Much as so many of us associate 'Old Spice' with our beloved fathers, hands up who associates Coty L'Aimant with a beloved mother figure?

L'Aimant Creamy Skin Perfume is based in sandalwood, musk, vetiver, vanilla, tonka bean, and some cedar.I do think most people would get an "old lady" or dated impression from this but if you appreciate vintage scents you'll probably enjoy this. The other week I reported about my fragrant 'estate windfall', whereby I was the lucky recipient of a couple of vintage perfumes my friend found while clearing out his parents' house after his father died. For there is an endearing girl-next-door quality to Alyssa, with her wayward hair and curvaceous figure that needs to be corralled by 'serious underwear' on her wedding day. Can anyone comment on the differences in scent and/or strength between the Creamy Skin Perfume, the Parfum de Toilette and the Cologne Spray? For these latest finds included no fewer than four bottles or purse sprays that were BNIB - or Brand Old In Box, to be more exact.

This is heavenly florals, soapy sweet clean delicious aldehydic citrus and peach, vanilla beans and woodsy notes. To me the first 30 or so minutes of L'Aimant actually smells so much like the original Nivea cream in the blue tin that I'm surprised no one else seems to mention that. One thing else to mention - if you find a fragrance that has dried up or is very sticky, you can help it along (and be minimally invasive about it) but simply putting the bottle in some warm water for a few minutes to make any solids liquify again. I like it better though some how, but to me it is very very similar, at least the vintage original version which I am testing now.The intial blast of flowers and aldehydes are lovely, but the dry down smells like a strong combination of animalic musk and cinnamon, which sits very unwell on my skin and isn't pleasant.