChelleBelle84

There is a review below that makes a reference to “The Blue Hour”. For those who might not have a whole lot knowledge of French, that is the English translation of L’heure Bleue, a perfume by Guerlain. Please note that “The Blue Hour” will not be searchable in this database because that particular perfume is catalogued as L’Heure Bleue.

Now, for the review. This is lovely, and yes, it has some similarities to L’Heure Bleue, but it can also have similarities with Chanel N°5 Eau Première too, particularly in the dry down. I would say it’s like a hybrid of those two. So if you like either of those two perfumes, then you would most likely enjoy Esprit d’Oscar.

Vellocet

Is this a dupe or similar to Dama Bianca by Xerjoff? That one is my absolute favourite perfume but it's very pricey so i'm looking for a dupe or something that reminds me of Dama Bianca

AllisonNW

When will I learn that I just do not like iris and violet? It must be my nose because they always smell like varying degrees of the breath of someone who just sucked the helium out of a rubber balloon. I can tell it’s objectively a pretty fragrance, but it’s not for me.

LizDee007

I’m at the start of my fragrance journey and got this from my haul at Nordstrom’s Rack. It’s definitely vintage, beast mode and powdery. Not a showstopper, but it’s a pretty dry down. Definitely have to spray in the air and let the mist gently fall on you…because a direct hit might be a bit much. Might not be my go to, but glad I blind bought it for my modest collection☺️

Lemon_Candy04

For the people who love powdery perfumes, this is it! As a person who's sinuses get always congested but love powdery perfumes, this is great. It's some powdery sweet and faint citrus perfume. Although the one thing I have to complain is only the weird shape of the cap, either I have a faulty one but you have to put a little effort to figure out how to perfectly pull or push the cap back. 9/10

Bombalurina

This just smells like Chanel N5 drydown
N5 is a type of perfume where, if I want to smell like that I’m gonna wear the actual N5 and not something else that’s similar
I’m sure someone understands what I mean lol

SweetJhane

THIS embodies what I hope for in a perfume - beautiful, structured, different scent, with great longevity and sillage, that makes me never want to be without it! Love love love this! Amber, heliotrope and violets YES!! I experience this best applied at a little distance from my nose - behind knees, on torso and small of back - otherwise some notes dominate too much and I don’t get the full enjoyment of it. It wafts upward deliciously for hours and hours and hours. I adore it!

While not listed in the notes, I perceive a lot honey in this perfume, which just adds to how much I love it!

Yes Malena

I like this but it's similar enough, in my opinion, to Vanderbilt and Boucheron EDP that I did not need to have it. Otherwise it is a good classic powder fragrance that would be versatile and useful to have.
On second thought, I don't see this as very similar to Boucheron edp; Esprit D'Oscar is straightforward--more modern--while the classic perfumes this is being compared to have their own beautifully complex stories they tell. I am releasing Esprit to a new home, and I'm sure she will be greatly enjoyed.

Edit: I would say it's more on the lemony fresh side than those two fragrances I mentioned, so that adds something a bit different. Very vetiver-prominent on me.

Edit again: Longevity and sillage beat Vanderbilt (current formula) as well. Esprit d'Oscar is a really successful perfume; it performs well and smells great and is fairly affordable for many. I see the similarity to l'Heure Bleu and Apres l'Ondee, but the vibe of Esprit d'Oscar is more no-nonsense, more competent than romantic or pensive. Overall good perfume. Nice work!

tresi

In the opening I had a moment of apprehension because it was reminiscent of Lolita or Vanderbilt. Happily, for me, Esprit goes in a different direction. Soft, powdery, maternal, lovely. This would make a fine signature scent.

nickinicole

I blind bought a set with Oscar de la Renta's Rose EDT. I knew from the notes that it wouldn't be for me (powdery, violet, iris, etc) so I'm not surprised that I dislike it on me, but I am disappointed that I don't even appreciate it. It's heavy and synthetic to my nose. If you are an "old school" powdery gal/guy/other/none then you may appreciate a scent like this.

melusina1982

Very nice alternative to L'Heure bleue EDT and EDP when you crave something different but in the same vein.
My skin pulls mostly the orange flower, giving it a refreshing kick that makes it more appropriate for warmer temps. In winter I prefer L'Heure.
Perfect safe addition to any powder lover's wardrobe and a really great bargain fragrance.

KumoKing

This one is all about the drydown. Warm, a little sweet, powdery, floral, a little vanilla, a little musk. So comforting. I didn't like it at first. I think because the opening kind of falls flat. Just let that pass and you'll have a truly lovely fragrance that lasts and lasts that you can get for a shockingly good price.

LadyofWahey

@LSAUG - Please. Calling L'Heure Bleue 'The Blue Hour' makes it sound like it's something you've donned watching a blue film. French might not be your first language, but you might at least try.

Frogopolis

I had high hopes for this flanker. I was imagining a fresh, light, lemony take on the original.

[I own the original Oscar EDT (in vintage form) and while I adore it, I have to be in the mood for its extravagant, old-skool tuberose attack.]

Sadly, Esprit d’Oscar manages to smell MORE dated, at least to my nose.

Idk what it is about this scent, but it smells cold, sad, medicinal, and extremely powdery. Almost like a topical dental anesthetic. Maybe I just don’t like violet & heliotrope? It’s a scrubber for me. Oh well.

Anything4talishas

The powder, floral, citrus, and musk are what I get most from this, in that order. I got it as a gift and it makes a good work scent. A little goes a long way. It weirdly smells good to put on before getting in the pool or to go for a swim. Humidity makes it more inviting and mysterious so it's actually nice for summer days when you want to smell like a sundress in a flower field, fresh and clean and lady like. It has an initial floral tinge that is kind of mature in a not my favorite way, but once it sits on the skin and adjusts to your chemistry it's nice. Just use sparingly and not on the neco or behind the ears if you're sensitive to heavy florals. It adds a classic powdery musk to my more cozy or gourmand body sprays. It lasts well too. I can still smell it on my skin after an 8 hr work day. Gives me 70s energy but in a wonderful way. It's best behind the knees on a hot day.

s801959

I prefer this one way above the original Oscar de la Renta for sure. Much stronger sillage and longivity on me anyway !

Note to LSAUG. (below) Fragrance names should never be translated. It is not "The Blue Hour" but "L'Heure Bleue" in any languages ...

Mortisha32

This one definitely is going to remind You good old times. Beautiful mature powdery iris fragrance 🥰 Longevity is really good as well.

bashoori

My favorite powdery Iris!! It’s such an elegant and sophisticated powdery smell without being too talc like.

Ilprofumo

I thought I was buying the original Oscar. It used to be my mother's perfume. Instead I opened Espirit. I am in awe. It is a distinguished, elegant scent. One a likewise women will recognize and both will carry each other above all the others. Amore!

ViouAmara

The little ones will have to go outside to play hide and seek in the schoolyard, and we’ll stay here, to speak about this scent’s silent sorcery. This smells like a woman. Smooth skin, delicate cicatrices, silky hair, kissing lips, loving arms, attentive eyes, sweet chiaroscuro of the motherhood, and this discreet daily miracle of being a crazily beloved wife in such a noisy world.

[email protected]

The citrus opening is a nose-tickling aldehyde that takes a while to dry down to the spicy powdery violet heart. The aldehydes and spiciness may be the reason for the "dated scent profile." Honestly, it surprises me there isn't a spicy accord listed, because it's pretty pronounced.
I love the way this one unfolds throughout the day. I spray on quite a bit to start, as it's not that strong or long-lasting otherwise, but then the magic happens. Bracing citrus at the start, then white floral/violet soap bubble for the rest of the morning. Then for the dry down, lightly spiced violet gets warmed up with the resins and coumarin base to turn into the most comforting cosy violet powder by the afternoon. By evening, it's soft enough you can layer something else over without too much interference. I recently used EB Sweet for this and it was very pleasing.
If you want the powdery violet without the bracing citrus opening and soap bubble, try Flower by Kenzo. Flower is also spicy, no citrus. Or if you like the soap bubbles, try Bronze by Ellen Tracy. Bronze is no spice, fresh lemonade opening, soap bubble violet in the middle, and sweeter, creamier dry down.

Trab

This is a very powdery scent and it feels also like an old school perfume – I think this is more appropriate for older women, 60 or 70 plus – I bought this one for my partner but she instantly hated it, her daughter as well, we will probably give this to her mother or auntie

SalinasL

I couldn’t help feeling disappointed with this one. It’s very similar to Ellen Tracy’s Bronze which is all heavy powder on me. Esprit has a bit more development, and isn’t as overwhelmingly powdery. It smells warm, classic, slightly masculine or at least unisex. Unlike Bronze it does have a hint of citrus, but still not as much as I’d like. It’s hard to wait through the long, intense iris and violet middle. I love these notes when used with a light hand, but it’s too much for me here. They overwhelm the heliotrope, which is what I tend to prefer, and there’s no sign of the white florals anywhere. I’ve never known tuberose to be so shy! It becomes similar to Insolence at this stage, but less watery. I’m disappointed since it feels well-made and not obviously cheap (and I’ve come to appreciate de la Renta perfumes lately after having largely ignored them), but I can’t bring myself to enjoy this one. Definitely worth a try for those who like Bronze or Insolence, or iris/violet dominant scents in general.

Edit 2023: This has improved on me. It’s more of a sweet heliotrope rather than a heavy dusty powder and the citrus, tuberose and ambery-ness combine with it very faintly and smoothly. Pleasant for when in the mood for something vintage-feeling but easy to wear.

Njalexis

Can’t get past the reminders of wax pomade and lemon cleaner. Won’t repurchase.

Phantomias

Musty and dated. Oscar de la Renta frags don't agree with me and E. is no exception. This one's a scrubber!

mariedennis

This is L'Heure Bleue without the clove. Works for me!

Dort0625

I purchased a box set of three of ODLR mini bottles for $19.99 at SDM and this was one of the three and I didn’t read or see anything about it having much of a freshness to it but my nose seems to be telling me otherwise hahaha :) it’s coming across like a white floral with a light freshness that seems kind of shampoo/soapy (y’all know what I mean by that I’m sure!) but it’s not in a bad way. It’s pretty, it’s inoffensive and I think a woman that is late 20s and older would appreciate this the most. I’ll use it, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to repurchase it when it’s gone.

2alt4u

I blind bought Esprit d’Oscar on my first trip to the discounters at the very beginning of my deep dive in to fragrance as a hobby a few months ago after reading some very enthusiastic fragrantica reviews right there in the aisle at Ross. At first, I didn’t know how I felt about it because it went baby powdery on me after the beautiful opening and I strongly dislike the smell of baby powder. I kept sniffing my arm and saying “I hate this” out loud to my boyfriend on the way home after immediately spraying it in the parking lot. Now that I’ve learned to identify more individual notes and my brain doesn’t just default to “this smells like baby powder”, I appreciate it much more and sometimes quite like and even crave it.

I LOVE the opening. It’s very lemony for the first few seconds and then some of the individual florals begin to materialize through a veil of powder before all of those notes come together and settle down in to a bright yet fuzzy, powdery floral with a bit of vanillic tonka to ground it. “Powdery” is absolutely the dominant feeling here.

I am sure that there are probably perfumes that this is more similar to, but to me with my somewhat limited internal fragrance library, this smells vaguely shalimaric (shalimarian? Lol). I think if you love Shalimar, you would probably at least like this. If you like citrus with your powdery purple florals, you might just love it. It is definitely pretty and well blended. It feels grown and undeniably feminine. It also smells much more expensive than it is (to me, anyway).

Maja36

Wow,just wow! This is so versatile,but NOT dull by any means! Fantastic scent! Lovely iris and citrus notes mixed together to start .....and then the magic continues. So fresh and so warm at the same time. Has both depth but also playfulness. This is why I love fragrances! Such a good combination! I better stock up.......

annxyz

This is the only perfume that left me stunned after the first spray . Yes, it is BEAUTIFUL , etherally feminine, classic and timeless. If I could own only one perfume , it would be Esprit D’Oscar , which is an improved version of L’Heure Bleue for an insanely reasonable price . I have three back up bottles of this perfume and can never imagine myself tiring of it .

SallyGirl

Oh my...I’m actually blown away by the pure beauty and perfection this gorgeous bottle holds within its wavy glass walls. Magnificent from first spray to last sniff, there’s nothing I can say I don’t adore about this. Not one single thing. Nothing more than absolutely STUNNING, sexy, with just the right amount of maturity and allure. I’m in love, not just lust. 10/10 would recommend. Almonds and a cherry accord (not listed but it’s there) perfect cosmetic powder scent sprinkles throughout and a hint of vanilla but only a hint! An utter masterpiece.

medusa666

Beautiful scent. It can be easily worn at bedtime too. Smells a lot like Love's Baby Soft by Dana.

Anamandy

A soft ladylike fragrance. A very light sweetness from the tonka that's also adding a vanilla accord, with a powdery iris, a creamy tuberose, and a lovely almondy heliotrope. On the dry down a pinch of spiciness from the orange blossom makes an appearance. Very pretty. I like it!

seamagik

I've been struggling with this for a while trying to understand why I really don't like something I like very much. Thanks to #floralscents88 all is now clear. It smells like a pomade!

I've been thinking it's waxy and makeuppy and perfumey. But none of those things are normally an issue for me. I like the smell, but the texture just doesn't work for me. As soon as I registered the 'POMADE' I immediately had visions of Posner Bergamot. That's exactly what it's like.

Anyway, it's really strong, a little powdery and very oily to my nose. I'm curious about the vintage since those are always of better quality. I might get a mini and test it because it's such a pretty accent.

barblovescent828

I recently ran into a bottle of this at my local TJ Maxx and tried it. All I can say is I keep wanting to smell it over and over again. It's beautiful! Soft and very feminine. I can smell the Iris and lavender. The dry down is powdery. I love it. The only down thing is that it doesn't last very long. Overall it is a hit on my skin!

churinl

What a pretty perfume!! This is a great bang for the buck. I am in iris/heliotrope/tonka heaven! The EDP has great longevity - 8 hours at this point - with a light but noticeable silage. This was a complete impulse purchase based upon your reviews, Fragranticians! Thanks for letting me know about this little gem!

—}—@ darlingbud

“Thank you, America.” Holding the bottle of Esprit d’Oscar is like holding the Oscar statuette. The heft of the glass, the striking flower cap, its solid click. Beautiful on the vanity. Soft. Powdery. Violet pastilles and citrus settling to a spicy, woody base. A modern interpretation of a vintage American classic. Lovely fragrance for the price point. Don’t hesitate if you like powder and spice.

sparklyunicorn

Y'all this is a LOVE for me... so long lasting and elegant. I wish I would have bought this one sooner. It is a versatile scent, can be worn for work, church, or for a formal event. Definitely more appropriate for the Fall/Winter seasons. It is powerful, not for those that want a dainty scent. It definitely gets spicy at the dry-down and may not be everyone's cup of tea. I for one appreciate its complexity. It is powdery, floral, and delicate initially, but has the spicy base which keeps it powerful and interesting. I just love it, what can I say.

mirrorghost

oh wow, this one is so pretty and elegant. in the beginning it's citruses, orange flower, heliotrope and a little hint of tuberose. i recently bought a vintage mini of the original oscar because my grandmother wore it. i wanted to try it myself and keep it as a comfort scent. i do sense some similarities between the two, but this one is softer and lighter overall, and probably a bit more wearable for me, though i adore them both. the florals bloom more after about 15 minutes on the skin, and the tuberose gets stronger. overall this ends up a tuberose with lots of heliotrope. two of my favorite notes-i am happy.

Pandarapt

If there is any doubt iris is the sprinkling dust that trails off Titania's glittering wand, exempli gratia. She comes to the rescue, hovers you to a heliotrope field and gives you a vintage lipstick set. If you're on her good side, on a bad hair day she will probably turn you into the midsummer's donkey and scent you with Musk Koublai Kahn over Oud oil.

Spraying this on the bed before sleep makes it feel like it turned to heaven fluff and you're an angel that just hatched on a cloud.

floralscents88

one spray on wrist. middle of winter.
At first i smell something oily, if that makes sense. like slightly pomade kind of oily. I know weird right? it is a soft/subdued floral. powdery but not overly so. I have prada infusion d' iris (my favourite) which is a powder bomb but this one is less powdery in comparison.
I'm not sure yet whether I like it or not. I will try it again in the heat of summer. This is totally different from the powdery frags that I lean towards (bvlgari splendida iris d'or, XhugoX Hugo Boss, prada-infusion d iris, bvlgari femme). But this one I will have to retry again to see if it grows on me. But i must say the bottle is absolutely lovely.

labonvie

What a lovely surprise! I am on an iris kick lately and came across this, a perfume I never pondered before although I brushed past it at many a discount store. It was too cheap not to blind buy. This is really gorgeous and different from any iris I own. Warmer, softer.
The note pyramid is spot on...after the initial burst of citrus I get the vanilla-almond tones of heliotrope and powdery iris supported by tonka. Around the edges I smell a shy violet. It is definitely comforting (and dare I say maternal). My kids definitely cuddle closer when I wear this. They are old enough that I’m nostalgic about just washed baby skin but young enough to enjoy snuggles. And they like this.
If you are in the market for a powdery and snuggly iris, give this a try.

NouveauDruid

This was a fully successful blind buy for me. At first sniff of my skin, the initial citrus blast is there yet after a ten second drydown, the feeling is all heliotrope. Within two to five minutes comes the iris, powdery but not overly so but there is a sort of sourness to the iris as it emerges from behind the bergamot and lemon. About ten minutes into the drydown comes the tonka bean, which definitely does a fantastic imitation of vanilla and beautifully so.

At this stage and onto the first hour I couldn't stop sniffing my arm as the white flowers developed and then settled in with the musk after two hours. Then, a fabulous melding of all the notes occurs and warms to something wearable in winter as an olfactory reminder of spring to come. In fact, I'd recommend this scent for the cool weather as well as warm. It's starts so sweetly and blooms like a garden that somehow lacks that stereotypical gardenia and magnolia, but is profuse with the citrus, orange flower, and irises that evoke a breeze from the Gulf of Mexico rolling over a deep southern veranda. As a Georgia-Florida girl, this pleases me immensely.

zind

Wow, I LOVE this in the summer heat!
When I wore this during winter I never would have imagined I'd feel this way, but it's absolutely lovely on my dry skin in warm weather - less cloying and just...beautiful!

Btw, what is the difference between the eau de toilette and the new perfume!? I'd like to know if I should buy a backup of the edt if it's being discontined/replaced?

Bubbles1964

Blind bought Esprit d'Oscar after I wore the original Oscar from the 70s...and realized I liked it.

There’s nothing new I can add to the nine years of reviews below mine. It’s one of the all time great cheapies, a big 100ml bottle for $20 US.

bel.gravia

Starts off with a smell of Shalimar EDT, Shalimar Parfum Initial - a distinct lemon/powder combination.
Develops into a modern, lighter L'Heure Bleue purple floral.
Dries down similar to Oscar from 1977.
It has the best of many worlds :)
Spicy, citrus, powdery.
Smells absolutely luxurious and divine.
Could easily sell as a niche perfume.
A successful blind buy, very recommended for powdery lovers.

roseyessence

more of a sheet perfume for me.

dglightblue

Autumn 2020
Starts powdery bright, a little dry, clean,it's not the modern shampooer type, I detect the original oscar dlr which is notpleasant on me, at least not an older maturedbottle, fresh bottle different.

Beautiful whafty sillage whichf is soft, talc powdery soap, rounded, and alittle dry (not woody, not full blown floral dry)
Quite airy, clean, yet solid.

The coolsoap talc sits much better on me than the OG that one goes a bit uriney on the day.
Esprit has something in it sharedwith Chanel 5, the soapyness not rhe aldehyde, (ch5 is a no for me).

Other dry florals
Prada d'iris, ok, I wear now and again, esprit in same vein to me.
Prada d'iris orangier, too linen dry for me
Chloe love, lovely but too dry for me

After 1 hour powdery, rounded dry floral creamy, soft citrus soap backdrop. Softer projection too

Science&Scents

This is one of my favorite bedtime scents. Powdery, clean, a touch of citrus; just comforting. I spray twice before bed and I can still smell it when I wake up. This is decidedly linear and it took me a while to find her a real place in my collection. She's not a scent I'd reach for to be out and about--her softness just doesn't match my personality. That said, this "light" powder bomb is clean but strong--she'd take me through the entire day...if I ever let her out of the house. Maybe she'll come out during the summer: with a light hand, I see her smelling clean all day.

olliesmom

My brain doesn't register this scent as perfume. I spray and spray and keep on spraying and smells like i just apply Nivea type cold cream. No, no i haven't put on perfume yet!

Long lasting, moderate silage, but my mind plays trick on me, so i don't smell it unless i actively seek for the scent.

Yes, comforting, smell like how a mom naturally smells like, just showered, clean and its almost bed time.

My scent addicted self gets confused, to the point of disappointment. I kept wanting to spray a perfume, but i just did!

TexasOrangeBlossom

I have never been a fan of the original, but YouTube reviews convinced me to give it a chance. I am so glad that I did! It’s a beautiful powdery floral vanilla smell that whispers aromatic love notes to me all day. This is the smell I want my children to remember me by. It’s not in your face sexy, but it is a sort of life-long, devoted companion kind of sexy. Dependable, trustworthy, nurturing, thoughtful, supportive. Pretty much the opposite of lust. To me, it’s sexy, but my definition doesn’t match that of most advertising campaigns. I don’t know how else to explain it. Give it a try, let it dry down, and experience the beauty.

Tomasr

This smells good on my girlfriend. It’s unique, and she regularly gets complimented on it. The orange flower blends well with the top citrus notes, with some sweetness from the tonka bean. There is also a prominent heliotrope, mixed with other florals. The musky (musk/ambergris) base on the dry down is also where the magic is with this fragrance.

CrazyRussianChick

This was, as usual, the blind buy (based on reviews here and Sarah Mayes on YouTube). And it wasn't a good one this time... First of all, to me it smells like some vintage makeup, mostly old lipstick. But also something in this fragrance makes me feel nauseated... I don't see myself willing to give it a second chance. Washed it off. Taking back to the store - they said if I didn't spray a lot, they would take it back within 30 days... Sad, because the bottle is very pretty and would look great among my other fragrances :)

SaturnSmiled

This makes me think of slinking around the bedroom in a silky nightgown, powdering one's nose and applying lipstick on an early spring morning with the windows wide open and the smell of a flower garden pervading the room. It's classically feminine despite being 'modernised'. A waxy smooth, lipstick-iris scent.

medusa666

Esprit smells between Oscar by Oscar de la Renta and Love's Baby Soft..LOVE IT!!!!!
The only downside is that it's discontinued-You can still find it in some stores but the company stopped making it.

annxyz

Though I purchased L’Heure Bleu a few times I have to say that Esprit D”Oscar is prettier than the Guerlain LB perfumes I received. It also lasts longer than the ones I owned. Add to that Esprit D’ Oscar is the rather ethereal and timeless . I own an obscene amount of perfume , but if I could only take one bottle of perfume to a desert island , this is the one I would choose because it is truly timeless. It is an astonishing perfume and an astonishing value .

I hope this perfume is NEVER discontinued because it takes my breath away and gets positive remarks from those around me .

jazzfan

Oscar de la Renta perfumes are not common in Europe, but sometimes you can stumble upon them in discount shops. This one was already on my radar, so I bought it for a pocket change.

This is not how cheap stuff is supposed to smell!
The connection to l'Heure Bleue and Après l'Ondée is obvious. Closer to HB, but it behaves like ALO, it's intimate and poetic. Like HB with much less anise and most of the oriental notes.
The zesty opening is short and sweet and all those comfy, fluffy, powdery flowers, heliotrope, iris and violet, last a very long time.
Little touch of tonka and vanilla, there is way too much of them in recent HB. Then just the right amount of clean musk, some dry wood and ambergris. The drydown appears endless and it's very musky with slight aromatic sweetness that I'm not too fond of. In this stade it's all about musk and tonka.

All the notes of HB that I have problem with are absent or toned down. I see this as respectful simplified version of HB that is, for most of us, just too much to bare every day. I never had a pleasure of trying Oscar, so I can not compare.
This little thing is comfy, fluffy and charming, just the way I like it.

So that we are clear, I love vintage perfumes and I'm huge fan of ALO. Keep that in mind if you're considering a blind buy. If I wear it 2 day in the row, I can't smell it anymore. Esprit d'Oscar is a lovely alternative for those early spring days between ALO.

Cherry_Darling

Definitely a shapeshifter, and surprising actually. When I smelled my decant I thought NOPE. Too vintage / dated. But I gave it a try and it's definitely a grower. Powder bomb, heavy on the heliotrope, not too dated on skin. Comforting hug from mom kind of feel. Not really getting citrus apart from tiny burst upon opening.

mevans

Wow, this is a powerhouse! I mean really, it's a statement. This is not one to go quietly into a room unnoticed. Sillage is extraordinary. The scent is deep and intoxicating. A creamy and rich floral first and foremost. The citrus is only in the background. If you don't want a cookie cutter, forgettable fragrance, this is the one to reach for. It's old school, but not dated. I feel a golden era movie star vibe when I wear it. A little Hepburn, Davis, Crawford, and Garbo. I already have a back up bottle.

zind

My favorite thing with blind buys is that I have to give the scents time and many tries before discarding them - they always get more than one chance. And I might end up enjoying something that I initially didn't like, like this one.

So obviously not an instant love for me and I am still not fond of the opening, but it develops beautifully and I really like the dry-down. I agree with a lot of what's mentioned here already, but I was surprise to find this a lot more "dated" than I expected. Maybe just some resemblance to something that gives it that connection in my mind? Anyway, I received a compliment on my first day wearing this out of the house, I was told this person got a beautiful whiff of it as I walked by and they thought it smelled gorgeous. Got to love that!

Looking forward to see how I will feel about this after giving it even more time. I never would have bought this if it wasn't for Fragrantica and all of your reviews

UPDATE: ok, so it's only been a few more days but I love this now!

cocofluff

Esprit is a beautiful, soft, powdery, and cold fragrance that is a delight to wear. The opening is fresh and sparkly from the citrus and the perfume smells more and more like almond powder as it dries down. It also smells salty on me too, there isn't any amberis in this one! The base smells like a lovely almond cold cream, which I love!

It smells a lot like L'Heure Bleue, which my mom wore but I'm not interested in smelling just like my mom. I could totally wear Esprit d'Oscar instead of LB because it is different enough on my skin. I'm smelling it from a sample, of the EDP, because I wasn't sure how the powder would develop on my skin but turns out it's fab.

This fragrance is so interesting! I'm in love. It's also very affordable! This one is a huge win! -

Nuitdenoel

It’s not often that I revise my opinion of a perfume but I can admit I was wrong. See, I’m a HUGE lover of L’Heure Bleue and I felt, at first, that this was a weaker, more watered down version.

I was wrong.

EdO is a joy to wear. It has a cold cream/lotion type vibe that smells amazing, lasts for the average work day, and makes me feel confident. It isn’t dated (although I love some of the more dated fragrances) but a modern violet/iris. It melds with my body and just ends up smelling like me. Works in cold and hot temperatures. Appropriate for casual and formal events (if you split your perfumes like that). Also, a large bottle is cheap as chips.

bevren

Oh dear, I opened this yesterday and so disappointed. The reviews and info on Fragantica persuaded me to blind buy, but it's way too soapy, flowery and sweet for me.
Update 2020: this has grown on me - and it gets so many compliments.
Bottle now nearly empty!!

stephdray

Very pretty and soft. Almost soporific. It feels like a light lemony version of l’heure bleue but longevity wasn’t good. I got about an hour or two of powdery classy goodness and then it was a skin scent. If it were more potent it would go on the short list as a signature scent but it doesn’t have a lot of power and presence.

Fragrancefun19

I bought this perfume lately blindly on sale and I do not regret it. It is classy, sophisticated, feminine. It reminds me of Chanel No. 19. If you like that perfume, you will love Esprit d'Oscar.

It has citrusy smell on application. The drydown smells like Baklava sweety stuff with zesty nuance. Always loved Oscar de la Renta perfumes and trusted his taste and was not disappointed. Instead of going for pricey ones, I bought affordable, classy perfume that will remain classic in my wardrobe and will become now staple reminding me of Chanel No. 19 - a lot more pricey.
All for only $19.99.

Go for it. Very French and replica of Chanel No. 19.

HennaQueen

Second review. In my first review about two years ago I said it was "worthy of a repurchase" and yes indeed, that is what I did last week! Down to just a few ml of my original 100 ml bottle and so I brought home a new 100 ml bottle (found it at Ross for Less again, $20!). I wear this quite often. It is perfect for work. I feel like it smells like a combination of Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo with a a creamy powdery lemon accord. It is just lovely. I see that others compare it to LHB by Guerlain and while that fragrance is beautiful, this one suits me more than LHB. It is both powdery and smooth and with a lift from the lemon and citron notes.

wisconsinboy

such a fluffy heliotrope-coumarin fragrance. a man could easily pull this off, especially since it reminds me sooo much of jaipur homme eau de parfum by boucheron.

shellapoo

This is the newest addition to my Oscar collection. I'm really undecided on it. I do like it overall, I think, but I am going to need to wear it more, in different seasons, to figure it out. There's something about it that bothers me and I can't put my finger on exactly what it is. From the first spritz, I get a bubbly/champagne(?) note, which I don't see listed. After a few minutes the heliotrope, iris and violet arrive. I LOVE the florals in this, but I've found that they last for a very short time on my skin. What's left after my short time with the flowers is hard to describe, and is gone within minutes. Unfortunately for me, my skin eats perfume and this one seems to be a skin scent within the hour, with nothing much detectable after that. If I decide to wear this one out, I'm going to need to bring the perfume with me so I can respray every hour or so. It seems a bit extreme to me that this would require such frequent application. Perhaps it is just me, or maybe the time of year(?). I'm not giving up on it, but keeping my fingers crossed that I can figure out how to make it last longer...and ideally to be able to identify with my nose what is it that is left after the florals have passed.

aqua76239

I smelled this once when it first came out and thought it was a rather nice classic floral with some spice. Fast forward to this month and I seen large bottle of this in local discount retailer for very cheap price so I decided to get it.
My first spray was very disappointing-kind of thought it smelled like musty old library books scented with floral perfume. I decided to really try it over few days, I sprayed it in the air as well as my skin and I was kind of underwhelmed. It does have that vintage classic vibe and it reminded me of Chanel 5 even though it doesn't smell like the same scent. It was very lemony, slightly sweet, bit powdery and tuberose here is that spicy tuberose, not sweet and smooth. I found it basically same as original but lighter and more smooth.
I live in the tropics so weather is warm year around, and it was warm when I tested it initially. However, the other day we were hit with cold front and temperatures dropped in late 50s, upper 60s. So when I tried this scent again before bed, I had very different experience. I got more jasmine, more warmth and it definitely seemed to be heavier and more "floral oriental". I can't say it is my favorite but it definitely more wearable for me in cool weather.
It is a very classic, feminine floral scent with powder and citrus, it gives that vintage vibe and imo it's not a safe blind buy. I wouldn't repurchase it but its a very nice fragrance

odorenasum

I purchased this blindly, going only on my knowledge of the original Oscar my mom wore when I was a kid. The bottle is quite attractive as well, and hooked me in. This opens with quite the blast of powdery, white flower goodness. The citruses and white flowers are pretty neck and neck in the opening. After the citruses dissipate, the jasmine,orange blossom, and tuberose all sing freely in their bouquet. After a little bit, the powders, musk, heliotrope, and tonka bring this around and settle it to your skin, staying there for it's duration. It's a great starter for someone who wants to venture into something a bit more heavy, and worldly, but keeping it back just a bit. It does have a kind of a cold cream smell to it, like a fresh-powdery waft, but not cloyingly sweet. It's fresh sweet. Tolerably sweet without being sickening. Longevity is great too. Always gets the compliments.

Timmyheather

Oh my, this is a lovely surprise! I blindly bought a bottle just for the fun of trying something new, and in doing so stumbled upon a new favorite.

Esprit d’Oscar opens with bright, sparkling floral notes and a hint of aldehydes. It feels reminiscent of Chanel No. 5, but brighter and a bit lightened up. As the heart notes develop, a deep almond and gentle spice reach up and support those sparkling top notes, gently increasing in presence but never actually overpowering. This does have a very similar resemblance to L’heure Bleue. It’s not a clone, but a relative.

So basically, this is the brilliant idea of taking two iconic fragrance ideas, and melding them into something I couldn’t have imagined until I experienced it for myself. I love this, in a way that keeps me reaching over some MUCH more expensive bottles just to smell it again. It’s a moderish yet vintagesque classic, that under a different label might have been a far bigger deal.

MWROMO

I love it because this one smells for me like a holiday, hot Mediterranean sunny holiday.
Notes of Iris, Tonka Bean and Citron are just amazing. Oh, how wonderful you are my gorgeous Perfume... :)

Nuitdenoel

I’ve been living with this blind buy for a few weeks so I could give an accurate review. I like it but don’t love it. It is well made, and it smells really good, and it’s easy to wear — but it strikes me as L’Heure Bleue with all the depth removed. I tend to reach for LHB edt if I want a lighter LHB.

It is a cool, powdery, iris fragrance and I think I would love it, if it weren’t for the fact that I love LHB so much I have two back up bottles of my preferred year. Definitely recommended, especially for those who want to live LHB but don’t.

Sillage is moderate and longevity is at least 9 or 10 hours on my skin. I will use the large bottle I have, especially to save my LHB.

what is this I don't even

On me this wears as baby powder. I get zero citrus. I agree with posters below that it definitely smells like fancy cold cream and in a nice pleasing way (it also smells exactly like Secret Powder Fresh deodorant). It's gentle and I think easier to wear than Apres l'Ondee, L'Heure Bleue, Bas de Soie, and others in that same vein. I much prefer Live in Love and Something Blue, but the price of this was appallingly cheap and while not my style of perfume I'm glad I got to try it.

ingrid.superstar

@Tankgirl

I get that same medicinal vibe, but was having trouble putting it into words in my review. I like the way you put it -- that it goes straight to your brain! I've noticed with Esprit D'Oscar and other heliotrope frags that there is an addictive almost ammoniac quality, like fizz in the nostrils. Maybe these are aldehydes? Violet ionones? I like to imagine it's just the "sunshininess" of the aptly-named heliotrope.

Sabretoothkitten

I love, but my boyfriend doesn't appreciate this one. He thinks is too maternal or grandmothery. Well it's nice if a grandma smells floral, airy and powdery.
I guess since I'm wearing orientals in the winter I'll leave this one for boyfriend- less spring days. I think it's very pretty and delicate.

TankGirl

Powdery, very sweet, very yellow and purple. This is a walk in a Mediterranean garden in the summer. The orange treas blossoming, the wisterias, the freesias, the fig tress and the bees. Summer sweetness in the air, but at the same time a certain melancholy.
This has a medicinal vibe to me, there is something very refreshing about this scent, like smelling a Vik jar, it goes straight up to your brain and tells you NOTICE ME!
It's strange because this scent is fresh, but powdery at the same time. Reminds me a bit or Aimez-moi by Caron in that camphor effect.
Perfect for summer, very bright, very open. A sexy scent to apply on wet skin.

rockerchick

Like a really expensive natural almond bubble bath. Its very light and clean, slightly soapy- but in a GOOD way (I normally hate anything soapy or sharp.) And some serious marzipan notes- must be that gorgeous heliotrope.
I don't get much more than that until the dry down, which is soft- Some tonka and violet/iris for me.

Its like what a super fancy lady with a sweet tooth should smell like... :) freshly cleaned and covered in sweet marzipan (Not that anyone should literally cover themselves in marzipan, but you get the idea.) With a light floral background.

I love using this after a shower, after some almond body wash (haha) and vanilla body oil.... then finish it off with a few spritzs of this gem. I end up using this several times a week, its nice in the warm weather here, but even more almond-y in the cooler weather. Delicious.

Wijn

Very nice fragrance. It reminds me strongly of the opening of Chanel nr. 5 in the 90's. The dry down is soft and the projection after the opening is also very soft. I only wish that the smell of the opening would stay a little longer,and a little more sillage. But it is a dreamy, creamy and cozy perfume. Absolutely a big love for me.

ingrid.superstar

Begins with a wallop of anisic purple florals. My first impression is that this smells like a luxe cold cream: fresh, deep, calming, sophisticated, a bit cool-to-the-touch.

I am 26, and wearing this makes me feel like I have entered the world of Perfuming Myself Like a Woman.

I put a single spray on my wrist to test it, and the sillage if fantastic. Without making any dramatic, flailing-around gestures there is an enchanted cloud that keeps wafting up to my nose.

I imagine this will be one of those chameleons that wears appropriately when there's a chill in the air, yet makes you feel cooled-down in warmer weather. In spite of the complex floral cocktail involved (violets being at the fore), this is not at all cloying or overly sweet.

Cool, cool, cool--- this word keeps coming to mind. If this perfume was a color, it would be indigo!

Lurking on the fringes of this scent is a *slight* medicinal bite that reminds me of classic Noxzema cream! A very nostalgic scent for me.

sitingqueen

This is a very classic feminine floral,with tremendous longevity(over 8 hours) and moderate sillage. I am working my way through the Oscar line and this one is the winner so far. The woods drydown gives this one good long bones and provides a contrast with the floral heart.
Suitable for almost any occasion I can think of, and produces compliments regularly.
This would make a very nice casual fragrance present, as it is inoffensive and smells good immediately-- no waiting required!

SweetLadyForOne

My first Oscar De la Renta was so de la Renta. Honestly, it was not my cup of tea. My next Oscar de la Renta was volupte, and I fell madly in love with that at first sniff! Today I finally bought Esprit d' Oscar. Oh my goodness. This is a very beautiful scent. I'm so glad I bought it. It's sweet, creamy and powdery. Ultra feminine. Classy and sophisticated. Stunning, and good for any occasion. Love this one.
ETA...I am wearing this again today. It's a slightly chilly day and I am reminiscent of the smell of Nivea cream. I love this fragrance! Its perfect.

katrinawhitney

You know your gut feeling you get. The one that picks up on comments and descriptions that tell you "this is perfect for other people, not you" but who listens? Apparently not me. Saw this at Ross after seeing this on this site time and time again, and I bought it. Sprayed on my skin, immediate regret. It is not a bad smell at all! It really is a beautiful cosmetics smell, something that I actually like smelling. I just don't want to smell like it myself. Meh, sad times. Let's add it to the swap list (as well as get slightly jealous of everyone who can pull this off and be super classy).


Edit: I think I might be falling a little bit for this. I like the random wafts I get all around me. I really want to keep this for when the weather decides to finally cool down.

Edit day 2: okay, no. I think I might actually love this.

drugstore classics

Oh what a beauty!

The opening of Esprit has sparkle and definitely resembles at least a little the original Oscar, if less herbal in aura.

Here Esprit also reminds me vaguely of a sunny, modernized L'Heure Bleue, as others have mentioned. This said, in short order I am smelling a sweet floral in the same category as Gloria Vanderbilt, truly airy and beautiful. Strong and enveloping on first spray, shortly after subsiding to subtle elegance. There are yellow roses (as in L'aimaint), along with iris and gorgeousness in general. A boudoir floral, indeed.

However! Dry down (which happens fairly rapidly on me) is the most lovely MIMOSA-like aura. I am fond of mimosa notes in fragrance, and also of 'mimosa trees', probably not even related to mimosa blossoms in general, but smelling somewhat similar. That charming, powdery cloud of scent is hard to miss on a summer's walk by pink blossomed yards!

Yes, I know we owe Esprit's scent profile to a generous number of notes, heliotrope and iris (favorites of mine!) predominantly. Even so, my nose smells mimosa along with that gorgeous orris/ iris for the majority of dry down. Esprit is short lived on my skin, no surprise, and I don't feel at all unhappy about the soft sillage or shorter longevity. In some ways, this is license to spray with abandon, as I do with all lighter scents, spritzing on hair and fabric for best longevity. A boudoir scent is MADE for creating one's own aura of femininity, so scented undies and hair really make sense in this context.

And as for wearing in small work spaces and enclosed environments, Esprit would be ideal. A spray or two beneath clothing will be nearly undetectable to any but your own nose, keeping good cheer within one's own energy zone and out of the general office conversation. ;)

Would that all modern releases held this much charm and feminine allure in their stylish bottles! Hats off to the house of Oscar de la Renta for a new classic.

Five Stars <3


Update: Wearing 5 or so spritzes generously on hair and fabric transforms a soft flower into a scent with lasting power! I love this gorgeous cloud of powdery goodness. A well named beauty, because my spirit rises whenever I wear Esprit. <3

igalmusic

Very similar fragrance to Calvin Klein Eternity, definitely more for spring-summer time, it's like a cloud of freshness, unfortunately not my favourite perfume as I am a fun of heavy, spicy scents, still worth to try

KDJ

First initial impressions, it reminds me of a mix of Prada Infusion d'Iris with the powdery iris, and Thierry Mugler's Alien with creamy jasmine and vanilla-like similarities. I wanted to like it so much due to the heliotrope as it's one of my favorite flowers, but I find the overall mix of this fragrance a little too synthetic for my liking (almost like a plastic smell on my skin), unfortunately!

amanda7

There is a lot of comparing to L´heure bleue but I must say that it is not so similar as it looks at the beginning. I am a regular user of L´heure bleue and I can say that execept strong heliotrope there are differences. This is sweeter and not so complex, the longevity is definitely worse. But for this price it is really a great scent, nice and elegant and I don´t have a problem to wear it when I want to smell something blue.

petal411

This one is heavenly. Powdery and fresh. I can wear this any time of year. Very feminine. This is a girly girl scent that I adore.

eamaccready

I can see the similarities between L'Heure Bleu and Apres L'Ondee. It's lovely. Nice heliotrope/iris vingage-y scent.

Andrina72

Started out with a considerable amount of citrus and sweet floral... It was even a bit too synthetic for my liking, so I worried that this blind-buy was going to be a mistake. I decided to let it ride and see how it went... and I'm glad that I did!

The synthetic vibe upon initial spray was gone within a few minutes. The citrus also didn't hang around for very long. Within a short period of time it had dried down into a lovely sweet-ish floral that would be very wearable all throughout the Spring & Summer. Now, 4 hours later, it's a gorgeous skin-scent rich with tonka bean and iris. So pretty!

It's not ground-breaking by any means.. but for $19.99 for 100mls I'm very pleased and it doesn't hurt that my husband loves it on me!! :)

polina.petrova11

. it's really a bomb. Mysterious (almost a clone of L heure bleue) and that one... is.. I do not even know how to describe L heure bleue -is a young mademoiselle of the 17th century in lace and brocade dress, hurrying to a dangerous mysterious meeting, windows of a stained-glass, lowered heavy curtains and purple flowers are seen in the garden on secret night trails .soooo dangerous .. but she needs to hurry to this meeting, which she will not forget even through many of her future incarnations .. Esprit is very much alike l heure bleue. but the esprit does not frighten like l heure bleue . The esprit has kept jewelery with diamonds and aristocratism of a l heure .. but there is no smell of danger in esprit, which is present in the l heure .. .. there are no citrus fruits. none . but a bunch of other useful and pleasant things. bought it because of citrus ( Google says esprit is one of the best citrus smelling perfumes) bought it blind. I knew that there are not enough citrus. - there is not at all. that's ok. I love L heure bleue , so let it be.


1

savageinstrangeland

@Melliecat

Interesting! Esprit D'Oscar was not previously available in EDT and the EDP was recently discontinued... I wonder if ODLR replaced the EDP with a EDT formulation! I'm so curious to try it now! Your review prompted me to check and it seems the EDT is available on Amazon. I'm going to give it a try now too.

meliecat

Wow! This perfume surprised me big time! I adore and own Volupte, Intrusion and Live in Love, but this one is somehow way nicer, more rounded and way more easy to wear due to its white florals and creaminess. I totally understand the positive reviews and I must join in praising..

I have the edt - I`m wondering btw, is the edp the exact same scent only stronger and even longer lasting? - and it`s a huge 200 ml bottle. Well, I can already tell there won`t be any problem in using it all up..

On me the opening is a bit annoying and sharp but after just a few mins all notes start developing beautifully. I get a lot of heliotrope, jasmine, tuberose and tonka, also bits of violet and barely any iris, and even less citrus, it is probably there but very underlying just to balance out the white florals. I didn`t read all reviews here, but I saw someone mentioning a bit of Jovan Musk Concentrate in there, I must agree, however lot of other Fragraticians mention the word `powdery` - I get none of that AT ALL. Creamy and lotiony YES, but NOT powdery. Also, it reminds me in moments of my beloved Rochas Byzantine, which also has white flowers and lotiony feel to it. To me it`s a heliotrope-white floral with a bit of bergamot and musk scent and underlying violet, barely any citrus and powder. It smells to me like a super-luxurious perfumey lotion, really soft and elegant, perfectly blended without trying hard. Lasting power in the case of edt is good 4-5 hours, then it turns into a skin scent - I bet the edp lasts all day.

It is a scent safe to reach for any season, any occasion - except sultry bedroom scenes maybe - and it is crazy good value I mean I can`t believe you can actually get a 200ml edt bottle for around 30 euros..And the bottle is really pretty too, which is a plus of course. 10/10 for me and love it. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a well-blended white floral perfume, to me this is it.

juniemoon

I've owned this since last year but haven't given it a proper wearing til today. Trying not to scratch the buying itch by actually using more of what I have on hand lol!

Anyway, to me this isn't citrusy at all, except for a bit of orange blossom somewhere in the distance. I'm finding that I love heliotrope. This is definitely powdery and the heliotrope and iris blend so well together. Catching whiffs of the musk and violet. Soft yet lasting. Happy to have this!

Jerine123

Just bought the EDT version and it is great. Not quite as strong as the EDP but it lasts. Love these original ODLR fragrances! This is a true find!!!

Jerine123

Love this fragrance! I have the EDP and sometimes it feels a bit overpowering depending on the day. Has anyone tried the EDT version? Sometimes the EDT takes on a synthetic feel so wondering if anyone has compared? Thinking of purchasing the EDT also.

AaronStar

This seems a more green joop for men, the heliotrope is one cool, purple, deep flower. It makes me think of dance clubs, femininity, deep, deep loving feelings that show beauty...

Shwets

Yes Kimmychoo i get you!
This is very similar to L'Aimant and didnt think about it until reading your review. Except, L'Aimant is sweeter and bit more woodier.

I love Esprit but it is headache inducing for me and yet i would love to own a bottle.

It is very baby powdery on me and lasts long on my skin with moderate sillage. I prefer this to L'Heure Bleu which also has a similar vibe but that is medicinal smelling to my nose.

Kimmychoo 01

Coty laimants twin - Gloria Vanderbilts cousin !
Powdery sweet loveliness!
First spray for me was not instant love - found the first spray a bit too prickly .. but then the magic happened - 5 minutes later i got a coty laimant vibe - which i love
Sweet , lemony , floral , creamy- fluffy
Dry down is just a baby powder bomb - which i also love
Cosy and snuggly gorgeousness!
Lasts long too
9/10

Aromatyu

This perfume smells like an old times lotion. WAIT WAIT WAIT! Don’t get angry. Listen to this story. One morning I didn’t wake up for a meeting on time so there was absolutely no chance for a shower. The worst nightmare for me. So. I know that my favorite sweet perfumes can’t handle such a situation as they really give away to everybody that kind of personal information - that your body is not freshly showered. My remedy for the situation was the Oscar’s perfume. It covered up my secret with sophisticated flowers and gentle powder. Interestingly, it never smelled on me as a lotion rubbed on a dirty body but instead it lifted up me to a better spot. Nice. I hugged people on that day, sat close to people, and didn’t feel embarrassed. They might have even thought that I had taken not only a shower but a luxurious bath with an expensive quality soap. Thank you!

Tigi

100% of each glowing word and gushing review that precedes this entry is absolutely correct. Oscar de la Renta ESPRIT is stunning, delicate, powdery gorgeousness!!! This is THE tender powdery-floral, a Holy Grail for powder-lovers (well, for this particular powder-lover, anyway).
Fragrance = 10 of 10. Must be experienced first-hand.
Performance = Longevity is respectable (though I become anosmic to it while those around me can still detect wafts) and sillage opens moderate and later softens. Lasts longer on hair and textiles.
Value = 10/10 the bang for buck ratio is off the charts with this one (excellent)
The bottle itself is lovely as well.
Don't believe me, though; see what these other Fragranticans have to say and - more importantly - see for yourselves. Very few of you will be disappointed.

Octoberamy

This is creamy, but that is the only way I can describe it. I don't recognize any "notes ." I bought it on impulse (at Macy's) and it's just not me. Sold it on eBay.

savageinstrangeland

I have reviewed this before but I am back to review it again because frankly, I cannot shut up about this fragrance! Those of you who know me from the forums know that this is true. I constantly recommend it!

Since my first review was mostly first impressions, here's the deal; this has to be one of the top 3 best perfumes I've ever smelled in my life! There. I said it. I have tested countless and I own hundreds so this doesn't come on a whim or from someone without knowledge of fragrance. This is complex, modern, classy, versatile, exceptionally well blended and it has excellent performance. Lasts about 8 hours on skin, days on clothing, and is never either too much nor too little. It's just fantastic!

This could have been a Chanel easily and people would be lining up to pay 140$ for it! I hadn't really realized how close to a Chanel feel it had until I was at a Chanel Counter and a Employee of Chanel asked, "You're wearing Chanel No5 Eau Premiere right now aren't you?" But nope. She was smelling the deep dry down of ODLR EDO. If you like fresh, clean, powdery, creamy florals with a sophisticated, (non sugary) gourmand edge, Try this. It won't disappoint. Aldehydes aren't listed but I SWEAR they're there lending a sparkle of class and lightening the load of more intense notes. It's just beautiful.

plodee

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways ....

This is like floating on a cloud, Heaven in a bottle! It's a white/yellow floral with just a glimmer of warmth. The most wonderful part of it? The ethereal powdery way it settles in. You get just a faint, in the distance shadow of the original Oscar, but this one is so much more, so so much more! And yet, much more subdued. There is something in the mix that is very soft/sweet and oddly enough reminds me of the slightest hint of banana. If you are a yellow floral/powdery scent lover, you really should try this. It's stated as a white floral, but from first spray, I just get creamy buttery yellow! Let it settle in, dry down ... think you'll love what you find.

lizzyshreds

Now this perfume is heaven in a bottle for real! I was at Ross last night at 11p.m. and seen a lot of Oscar's perfumes there, and I went on Fragrantica, to look up the notes, and reviews, and was like this is right up my alley, to me this is in the realm of Prada Candy Gloss. To me Oscar Espirt is buttery, and powdery, and I love it, one of the best perfumes I have smelled in my 6 years of buying perfume, and I have over 1,000 bottles. Yes, I have known about this perfume, before I went into Ross, but I overlooked it. Now this perfume is a real gem, like 1 out of 500 perfumes, I'm serious, it doesn't get better than this, when you like half n half, and all that other good stuff! This also has that powdery cosmetics smell, which is amazing! To me this is the perfume to die for! When I have thought I have come across every perfume that it great, once in awhile, not so often a perfume gets my full attention like Espirt Oscar does. I have smelled over 1,500 hundred perfumes, and to me this has to be top 20 of everything, I have ever smelled. I have seen a lot of different Oscar perfumes in Ross this year, and they usually always have at least one. I got the 100ml EDP of this for $22 with tax. The other Oscar perfumes, I have bought lately are Extraordinary Petale ( which I have seen at Ross, three different times in the past month at two different stores ), Velvet, and Velvet Noir which I bought from FragranceNet for $16 after 35% off. I am a perfume collector, I have bought over 200 perfumes so far in 2017, and this easily makes the top 5 perfumes I have bought this year, as I buy 80% or more blindy, but I know what I like by notes, but there are times where I will take the risk, and buy out of my comfort zone to explore, and try something new, but I knew I would like Espirt Oscar, I think I overlooked this perfume for so long, because people have voted this similar to the original, when I don't smell that, to me this is better!

Cubby

Because I adore L'Heure Bleue, I blind bought this. Oh my, what a gorgeous bottle. But it only thrills me for a short time, then turns to something on my skin that I can't identify. And I don't care for it. When I spray LHB, it gives me such a happy feeling. I think this is much better than the original Oscar.

PastelMoon

My tastes have changed during the recent years and I do not find it that attractive anymore.

It is actually very well made, quality scent, the lasting power and projection is definitely there and it does not go foul after a few years, retaining all the notes.

However, my skin amplifies tonka bean, making the scent too vanillic and sweet from the white flowers, clashing rather than blending with the tart, sharp citrus on my skin. I dislike any gourmand facets and it simply ruins the clean-aromatic and slightly medicinal feel of EdO which made me love it so much at first.

On a paper it still smells rather good, so I use it sometimes as a room spray.

Although 5 years ago I used to wear it in the late summer and autumn, it now sort of translates as a winter-Christmas- fine bakery-cinnamon bun scent. I can recommend it for its quality for people who are into refined gourmand fragrances.

savageinstrangeland

My love of powdery fragrances drove me to put EDO on my test list. When I ran across a 3.4 oz on sale for 20$ I figured it wasn't a huge loss if it ended up moving from the test list to the bad decisions list. lol

It turns out, I really do like it. It's not a immediate love but the potential exists for love to grow. Its top notes are ever so slightly more "soapy" & aldehydic than I typically fall into love at first wiff with. I want to be clear for other people considering this fragrance, if you do not absolutely, unwaveringly love powdery notes and purple florals, you probably won't dig this. This is a powder/heliotrope/Iris BOMB. Many reviewers say the powder note is a baby powder . I don't get baby powder even remotely. This begins more like a talcum powder and later becomes almost like a makeupy, waxy lipstick and face powder. I love powders regardless so this detail didn't dissuade me, but I'm just clarifying for others that I was taken by surprise expecting a baby powder and instead getting a talc/cosmetic powder blend. For me, it was okay but I wouldn't buy this if you're looking specifically for that Johnson & Johnson baby powder note. You'd be better if going to Guerlain L'instant Magic if that's what you're after.

I find it very wearable and in-offensive. It's just really nice, clean, and cozy smelling. As long as you didn't overspray I really can't see this being a disagreeable fragrance for any occasion. This is fairly versatile... I personally wouldn't wear it on a date night, because it's not "sexy" or romantic to me, but it could fly for almost anything else. EDO has a very subtle gourmand-like nuance in the drydown most latter phase. It almost smells like a delicate French pastry or something. There's light Vanilla, something slightly nutty, lemon. I almost get a Marzipan hint in there somewhere too. It's lovely and that's when my husband likes it best. But to be clear, this is NOT a candy sweet gourmand, it just has some gourmand facets that reveal themselves in the last couple hours of wear. It has a moderate silage and is quite long lasting. I'd say about 6 hours which is a long time for my skin.

Touching on the similarities to Guerlain L'HB I have L'HB and while I do see some similarities, like they have a similar vibe and powdery-ness, this is much more wearable in my personal opinion than L'HB.

Edit: That potential for love was no joke! It's now my signature. I will buy every bottle I ever see at Ross for back ups from now until forever! So, if you want some for yourself you better hope you beat me to it. lol

UnearthlyApothecary

Beautiful musky/tonka purple floral... it is powdery but not overly so. other reviewers mention baby powder but I don’t really find it to be baby powder necessarily. It is a little sweet but not cloying and in that sweetness it differs most from L’Huere Bleue. A slight resemblance to De Varens I Love You another lovely tonka/heliotrope scent. This one is more complicated and intense, better silage and that amazing ambergris and vetiver in the base is incredible. I find esprit d’ Oscar very soft and feminine. It’s quite lovely and I can’t wait to receive my FB from a pending swap :)

Celan Domino

Never liked this fragrance. I think this is for an older crowd, it smells like talc. It is clean and all but too strong. Performance is good since the longevity is about 6 hrs but after a while is cloying.

Kitart

On me, this was iris from start to finish. Overwhelmingly iris. I do not like iris at all. It seems as if every time I try a perfume with any iris notes whatsoever, that the iris takes over completely. Iris loves me

Beadvised

Baby power and flower notes dominates this fragrance. Definitely not liking this strange combination.

Timby

Nice floral, I would not say iconic or memorable...but easy to wear.

Good for everyday, work, casual.
Personally prefer it to the original, which I was given and so felt compelled to wear, though never felt it suited me. This is a better fit for sure.

Annabear

I really like this fragrance. Yes, the powder is there, but there is an array of supporting ingredients that give this one complexity. Reasonably big sillage, good longevity, this is a very nice classic that has subtlety and elegance.

Yannaroma

This perfume smells very overwhelmingly synthetic and old (?) like something my grandmother would wear, but I still enjoy it on some days. There is definitely an underlying tone of citrus and floral scents (?), but everything seems to be muted and covered up by the POWDER. It smells very strongly of powder, which smells nice when first applied but after sitting on my skin for a while starts to mute any other notes I smelt during first application.

kati77

A wonderfull like modern chanel nr 5

A fragrance that is oriental-floral, but has a delicate aldehyde undercoat that you can accept. In the present world. There is nothing vintage. It is luminous, warm, even oily, beautiful where the powdery blends with the flowers. For the dress, for the evening, but also modern. Not only is glamour, as well has a mature side.
If you can not wear chanel no 5 TRY IT - I am describing the edp version. I do not know edt.
Super longlasting perfume.

Konga5000

Love's Baby Soft for adults. $24.99 for a big bottle at T.J. RossMarshalls .

patxaran

This has become my fragrance for that sudden heliotrope craving when nothing else but full fat will do! I have and love L'Heure Bleue too but I think despite the similarities the two fragrances create very different associations for me. Then there is Apres l'Ondee which is less similar... Out of these Esprit d'Oscar is the most gourmand, yummy, cosy snuggle up scent you could imagine. There isn't a great deal of intellectual or vintage appeal to this, nor a dangerous sexiness, for sure. Some reviewers might see it as the lesser piece of art. But if you are looking for a dense, tonka creamy heliotrope experience, this one won't let you down. I once had Heliotrope Piver but had to let it go as there was a nappy association I couldn't shake off. This, however, is the perfect heliotrope for me. I also think that people who enjoy Prada Infusion d'Iris Absolu might really enjoy Esprit d'Oscar too.

Decodawn

Hello from Deco Dawn. Oscar de la renta Esprit D'Oscar edp is absolutely gorgeous. I understand the comparison with Guerlain LB, but I personally find this fragrance a much heavier, richer, sexier scent. The first initial waft maybe, but, ... after half an hour the dry down has developed on my skin and settled into a very full on creamy oriental & you can smell the Heliotrope, Iris & floral & oriental blend. I am so happy to have this fragrance in my collection, it is, by far, the best 'blind' buy I have ever made, £5.00 from Ebay for a 100ml bottle that was hardly used and in its original box an absolute bargain as it retails at £75!! Esprit D'Oscar is so modern and contemporary but also feminine and refined & very classy. The tuberose and base ingredients tonka bean, musk & ambergris are obviously of very high quality.
I wish to add that my bottle of Esprit D'Oscar was the Eau de Parfum which is a much higher concentration of pure perfume and has fabulous staying power and projects well so well in fact I have receive many compliments. It's a huge thumbs up from Decodawn, try it you will love it.

clairdelune

Baby powder pure and simple. I wish I got some of the subtle nuances described in other reviews but I just get straight up baby powder. While that's not my thing, I do get how that could be very appealing for some and these many positive reviews are testament to that. Through my numerous trials with this one, I strongly echo Scentedrat's advice to use a light hand when spraying. Despite its powdery, floral nature, it's a major scent bomb and can become overwhelming very quickly. Excellent staying power too!

vintage_scent

This is my heliotrope scent...the one I have been searching for...powdery soft heliotrope. I dont get Guerlain like some though...
Really purple lovely heliotrope dusted with vintage face powder and an attitude from the art deco era that wears best in the Winter sprinkled in frosty morning air.
Fresh powdered floral lightly violet scented petals and so delicate but long lasting beauty...
No need to search for more heliotrope...this is a purple floral dream
Oh my this is beautiful!

Babro Rosebudd

Blind buy at local pharmacy. Good price at $19.99 so I thought I’d give it a go. If you are a fan of flowery powder fragrances this will definitely be one for you to consider. I find the powder a little predominant for my taste. On me it overwhelms the other notes. I agree with other comments that a little goes a long way. A mature woman’s scent in my opinion. Good longevity and a moderate sillage.

mapache

A chemical-ish mess. I think it is the heliotrope that over-kills this scent. I had high-hopes, with the comparisons to Guerlain L'Heure Bleu. But , LB has more depth and classiness. The Oscar does have that "scent cloud" effect, but....something it this is soooo cloying.....sadly, a NO, for me. Shame.

HennaQueen

One of the best blind buys I have had in quite a while. After reading everyone's wonderful reviews, I decided to pick up a bottle I found at Ross for Less for $20 (3.4 oz bottle). It smells even better than I thought it would, it is more lemony at first and then settles down into a creamy, powdery hug of heliotrope, tonka and jasmine. Very well done! I LOVE powder and I was craving a scent like this for such a long time. The lemon, bergamot and citron give it a fresh tone that blends so nicely on my skin with the powdery notes. Even my husband told me "You smell really good!" and he barely tolerates my perfume addiction, er, I mean, my perfume interest, hee hee. This one is a keeper and is worthy of a repurchase.

lucia.lawson

An enchantment of deep iris, powdery iris, sweet violets, jasmine and tuberose, blooming like night flowers under orange trees and above vetiver and musk, and growing next to vanilla fields.

This is quite an aroma. I have been wearing this for a week and I'm so in love with it. It has been compared to L'Heure Bleu by Guerlain but I don't see how it can remotely smell like that fragrance. This is as mature as that scent and certainly as powdery, but it has elements that are more modern despite it's vintage feel.

The opening is classic citron, citruses. The lemon is fresh and delicious. The perfumy orange is also mingling with African orange flower before it settles into a white floral heart. The jasmine is the star. This is a beautiful jasmine perfume if I ever smelled one. However even the jasmine softens into a vanilla and powder courtesy of heliotrope. The heliotrope is the dominant flower and the queen in this court and perhaps it is only in this way - a reigning heliotrope- that it is said to smell similar to the heliotrope masterpiece that is L'Heure.

This is a woman's perfume, not a little kid's scent. You won't wear this to go night clubbing or to go to a bar, or even to a movie. It's too mature even for a date. It's a serious fragrance of formal elegance, glamour and beauty. It matches up with a gorgeous evening gown and the powderiness is a tad on the boudoir side. So I would recommend this perfume to be applied before you head out to a wedding, wedding anniversary, big gala party or a charity fundraising event. It's a dressy perfume. You have to be dressed up. You can't wear this with jeans.

I receive a lot of compliments on it. I find it to be exquisite and fast becoming my favorite perfume in my vast collection. I don't think that it is like any of the other Oscar de La Renta perfumes and certainly not like the 1st Oscar. This is a heliotrope and powdery vanilla however it has a long lasting aroma courtesy of the deep basse notes of musk and ambergris. At times it smells like a British Creed fragrance with tons of powder.

Beautiful

Mooniq

Yep! here I go again. Just bought myself another bottle. This is a lovely fall/winter fragrance. Very longlasting and with a gooooood sillage. True Come-and-hug-me-scent with attitude. I Hate the original Oscar - so you know =)

Japp! Så blev det en flaska till. Ljuvlig höst/vinter-doft. Otroligt hållbar och med skön utstrålning. En äkta kom-å-krama-mig-doft med lite kaxig attityd. Jag avskyr originalet Oscar - bara så ni vet =)

Mirabele

very very lovely, unfortunately so "not me", so wearing it is absolutely out of question to me. similar to l'Heure Bleue but more floral to my nose. i like it actually much more. gorgeous scent for those who are into thick powdery retro scents. i associate it unfortunately with maternal/caretaking feelings, for unknown reason, possibly my childhood memories.

nitschevo

This beautiful gem is not listed on the ODLR website anymore :( I am afraid that it might get discontinued. That would be such a shame. So glad I recently snatched up a roller-ball at TJ M. Fortunately I also still have a bit left in my bottle. This range really deserves more attention and credit.

Edit: Just got the official feedback of ODLR - they are NO LONGER producing this. I am off crying now. After that I will initiate the hoarding process.

beatrix75

Its smells clean ,beautiful soap the expensive one witch hold all day long with this luxury powder smell ahhh it's classy sexy feminine and very beautiful .

Shemarie

This starts out strong then mellows out to a very soft scent.
It is soapy jasmine flowers with a little powder. The powder has a dusty feel much like the powder dry down of Chanel 5 and Chanel 5 premiere. l agree with other reviewer that it smells a lot like johnson baby shampoo. I go back and forth from like to love.

PerfumePatty

I got a bottle of the original formula off ebay, it had turned a bit dark (pale orange liquid). When I first tried it, I thought it had turned bad. I did not notice the drydown at the time, and I put it away for awhile in my hallway shelf where I keep "scrubber" perfumes that I need to get rid of. I took it out a year later and tried it again....the opening was a bit of a strong incense scent, but a moment later, it softened, and a magical transformation happened. It was lovely!

Esprit d'Oscar is a modern version of Guerlain's L'Heure Bleu, a very classy, elegant scent. Mature, but not old-fashioned or powdery to me, more like an expensive lotion. The heliotrope, iris, violet and soft incense blend so well together, it's a very smooth, refined scent. Where L'Heure Bleu is a bit heavy and melancholy, Esprit is lighter and more uplifting.
There's something maternal about it, soft and huggable....I consider it my "comfort" fragrance.

GrandmaGaga

I bought a bottle today at a discount store for a great price. I like Oscar and figured if this was merely a more "modern" version, I'd really like it. It ended up striking me as very synthetic...this is the first time I am really understanding what people mean by that term; it didn't smell as if it was based on natural scents. I will be returning this...to my nose it's not even worth the very discounted price I paid, which is saying alot! Yet another unsuccessful blind-buy....

Kai'elle

I have never had the pleasure of smelling the original but I must detect some type of 'vintage' feel in the depth of this formulation...I was raving on about how 'classic' with a 'modern twist' this scent seemed before I did the research :)

For me, this opens with a burst of bergamot and citron...but not the type that makes you squint from the sudden acidity. Its far more subtle and fleeting. The flowers enter quite quickly and are dominated by iris and violet with the occasional waft of orange flower. I am pleased that the jasmine and tuberose take a back seat in this one.

I find the mid notes last an impressively long time before the base notes make their entrance. The heliotrope is divine and though it is certainly dominant, it does not overpower the warm tonka. For me, I find the overall dry-down a very pleasing light spicy powder.

Inoffensive and great for everyday use :)

L: Moderate
S: Moderate

aym

To me this is all about the orange blossom and since that is not one that I can tolerate this isn't for me.

scentedrat

I got a sample of this after it was recommended to me as a skin scent. I tried it over and over, and just hated it. Strong, harsh, and a bit musty. Today nothing appealed to me, and I decided to try this again, only this time I applied just the tiniest little dab. Wow, that changed everything!!! Turns out this was exactly what I was looking for all along--sweet, whisper-soft, no harshness anywhere, and little sillage in this amount. Fortunately, on me it stays soft without being overtly powdery. I recognize the original Oscar, but only because I know it's there, otherwise this wouldn't have brought it to mind.

My nose isn't sophisticated enough to pick out individual notes in this, but if this is heliotrope, I want more!

I can't believe this has been sitting unloved in my reject box for 2 yrs! I'm so glad I tried it again, and found a beautiful surprise! Love!

Maenad1

Everyone who is looking for the perfect heliotrope scent -- one that doesn't smell rubbery, or like Play-Doh, baby powder or a doll's head -- stop here. You've found it. Esprit d'Oscar is gorgeous, smooth and wearable. Imagine taking the powdery violet and heliotrope notes of L'Heure Bleue (while removing anything that is chalky/dusty or medicinal about that fragrance), combining them with a dash of jasmine, iris and orange blossom from Chanel No. 5, then adding a large dollop of musk (in the style of Jovan Musk), and you've got Esprit d'Oscar. This fragrance smells like a classic that's been updated for the modern wearer, yet not so "modern" that you can't tell what inspired it. It smells great from the first spray until it dries down. The drydown is particularly enchanting as it resembles the scent of bubble bath or baby shampoo. I think this fragrance would be suitable for almost any season or occasion; it just plain smells great, and I've already received a few compliments. This is going to be a a new favorite of mine, I can tell already!

Justpeachy007

Blind buy 3.4oz $24.99 @ Ross. Thanks fragrantica friends for superb always helpful reviews!!!!! If original Oscar scares you,maybe too heavy powdery or too vintage feeling, don't be afraid of esprit!! If you have always wanted to like Oscar and wished it was lighter and softer powder and fresher without the heaviness, you must try esprit!! This is powdery in a Loves Baby Soft kind of way, sweet light and fresh. "Pink" powdery? Like perfumed talc. Not makeup bag powder. Not vintage heavy dusting powder. You can smell Oscar in there but so so softly and hiding in the background. I loved this from first spray, all thru, and the drydown is just dreamy dreamy. Opening spray is original Oscar saying hello I'm here for the party. He takes a seat way in the background and leaves soft flowers and perfumed baby soft talc gently wafting around the room. It dries down seductive and sweet at the same time. I say that because on my wrists dry I smell soft flowers and seriously beautiful soft powder, but down my shirt my chest where it's warm smells deeper yet still soft powder with richer flowers, expensive musk seductive, but still soft though. I blind bought this and it's everything I had always wished original Oscar was. Gorgeous gorgeous. Oscar original is there but way way in the background. He's watching from a velvet pub chair as the flowered and powdered ladies dance around you. Oh gosh I'm in love. There is nothing I'd change about this perfume.
*** adding*** my husband with my scents will usually do one of two things: say nothing about how I smell, or make a face and say egh! That perfume stinks!...... he does like black opium though... Anyways.....Sat near him last night he says "what's that perfume"...esprit de Oscar..... Couple min pass......"you smell powdery and sweet, I like this one".... Even later last night he commented how nice the sweet powdery smell was. I'm telling you guys this because he NEVER will ask what I'm wearing I ask him to smell me and tell me what he thinks. And he came at me a second time because he liked it so well.

Gigi The Fashionista

This is a Red Carpet Oscar Night fragrance. It smells glamorous, elegant, and expensive, for a price which is NOT expensive so now you too can feel like you're walking the red carpet. I do agree that this smells more like an Oscar Night in 1953 rather than 2016. This has a classic vintage vibe although I can't actually compare it to any vintage, not even Guerlain's L'Heure Bleue which a lot of people seem to think it smells like. This has a brighter, fresher, glittering quality and L'Heure is a melancholy introspective fragrance. This fragrance is for extroverts, for women who want to show off everything they've got. This smells of citron fresh and energizing. Then it gets into the floral heart and for me that's where it stays, other than a light musk at the bottom. The flowers which most stand out are heliotrope and iris. It's a purple flower fragrance (which I love, think fragrances like Ysatis Iris or a stronger version of Éclat D'Arpege) and it has a womanly mature beauty. This smells so good. I love how it projects, I love how long it lasts, I love everything about it. I want to thank Youtube Reviewer and Fragrantica Reviewer Mizouri Love AKA Ismellsogood who gave such a brilliant review of this fragrance on her Youtube Channel. It made me want to go out and buy the perfume. This is fantastic and I recommend it to all women of all ages.

Southern Blonde

Esprit is a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful fragrance. I think I found my wedding day perfume! The bottle is so pretty. This makes a perfect gift. The fragrance starts with citrus so right from the start you have to be a fan of citrus in perfume. They're serving as aldehydes but I'm sure there's aldehydes too. It's fresh and sparkling like champagne, like a sort of lemon scented champagne. The flower in this fragrance are mostly white: jasmine, tuberose, orange flower but there's also purple and lilac colored flowers like heliotrope, iris and violet. Totally a bridal bouquet. I noticed there is ambergris and I cant really smell it but it's reminiscent of Creed's Fleurissimo which was Grace Kelly's wedding day perfume. This is why it smells so expensive, so vintage, and so elegant, lady like and mature in a good way. This is a Grace Kelly perfume, very old Hollywood, very glamorous. I wish that Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds had smelled like this. This is more of a White Diamonds luxury perfume to me. I was surprised to find that there was no rose notes but I get the feeling the iris is a substitute. Rose plus jasmine and Iris and Heliotrope in perfume and heliotrope really give it the scent of luxury and class. Very sophisticated. So girls if you like to smell like you spent 1.6 million for your fragrance make sure the perfume is floral and has iris and heliotrope as well as roses and jasmine combos. Most floral fragrances have jasmines anyways but it's rare to find those floral scents with iris and heliotrope. This is divine. It can pass for a Chanel except Chanels have woodsy notes that this lacks. The base is mostly ambergris, musk and tonka. The musk is not heavy. There is tonka which is basically a vanilla scent. Vetiver is also really fragrant. I've only tested this once today and fell in love with it but I need to wear it all week long next week in order to see if it will qualify as my wedding day perfume. Thank you Fragrantica for keeping me smelling so good.

fleurdefi

This was a lovely gift from kvan from last fall. I've always liked it but could never find what seemed like the right occasion/weather for wearing it. But today was the just the right day and like turned to love. It had been raining all morning and I was feeling fussy and not wanting to go to work and not wanting to wear my usual rotation or a new sample. I finally grabbed Esprit d'Oscar because I knew it's supposed to be comforting. Sometimes, the heliotrope gets a little too loud and play-doh-y on me, but today the chill in the air kept it in check. It was nice to catch soft little powdery whiffs of it throughout the day and it really was comforting. Then, all of a sudden, 6 hours in, I caught a whiff of something sweet and lemon-y and realized it was still Oscar! I had never smelled this side of it before and really, really enjoyed it. There was a perfect balance of warm musk, sweet flowers and citrus. Hopefully the weather will stay chilly for a little while longer so I can get to know Esprit d'Oscar better!

SIM2014

Another awesome blind buy.It is a powerful and gorgeous scent.I can smell the orange/lemon citrus type of scents in it,but I am very picky with citrus scents;the way they incorporated the citrus into it was done perfectly.I sprayed some on my sleeve and on my wrist yesterday and I can still smell it the next day.The bottle design is beautiful too!

Carm411

This was a blind buy on the fact that I love an another scent by Oscar d la Renta called Volupte and have worn it for over 25 years I can across the reviews of Espirt d Oscar on this site and was so excited when I order it as it was excellent value for money at Ebay for the gift set. Wow from the first spray it was for me the fresh citrus burst settles down to a lovely oriental floral scent then into a calm luxury soap smell. The gift set come with 50ml lotion and shower gel and 100ml edp to me it's divine as it has the charm and staying power that totally resonates with my personality which I would discribe as somewhat unique..

dame piglet

I came across a stash of fragrance samples this evening that i had kind of forgotten because I hadn't taken the time to try them out then got so busy that they were pushed to the back of the cabinet.
Wow! This fragrance sure is a throwback to scents I remember from my youth in the 70s and 80s. This fragrance makes me think of an elegant lady I knew as a young girl. She smelled very much like this and she was kind to me. I was somewhat in awe of her grace and style. Of course her fragrance was far too sophisticated for a homely little girl like me, but I surely could appreciate it.
Now I am probably at least a decade older than she was at the time, but I am still not a good fit for oriental type fragrances. I will pass these samples on to a friend who will wear them well and enjoy them on her.

almondcookie

I am glad I bought this. It was a blind buy after reading positive reviews. Absolutely creamy and beautiful. Indeed stunning. I have had this for 4 months. However, I have only worn it for 3 weeks. I believe that is enough time to leave a decent review.

If you like soft sweet floral, creamy and a subtle powdery scent. Give this a try. You will be amazed. I am glad I did. One suggestion, after a long day. I spray this on before bedtime after a long hot shower. So comforting.

perfumeaddiction

Ok so I tried not to read the reviews before I post mine so I am not jaded. I just got this one in the mail today here are my thoughts:

The bottle is awesome. The perfume smells very very beautiful, soft and gentle. I do get a hint of the original Oscar in here so you know it's an Oscar fragrance but it's a good bit different then the original Oscar. This one has a sweetness without that sticky gourmand. It's very well balanced and the word fresh comes to mind. Very very fresh safe and elegant. I can see someone wearing this on all occasions. Work, evenings out, dates it's just a very well rounded scent. I am overjoyed to have added this one to my collection and it might be signature worthy.

likes2paint

Oh my gosh, another addictive perfume for me!!! Sweet, but not sugary sweet, bright and airy, subtle tiny warm spicy notes and then tonka, which always reminds me of expensive polish. I have the essential oil, or rather tiny little nuggets of tonka, which I like to add to essential oils from time to time. I think I prefer this to the original Oscar, which I have worn for thirty years. Hmmm.... Wonderful and perfect for an unpredictable british summer. A gentle floral bouquet. Definately a go to fragrance. Oh dear... can't get my nose off my wrist again! I want a great big bottle!

LuLuGoes

Esprit d'Oscar is everything it promises to be, the updated, more modern version of Oscar. Powdery citrus deepened by florals with detectable orange blossom and jasmine. It's a lovely tribute to the original.

While this does not resemble Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere at all to my nose, the "modern" version of Oscar has done the same thing for Oscar that Eau Premiere did for the original Chanel No. 5. Both "new versions" have brightened and sweetened the classic formulas.

Neither of the classics needed a flanker, but these new creations are beautiful and really capture the spirit of the originals with some respectful modifications.

Esprit d'Oscar is airy, fresh, less intense than the original Oscar. No lavender, rosemary, or basil here. Instead, you get a burst of fresh bergamot and lemon among the flowers. Oh, and the tuberose is also there with sheer layers of musk. There is something reminiscent of Oscar in Esprit d'Oscar, but it's shiny and new all at the same time.

This one has definitely earned all the love you read in the reviews. Bravo.

Jerrythecat

Lots of review compare EDO with L''Heure Bleue being similar eau de parfum... Really? I have both and imo, it would be comparing sparkling wine with Champagne, or synthetic diamonds with real ones. Nothing comparable. Don't get me wrong, I love EDO but I love it in a different way than I love LHB. The former is the daily perfume I would wear (yes I'm a guy by the way) in the office: complex enough to be noticed but not in your face or offensive. The latter is more mysterious, intriguing for seduction, intimate and special moments. EDO unfortunately does not possess the spellbound effect of LHB.
As I said I love both and think that EDO is a great perfume, but nowhere near LHB!

ismellsogood

Espirit d' Oscar is Simply timeless. I just bought a gift set 100ml cannot wait as I always have to be in supply of this scent. You know as I wrapped myself in one of my towelling robes, this bedtime, I spritzed this everywhere and felt Very special , whom ever were to unwrap me was sure to be pleasantly surprised .... As I sniffed into the aromatic of scent, I suddenly imagined who would wear this classy little number ... I thought Dinah Washington, Marilyn Monroe, Ella Fitzgerald somewhere in Italy whilst they serenade the world, in front of a live band in the Italian sunshine....

nettoyant

Just have to agree with IndigoEye. Absolutely no civet or hairspray. It's definitely like L'heure Bleue but infinitely more wearable. A bit more like LHB EDT rather than the more rich, and indeed mysterious, EDP LHB. This is just an amazing, soft, powdery heliotrope scent. My husband adores this on me but finds LHB too much. This is a very romantic scent, what a treasure.

IndigoEye

Hm, I get pretty much the exact opposite of SCBohemian, to the extent where I wonder if we are smelling the same fragrance! Hairspray and civet??!! Really?!

Esprit d'Oscar (EDP) opens with bright citrus, vetiver and heliotrope - it smells a bit like lemon meringue pie. The iris, violet and blossom florals then come through to make a happy, gentle scent. The drydown is soft, sweet and powdery. This is a lovely, clean fragrance.

Yes, this is reminiscent of l'Heure Bleue, though less so of Après L'Ondée because Esprit d'Oscar lacks the anis opening that gives the Guerlain's their medicinal opening notes. It is also a happier, less mysterious scent - I suppose it has fewer notes and stages and the florals are buoyed with plenty of citrus and vetiver.

This is definitely recommended for those who find the Guerlain scents too medicinal or sad. Personally, I always liked their wistful side, but I shall happily wear Esprit d'Oscar.

almarie

The store that I work at (Lord & Taylor) used to have this scent. I really enjoyed it but I never purchased it and now it is sadly discontinued at least in our store:( But I do remember detecting a sort of bamboo type scent in the perfume as well and sometimes it just didn't sit well on my skin. I do really wish we still carried this scent, because it would look great in my perfume collection:) I also reminisce about 2011 when my life was still relatively easy and not as chaotic or challenging! My, how times have changed!At any rate, I will still search for this scent online and hope to get at a reasonable price to add to my collection:)

SCBohemian

Initially, I sampled Esprit d'Oscar in a department store and then purchased it several weeks later. The bottle is absolutely gorgeous. Esprit opens with white blooms of lily and tuberose, reminiscent of hair spray--no citrus. The middle note is predominantly powdery bergamot. The lingering base notes seem to be musk and civet. Overall, very disappointing as I was hoping for a light, fresh floral. Alas, I will be giving this fragrance to my grandmother :-( I would give this 2 out of 5 stars.

LittleFeather

Floral, sweet, almost powdery and rounded out by some citrus. Most noticeable notes to me are orange blossoms and jasmine. It is a mature fragrance. I like it in small quantities because it is heavy.

raw umber

There are fragrances I love as scent objects, but not as functional perfumes. Then there are those I love as functional perfumes, but they do little for me as scent objects, as things I like to huff on their own without necessarily wearing them to smell "good".

Espirit d' Oscar is one of the only perfumes I have tried which I love both as scent object, and functional fragrance. It feels good to smell it AND it makes me smell very nice.

A layered perfume where floral powder comes up against sour lemon and bright bitter citronella, against the richness of tonka. More soapy than sweet on me. It's a fresher outdoorsy L'heure Bleue. The jasmine and orange flower provide an almost beachy nuance.

Thanks to 2746cstreet for introducing me to what well could be my favorite perfume of all.

shushkin

I was attracted to this because the heliotrope is dominant. It didnt disappoint. Yes, it was initially very sweet but it very quickly dried down to the lovely warm heliotrope, neroli, tonka bean and musk. I love it. A very classy scent with moderate sillage and good longevity. It was very reasonably priced on EBAY as well! Definitely a bargain.

nitschevo

This is absolutely divine! I received this beauty in a swap (thank you again, desireegascon!) and couldn't be happier. Aside of So de la Renta I adore almost all of Oscars fragrances or at least those I got to test already :)

With Esprit D'Oscar I love the fact that they were able to reinvent the classic without losing it's main character. In my opinion it's as refined and elegant as the original but slightly adapted to nowadays vibe of perfume. Maybe less intense.

Upon first spritz I get fresh yet powdery flowers. I can detect the orange flower fairly well. As it starts to dry down there is a phase where it's rather spicy - but fresh spicy, not warm spicy as in Opium.

Around 2 hours into it the scent has dried down to a lovely powdery violet, iris and tonka bean scent. For me it has a similar vibe to Chanel N°5 Eau Premiere, classy and refined.

I feel very chic and womanly wearing this and am glad that I have this in my collection now - it fits a nice evening dress as well as my favourite wool sweater :)

PS: the bottle is stunning!

vos

I love l'heure bleue and so expected to love espit d óscar too. They are very similar in the opening. In the drydown eprit dóscar turns more dirty than the guerlinade from l'Heure Bleue. I guess it is the ambergris in esprit that makes it so. Lovely as it is ...it is no l'heure Bleue. Pricewise a verry good buy.

Anywho

On first sampling Esprit d'Oscar I dismissed it. I'm not sure any more what it was that I didn't like about it, though. Today I came across the little sample again and put it on - and wow - I really like this. It has a guerlainesque quality and vibe about it, maybe in the opening reminiscent of Mitsouko and then settling into something more resembling L'Heure Bleue with Mitsouko still in the background. And while this is all going on, there is the Echo of Oscar, weaving its way through the whole composition without loosing a footing and not intruding where it shouldn't. If you like Guerlains and Oscar this is a lovely marriage of the two that you should give a go. I keep sniffing my arm!! I think I'm hooked...

Edit: I tested Ed'O again today, but wearing it on my clothes. Wearing it like this it skips the Mitsouko opening and goes straight into the L'Heure Bleue/Oscar combination and stays there quite happily. Personally, I don't mind either...I am still hooked...

Musume

Esprit d'Oscar is for me a perfume of yesteryear, it begins with a citrus note that I'm not very fond of but it quickly becomes a sweet refined powdery floral with a gourmand side, not sticky sweet thank god, just a hint of a powdery almond sweet, restrained and subtle, it reminds me of Michelle Pfeiffer in the Chéri film (adaptation of Colette's book), Esprit d'Oscar is all about fine gardens, tea, parties, face powder, secrets, joie de vivre, and at that wonderful price what's not to love?

 
Perfume Encyclopedia
Perfumes: 89,599
Fragrance Reviews: 1,699,670
Perfume lovers: 1,184,331
Online right now: 2,891
Register
Perfume Reviews
Phlur
Phloria
by laviegourmand
Nautica
Nautica Voyage
by TheFraganist55
Ellis Brooklyn
Rrose
by laviegourmand
Joop!
Joop! Homme Le Parfum
by AbsoluteShambles
Prada
Luna Rossa Black
by TheFraganist55
New Reviews
Article Comments
Guess Iconic by Urth2Leesha72
Most Popular Perfumes
Most Popular Brands
Jump to the top

Fragrantica in your language:
| Deutsch | Español | Français | Čeština | Italiano | Русский | Polski | Português | Ελληνικά | 汉语 | Nederlands | Srpski | Română | العربية | Українська | Монгол | עברית |

Copyrights © 2006-2022 Fragrantica.com perfumes magazine - All Rights Reserved - do not copy anything without prior written permission. Please read the Terms of Service and Privacy policy.
Fragrantica® Inc, United States