Cinnabar

Cinnabar, inspired by Estée Lauder Cinnabar (1978)

Tangerine and orange flower make a brief, glowing entrance, quickly joined by jasmine. Clove then becomes the dominant voice, dry and almost medicinal, with lily of the valley and lily tempering it only slightly. Underneath sits olibanum, another name for frankincense, together with sandalwood and patchouli. The overall effect is spiced and resinous, closer to a church censer than to a dessert.

About the original

Estée Lauder launched Cinnabar in 1978, only months after Yves Saint Laurent released Opium. Perfume databases credit it to Bernard Chant and Josephine Catapano. It remains on sale through Estée Lauder's sites in the US, UK, France and Australia, although the French site now presents it as a last-chance item.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Estée Lauder stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Someone who already wears heavy spice orientals will find it familiar territory. The clove is strong and the frankincense adds a smoky dryness, so anyone who dislikes dense or vintage-feeling scents should approach with care.

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Top notes: Jasmine, Orange Flower, Tangerine

Heart notes: Clove, Lily Of The Valley, Lily

Base notes: Olibanum, Sandalwood, Patchouli

Tangerine, orange flower and jasmine open it with a short burst of citrus and blossom.

Clove takes over the heart, pungent and dry, framed by lily of the valley and lily.

Olibanum, sandalwood and patchouli make up a resinous, ambery drydown.

Is Estée Lauder Cinnabar discontinued?

No. Estée Lauder still sells it in several countries, though its French site lists it as a last-chance item.

How does Cinnabar compare with YSL Opium?

Both are spicy orientals from the late 1970s, with Cinnabar arriving months after Opium. Cinnabar is built around clove and orange flower over frankincense.

Is it very spicy?

Yes. Clove is the dominant note through the heart, and the base is resinous rather than sweet.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Estée Lauder and Cinnabar are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Estée Lauder in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.