L'Air Du Temps

L'Air Du Temps, inspired by Nina Ricci L'Air du Temps Eau de Toilette (1948)

Carnation sets the tone: a flower with a natural clove-like spice, paired here with creamy gardenia. Rose and jasmine fill out the heart and give the composition a rounded, romantic middle. Sandalwood and iris form the base, and the iris brings the powdery quality, like a dusting of face powder, that defines its drydown. It stays composed throughout, more refined than sweet.

About the original

Francis Fabron created L'Air du Temps in 1948, working with Robert Ricci, Nina Ricci's son. Nina Ricci presents it as a perfume of peace, love and freedom after the war, and as the first spicy floral, built around carnation. The bottle with two doves on the stopper became its emblem. The house still sells the Eau de Toilette, though older bottles are often said to be richer than today's version.

Our version

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

Who it suits

Admirers of mid-century perfumery will recognise its structure straight away. Powder and spice outweigh freshness or sugar, so anyone used to modern fruity florals may find it old-fashioned at first.

Related scents

• Nina Ricci Nina
• Nina Ricci Premier Jour

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

Top notes: Carnation, Gardenia

Heart notes: Centifolia Rose, Grasse Jasmine

Base notes: Mysore Sandalwood, Iris

The opening pairs carnation's clove-like spice with gardenia.

Centifolia rose and Grasse jasmine make the heart, rounded and floral.

It dries down to sandalwood and iris, smooth and faintly powdery.

What does carnation smell like in perfume?

Floral with a spicy, clove-like edge. It is the note that gives L'Air du Temps its gentle spice.

Is L'Air du Temps powdery?

Moderately. Iris in the base gives a soft powder effect, while carnation keeps it from becoming purely talc-like.

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.

Nina Ricci and L'Air du Temps are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Nina Ricci 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.