Knowing

Knowing, inspired by Estée Lauder Knowing (1988)

Knowing belongs to the chypre family, built on a contrast between a bright top and a dark, mossy base. Rose leads, layered with tuberose, mimosa and a ripe plum note, while pittosporum adds a sweet, orange-blossom-like floral. Patchouli and jasmine deepen the heart. Oakmoss, a lichen with an inky, earthy, almost mineral smell, sits in the base with vetiver and sandalwood, giving the whole a dry, shadowed finish.

About the original

Estée Lauder launched Knowing in 1988, and it is usually credited to the perfumer Elie Roger. The brand traces it to the pittosporum flowers Evelyn Lauder smelled in the south of France, and describes it as worldly and woody-floral. It is reported to have been adjusted over time: long-time wearers say there is more patchouli and less oakmoss in the current version. It remains in the House of Estée Lauder range.

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

Admirers of 1980s chypres will recognise the style straight away. It is rich and mature in tone, with the mossy, patchouli-heavy base doing much of the talking. Wearers used to modern clean musks may find it formal and old-fashioned at first.

Related scents

• Clinique Aromatics Elixir
• Guerlain Mitsouko

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

Top notes: Rose, Tuberose, Mimosa, Plum, Pittosporum

Heart notes: Jasmine, Patchouli, Orange Flower

Base notes: Oakmoss, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Amber

Rose opens with tuberose and a plummy fruitiness, while mimosa and pittosporum give a sweet floral lift.

At its centre, jasmine and orange flower meet earthy patchouli.

The base turns to oakmoss and vetiver, deepened by sandalwood with a touch of amber.

What is a chypre?

A perfume style built on citrus or florals over oakmoss and patchouli. It smells structured and mossy rather than sweet.

Has Knowing been reformulated?

Wearers report that the current version has more patchouli and less oakmoss than vintage bottles. We have not found a statement from Estée Lauder on this.

Is this Knowing or Knowing Legacy?

The standard Knowing Eau de Parfum from 1988. Estée Lauder also lists a Knowing Legacy edition separately.

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.

Estee Lauder and Knowing are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Estee 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.