Evelyn Tripp wears a silk twill dress by Mollie Parnis and rhinestone jewelry by Bogoff in a photo by Horst P. Horst for Vogue, November 1953
“Our ambition? Create a unique link between the past and the present, between inherited know-how and the creativity of modern perfumery”- Caroline Ilaqua, President Teo Cabanel
Caroline Ilacqua of Teo Cabanel via Teo Cabanel
It’s such a joyful discovery when you meet a perfume house you didn’t know before and unearth treasures that thrill you like a quiver full of cupid’s arrows. This is exactly what happened when the fragrances of Teo Cabanel fell across my path. My baptism was the divinely mouth-watering Café Cabanel. The samples that were sent with it confirmed that this was indeed a house to fall for. Each fragrance piqued my interest and made my heart soar.
Frank Horvat, Patrizia (For Figaro Madame, Eiffel Tower), Paris
I’m always ready and willing to experience roses from a new angle so when I first tried Oha, I was delighted to see that even this most ubiquitous flower was showcased in a way that I not only enjoyed, but began to yearn for daily once the sample ran out. Teo Cabanel Oha is the magic carpet that took me to my happy place and that place is my grandmother’s bathroom in the late seventies where I spent hours mixing marvelous powdery potions. Oha has all I wished for: roses all a-bloom, dusting powder, an astringency of fresh air through a window and a rather bosomy chypre finale that calls for twin sets and pearls, but could equally go with slinky black leather.
Patricia Prunonosa, Eiffel_Tower in Jaques Fath 1955, Photo Walde Huth
Another descriptive word tapped me on my shoulder and refused to leave me alone. This is FRENCH. It’s drenched in French.
Catherine Deneuve © Jeanloup Sieff
It’s as chic as Paris (the nice parts) and as French as Colette, Edith Piaf, and Catherine Deneuve on Bastille Day (actually, it’s rumoured that Edith Piaf wore Robert Piguet Bandit, but Teo Cabanel Oha would go perfectly with a dusty black dress and a spotlight).
Teo Cabanel book of formulas and eau de cologne labels from the Teo Cabanel website
OHA was created by Jean Francois Latty (YSL Jazz, Givenchy III), who is responsible for many of the modern Teo Cabanels, whilst capturing the essence of this heritage French apothecary that began life back in 1893, when Théodore and Meloé Cabanel created fragrances for handkerchiefs.
Evelyn Tripp Horst P. Horst 1957©
When choosing between Bulgarian rose and Damascene rose, Latty used both and the result is a narcotic headiness, aided and abetted by bewitching jasmine. This opening act would be enough to mesmerize on its own, but Oha has more surprises in store. Whilst the roses never go away, they are joined on their journey by aromatic cardamom and tonka bean, giving this a warmth behind its antique damask curtain. A breeze of tea and a squeeze of lime tames the flowers away from reaching for the soprano notes whilst orris provides a puff of talcum powder and a silk stocking. Maybe it was the powdery patina, but Oha reminds me of ladies evening purses and gold encased lipsticks. That’s not to say it can’t be worn by men too. The scent of rose on a man is rare enough today to make me look twice and thrice. The muted spice of the cardamom and the velvety finish of woods provides a final act that you never want to end.
Oha had me at bonjour. This chic French bouquet with more than a joyous dusting of retro is a scent that could take you anywhere. For me, it’s the joyful feeling of being let loose in a bath room with bath oil, bath cubes and dusting powder. It’s the symmetry of having being the girl who powder puffs the bathroom and the woman who, many years later, has her own opulent treats on a dressing table for grown-ups, even though I’m yet to feel like one.
Notes: Tea, bergamot, rose, jasmine, cardamom, tonka, patchouli, white musk.
Disclaimer: Many thanks to Caroline Ilacqua of Teo Cabanel for my samples. Opinions are my own.
– Samantha Scriven, Contributor and writer of the iscentyouaday perfume blog
Art Direction-Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief
Photo of Teo Cabanel Oha via Teo Cabanel
Thanks to the generosity of Caroline Ilacqua of Teo Cabanel, we have a draw for a 100ml eau de parfum bottle of Teo Cabanel Oha (value: 155€) for one registered reader in EU, USA or Canada. You must register here or your comment will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what you enjoyed most about Samantha’s review, if you have a Teo Cabanel favourite fragrance, and where you live. Draw closes 5/8/2020
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