Paloma Picasso

Paloma Picasso, inspired by Paloma Picasso (1984)

Spice comes first, with coriander and clove giving the bergamot a dry, peppery bite. The floral heart is full and rounded, rose and jasmine made heavier by ylang-ylang. A chypre base takes over from there: oakmoss for a dark, forest-floor bitterness, patchouli for depth, and honey with a trace of civet, a note that smells faintly animal and skin-like. It is a dense, many-layered composition.

About the original

Paloma Picasso launched this fragrance in 1984, produced under L'Oréal through Cosmair, and designed the bottle herself. The composition is usually credited to Francis Bocris, though we have only found that in fragrance databases. Published note lists for it vary widely, so the notes given here are indicative. According to some reviews it has been reformulated over time, and one describes later bottles as thinner than vintage ones.

Our version

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

Who it suits

Confident wearers who enjoy vintage-style perfume will find a lot here. The clove, moss and civet give it a dark, grown-up character, which can feel heavy going next to a light or fresh floral.

Related scents

• Paloma Picasso Minotaure
• Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Top notes: Bergamot, Neroli, Angelica, Clove, Coriander

Heart notes: Jasmine, Rose, Ylang-ylang, Hyacinth, Orris

Base notes: Oakmoss, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Amber, Civet, Honey

Bergamot and neroli open it, quickly roughened by coriander, clove and angelica, a root with a green, earthy-musky smell.

Rose and jasmine form the heart, with ylang-ylang adding a rich, slightly banana-like tone and hyacinth a cooler edge. Orris lends a little powder.

The base is the chypre part: oakmoss, patchouli, vetiver and sandalwood, with amber, honey and a touch of civet giving it depth.

Is this Paloma Picasso Mon Parfum?

Yes. It is based on the original 1984 Paloma Picasso, commonly known as Mon Parfum, not later scents from the house such as Tentations or the men's Minotaure.

Does it smell animalic?

Slightly. Civet and honey in the base give it a skin-like depth, but the overall impression is floral and mossy rather than raw.

What makes it a chypre?

The contrast of citrus at the top with oakmoss and patchouli at the base. That bitter, mossy structure is the hallmark of the chypre family.

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.

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