Private Collection Estée Lauder for women

This is a new perfume for me, one that I like very, very much!

I was impressed by the balance: it is a multifaceted perfume full of sweet florals and light, mixed with deep, nut-like wood and warm musk, seasoned with chrysanthemum spice...yet somehow manages to not allow any one element in the mix to take over the composition. The result is a lovely and sophisticated
feminine with great longevity and sillage, one I seem to enjoy at all stages in it's life. Excellent.

I see why EL was keeping this one for herself.

The best of the best...magnifique !

Shows how much I don't know about perfumes- I would have thought this a chypre!

I really like this (thanks oh! de parfum). Smellybitch said it well (hehe- that name always makes me giggle.) when she said it has a sense of "authority" about it. It makes people pay attention without using a harsh and intimidating tone.

This possesses a natural, earthy quality that I love. It's mostly dry with just a BIT of green sweetness. My chemistry brings out a powdery note (which must be the woods), but it doesn't turn musty on me. Nobody shoot me but I'm wondering what it would smell like layered with something more green, such as Vent Vert or VV Platinum Roberto Verino, something dewy or grassy. I wonder if this would achieve that "walk in the moist forest" I long for? I'm excited to try this - I'll update with the results...

I find it to be along the same lines as EL Jasmin White Moss, which I recently reviewed, but for me it's more wearable, I think because it's more subdued.
I smell dry, non-sweet hyacinths here, chrysanthemums, and just a well-blended mix of greens and woods.

A year ago, I would not have appreciated this scent. After sampling many mainstream, often sweet fragrances (which I like, too!), I am really enjoying this. It's a breath of fresh air.

Lastly, my husband gave me an unsolicited comment this morning when I came downstairs after applying this. He said, "do I smell incense?" (That's what he said when I tried Boucheron Boucheron, too.) I think it's the dry quality that could smell like a clean, non-smoky incense to some people. He liked it as well.

The narcissus and cedar give this aldehyde an androginous twist. Most unusual for a Lauder! I love narcissus so it's about the only aldehyde that suits me.

It can be customised easily by layering it with florals or with chypres, I would use Chloe Narcisse to ramp up the narcissus or Bandit to butch it up with a tobacco note.

Don't much like the very narrow tall bottle,it's too unbalanced, but the spray is good. nice and gentle.

The lotion is very good indeed.

When I write a list of my top 10 fragrances ( a daunting task best left for sometime in the future :o/), Private Collection will undoubtedly be on it more than likely somewhere close to the top. This is not because it is earth-shattering or so different that it brings on that "OH MY GOD ... I have to have a bottle NOW" feeling ... simply just because it is so constant! Even when Lauder reformulates, they do so in a way that is so sympathetic to the original spirit of the fragrance that one simply registers a slight difference in the longevity. BRAVO!! My Mom's signature since the late Seventies, I have also taken to wearing it of late as it is completely unisex in the way that many floral chypre's tend to be 35 odd years on. Five stars from Tania Sanchez is good enough for me :o).

Vintage.
Great. Mossy, green, light floral notes that smell like talcum powder, but in a good way, a sniff ends on a rather brisk note like an old fashion men's cologne.
If released today as a masculine, it would be one of the butchest.
This has a scent of authority about it, good scent for a mature lady who has things to do.

What a lovely perfume this is!
In the beginning it smells like old fashion floral but only in the beginning, and to be honest this is something one easily forgives, as the floral part is very delightful indeed!
"Private Collection" has many facets but at the same time is very clear and direct through all stages of its development and believe me there are many.
It reminds me of a vintage Dior (I think "Diorissimo" but I am not sure) for the 1st hour or so, then it becomes a better version of "No 19 Poudre'" .
In fact I'd suggest anyone interested in Chanel's latest creation to try this one as well.
It projects ok and lasts long enough. In addition the price is right as well, so go for it!

a note: This is a unisex perfume. Men should honour it without hesitation!

PC and AE have a very similar composition to me, but PC is a mixture of White Linen with Aromatics Elixir. Something like that. Estee is similar to Private Collection, but simpler, less green, only the floral part, and more soapy than Chypre.

Oddly enough, both PC and Aromatics Elixir smell the same on me. I have not seen this comparison written anywhere, but on me, they are truly the same! Has anyone had this same experience?

Needless to say - both are gorgeous!

Green, floral, woody, powdery...Not too sweet, and ultimately feminine...My husband bought me a gift set in the '80s, and it's on my gift list this year...A forever classic scent that is definitely a staple in my fragrance wardrobe!

This fragrance is beautifully balanced. Green florals, grass, woods, powder, moss. It’s funny the way we rewrite gender over time. I’m sure this was prissily feminine at the time it was released, but if a niche house released this today as a masculine and used all the synonyms for fresh (too down-market to use the word itself) to describe it, this would sell like mad. I can hear it. “A new type of masculine scent. Tonic and Brisk, with just enough Sass and Daring to be powdery.”

I shouldn’t make fun. This really is a brilliant masculine. Feminine, too, for that matter. I love green chypres and usually lean toward the leather variety. This one has not a trace of leather, and in fact is pretty light on moss to my nose. What appeals to me is the balance of its ingredients that overall gives an impression of flowers, leaves, and mostly, grass. This is what the lawns in utopia smell like. Just plan ahead; this stuff is powerfully strong and lasts days.

Nothing else smells like this. It has been my mother's signature scent since I can remember and it smells rich, spicy and expensive and is one of the rare perfumes that lingers for days. It never dates, and it really is Estee Lauder's best work.

I have long been wanting to test EL Private collection and thanks to the lovely smellME, which sent me a mini bottle along the way of a swap, I was finally able to experinece this extraordinary perfume. I had this moment with it - after having been testing numerous scents to the extent of becoming cynical in thinking that I can no longer be moved by a perfume - like being shaken at the sight of someone, whom you know you are already in love with. Now to the point: Private collection is green but not too green; it is floral but not heady; clean but not in a cold way. Chrysanthemum is the most prominent note to my nose. It is complex in the way you just can't place it in a shelf along other familiar perfumes. Wearing it I felt happy and conscious of just how nice I smell. I have for the time being stopped buying new perfumes but this one I plan to buy, it's just so much worth it.

This is remembering the past...my husband always said I smelled wonderful when wearing this peace of art in the early nineties. Finally I have a small bottle to get me back ! I glanced at the note pyramid while wearing it and it was nice to pick them one by one. The notes I love the most in this complex perfume is the linden blossom, orange flower, jasmine, rose, patchouli and heliotrope. It is a wonderful potpurri of notes and I smell lovely! I will surprize my husband with this to see if he too , get the vibes from the nineties... :)

Love this! I received a miniature collection of Estee Lauder fragrances in the 90s and fell in love with this. However, I have other fragrances I'm trying to use up, so no more for several years.

This is strong, and it is very green at first. Be careful when applying it. I find the Estee Lauder fragrances to be a good value for me because I have dry skin and they do last on me. However, I can see that for many people, it might be too much.

Hello I have several perfumes but I keep coming back to this one its so fresh and not over powering and every time I use it some one says " That's nice what is it " just love it thank you

I think this is my most grown up scent (along with Rive Gauche), yet it is very versatile. Very uplifting, fresh, complex, and MUST be applied to be appreciated. Very deep. Smells verrrry expensive, and it is not. To me, this is a floral chypre. Is timeless and magical.

Very special. Suits absolutely any time of year, occasion. I have bought half a dozen bottles of this beauty to date! This is my least-sweet scent of my favorites.

To me, Private Collection is just like walking into a high-end florist when the stems have just been cut! Love it, and I wouldn't normally go for a green fragrance!

This perfume is good and classic. I love wear it on summer!

It smells strongly of chrysanthemums to me. I think it is very beautiful, and actually prefer it to PC Jasmine White Moss (though that perfume is also a great one). Sold! :)

I absolutely love this perfume! I remember when I was a kid, my aunt had received a bottle of this from her boyfriend, a man much older than her and well-off. She cherished that perfume for years, even after they broke up. That was back when it came in a leather pouch and in a small box with a paper covering over the perfume (the mid 80s). My aunt took out the perfume very rarely and used it sparingly, to make it last. I loved to look at the beautiful tiny bottle in the soft pouch and the smell of the perfume was unlike anything I'd ever smelled before! To this day, I love this scent and I wish someone special would give me such a lovely gift to cherish, like my aunt did.

Private Collection is one of my few signature fragrances. I've always liked the green honeysuckle note in the middle of it, and find it good for spring and summer. There is a slight patchouli and moss in the base, but this perfume is nowhere near powerful chypre like. It is more a pure green, slightly sweet floral. I also get a lot of jasmine and gardenia from it. I mix it with Marc Jacobs' signature to bring the gardenia out. Private Collection is an underrated and wonderful classic from the 70's that I am glad to know.

my Dad bought me the perfume of this when I was a kiddo.
I still have the perfume, but I spilled out the content almost half of the bottle when I was a kid.
The bottle is small, comes with leather pocket and it's not with spray.
I heard it's not in the market now.
I'm so in love with this smell.

I have this finally in my collection and I love it!! It is so worth it as one spray is great to last and last and the longer you have it on your skin the better it is!! Really a masterpiece in my books! It just fits! Beautiful!! Don't be turned off if you test it on the paper strip because it has to be tested on the skin! LOVE!!!! What I love about this fragrance is that it is so far away from the mainstream fragrances of today , it is full of character with pure class all the way!! Its so different in this world of sweet, sugary, watery fragrances that I feel fade fast and smell all very similar. i want to smell different, and no one that I know wears this! Thank you estee lauder!

Private Collection is a part of my childhood memories. My grand"mother" raised me; she was a woman of style and elegance. One of my first "scent" memories is of Private Collection; she wore it as one of her "fall" fragrances. I loved it from the beginning! This, along with Ralph Lauren's Lauren, were my first two "only mine" perfumes at the tender age of eight. I've never been without a bottle of Private Collection since..... maybe a purse size in college, when my money was lean, but I've always kept it on hand. It is more of an autumn perfume, but a light mist in the spring would not be out of step either. It's one of those that can be easily overdone.... spray a mist and walk through it. Nowadays people will ask you "What is that gorgeous fragrance you have on?!" It's not expected..... but what a treat!

I don't know if a fragrance can smell more ''Green'' than this, so if you love Green you will love Private Collection.

One of the most curious things is that this ''Green'' scent smell very natural, is like smell the wood and leaves of the Forest After It Rains.

This is a green scent at it's best, but I much prefer Diorella, however this one is quite good.

"One drop of Estee Lauder's Private Collection Perfume and you'll know why she was keeping it for herself."

That's what the advert said in the 70s, although when I smelt it at the counter back then I didn't like it all. The thing about all the Lauder fragrances from the 70s & 80s is that they were made for women not girls. They were strong, rich and sophisticated, and this is no exception. Starts off with an intense green burst that dries down to powdery green scent, with the floral notes showing through. Many people today will find this scent too strong, because they don't realise you only need the tiniest amount to get the full effect. Just try one spray (or even half) and see what I'm talking about.

And if you don't like it now, give yourself time. It took me nearly 20 years to see the real beauty and character of this fragrance. Some scents you grow out of and some scents you grow into. Private Collection is certainly one of the latter for me.

The first time I ever really fell in love with a fragrance it was with this one. It was in 1974 and I was working in a department store at the Pearl City Mall on Oahu Island. Everybody was wearing a cologne called 'Wicked Wahine' (including me) or Avon's Hawaiian White Ginger. There was a lady who worked at the fragrance counter who wore this and I was enchanted. I couldn't afford it, I was 18 years old, but I sure used that tester!
Three years later I got my first bottle, a purse-sized spray for my 21st birthday. It took me a while to use it up; it's very strong. At first a little TOO strong, and a little too herbaceous. But just give it a little time and it blooms into the warmest most beautiful bouquet. It is a magnificent fragrance. Not for everybody, of course, but what fragrance is?

Both girly and cloying- two qualities I don't cherish. To be fair, I only made it an hour before I couldn't take any more and scrubbed it off.
Edit: I must add that what really turned me off was that it smelled like I had taken a whole bunch of honeysuckle vines, mashed them to pieces and sprayed it all over my skin. I found both the honeysuckle and the honeysuckle vines positively *vile*.

I totally concur with Malegria's review on this one! Perfect allegory there...

I had heard so much from my regular fragrance counter lady about how this is the only one of EL's perfumes she likes and wears...so I figured if someone who smells perfumes everyday, all day, likes this it must be something special...she was right!

On first sniffing this I thought :aldehideous, bombastic and a little irritating! But then, I am reminded of someone who I could not stand upon first meeting and, then eventually, fell head over heels in love with! This is that kind of scent. I thought to myself well, "old lady", when I first sprayed this on paper. Then, while walking through the store and sniffing it again, I detected the beautiful green scent of the linden and orange blossoms, together with the lovely hyacinth and clean citruses...not bad! Then, as the veritable meadow of flowers came upon me, I was literally stopped in my tracks by its beauty. A bright bouquet of beautiful flowers with a cool fruitiness underneath and then the aura of the drydown: its green woodiness and powdery heliotrope had me enthralled. I can see why she kept this to herself for so long. This may be one of the most complex scents I have ever sniffed. It goes from screaming, to friendly, to seductive to earthy and sexy, and with each level of its evolution new whispers of wonderful scents appear. If there was ever a perfume that does "The Dance of the Seven Veils" it is Private Collection. This is something vintage (for sure) but also bright, green, flowery and woody-musky without being all of them at once or too much of any of them...Spectacular!!

Sillage: very good
Longevity: excellent
Overall: 4.25/5

If this smells this great on paper, you KNOW the next time I am within 10 miles of the Estee Lauder counter-I am trying this on my skin!! :-)

So harsh and green. It reminds me of Bond No 9 Central Park. A less sophisticated version of Chanel No 19. I liked it but the people around me said I smelled like pot.

Loved it back in the day but it stifles me now. In a class of its own. Too green and sharp for me now. I can get a whiff of it on someone else though and it is nice and very "different".

Chemistry is everything with this scent, the first ten minutes is really old school, but I was still so enchanted by its green luminous beauty! I only add 1 to 2 sprays because it is more than enough to capture the scents beauty, I find that after half an hour it smells powdery and optimistic , I don't know if someone would compliment me on this fragrance because its not sexy but its very classy and I love the vintage retro feel of it, so I would wear it for my own pleasure! Beautiful!!!

I bought pure perfume unsniffed (found it really cheap), and here I am agreeing with Malegria - perfect review. And my olfactory impressions are like you described - first something like a hit in my jaw, but then (about an hour later) came a wonderful scent. It is sophisticated, but I don't think I'm going to use it ever. So anyone interested in 0.3 oz/10 ml of Private Collection pure perfume?
Edit: PC is soon going to find new home.

Wonderful review by Malegria, couldn't be described any better! Overload of bergamot in the beginning gives PC this hissing note, oh, just wait for the rest to develop - it is really worth it. It becomes warm, smooth and rich, with shiny rays of light in between.

I wore this fragrance all the time about 20 years ago and grew tired. I bought a bottle recently and found this: even when I wore it way back when, I sprayed it into the air and walked into it. It may seem like a waste, but his is very strong stuff and I have never had to do that with any other fragrance before or since.

I've used it a couple of times over the last few days and I like the scent when I get a waft, but it is not so pleasant when I put my nose right next to where is lies on my skin.

My advice, use sparingly and don't sniff so close, that might help anyone who "wants" to like it. When very lightly applied it reminds me of freshly line-dried cotton.

by the way,why we dont see commercials or adds for this perfume? I know it doesnt need any,but was there any in the past?

I have it in pure perfume and edp as well,I just warship it and warship Estee for creating such a masterpiece

I sampled Private Collection in the pure perfume, and I can safely say that I was not impressed. As a lover of N.19, YSL Y, and Niki de Saint Phalle, I was surprised not to like Private Collection.

To start with what Private Collection does well, the green opening smells very authentic. The interpretation of the green notes, accompanied by neroli and bergamont, has a wonderful natural springiness to it! The honeysuckle, crysanthemum, and narcissus proportion was simply inspired. At this point, I quite envy Miss Estee Lauder for her private bend of chic-in-a-bottle.

But then the basenotes come through and Private Collection falls apart on my skin. The moss starts rolling, and rolling, and rolling. I love oakmoss, but consider this way excessive. The moss, in conjunction with patchoulli, coriander, and other woods simply takes over, and it smells like a loud mess on my skin. It is extremely strong, and it feels very unbalanced - this makes me uncomfortable.

If I were Miss Lauder, I would do something about the base. Alas, Private Collection parfum is not for me. Perhaps the EDP-wearers have better luck.

I remember hating this when I first put it on and washing it off immediately. I should have waited longer for the perfume to develop! Initially, it goes on very green--think freshly mown grass sparkling with water. This is the stage I dislike the most, but then..it's gone and it morphs into this rich, sparkling scent that I can't describe except that it reminds me of when I wear chamade. PC is more ladylike and restrained than Chamade, though, but they both sparkle and I find myself burying my nose in my shirt and taking big, deep whiffs. I wish I could describe the scent better!

I have both the parfum and EdC...the parfum starts out with the freshly mown grass and the EDC smells similar, except the grass isn't freshly mown and has been sitting in the sun for awhile. It also takes the EDC a bit longet to reach the lovely stage.

What an strange creature - Private Collection...As all great floral greens of the 60s and 70s,it starts out harsh and intimidating, eccentric and a little rude.It has a note that feels almost hysterical - but if it starts with a scream, it ends with an aria.Private Collection reminds me of a woman in a hurry - she creates a horrible mess in her bedroom getting dressed, stockings and blouses everywhere, spilled coffee, powder on her dressing table...but when she gets out of her house, she is an object of art. A lot of the notes in this scent seem incompatible to me, and yet as it develops, everything comes together like a puzzle.

This is one I wish I could wear. Beautiful with the right chemistry.

The legend for Private Collection goes like this: Estee Lauder was in an elevator with several people. Someone asked her what she was wearing. She remarked that it was a scent from her private collection.

The following day the paper said that Estee had just anounced her new Fragrance-Private Collection. A journalist present in the elevator broke a story that forced Private Collection's commercial release.

It is also said that Estee used to send the fragrance as a christmas gift to "friends" like Jackie Onasis, Gloria Vanderbilt and many other VIPs presented in a Lalique(or was it Baccarat)bottle.

I was told once of a GWP promotion during the 80's which included a small bottle of Private Collection. The promotion sold out in a day and women at Estee Lauder counters were crying desperate for a sample as they had missed out on this precious drop.

I seem to ADORE perfumes that have the Chrysanthemum note in them! EXCELLENT PERFUME!!

This is a lovely rich floral which starts off with a green blast which you either like or not. This mellows into a smooth and buttery floral not unlike Boucheron, which I also wear and love. If I had not already discovered Boucheron this one would be bottle worthy, but I have to say that I think it's slightly 'ordinary', not loud or dramatic but discreet and plush. I'm amazed at Estee Lauder and wished I'd discovered her gems earlier!!
Tried this one again yesterday and find it a mixture between Ivoire and Boucheron - rich, soapy floral heaven in other words!

This has similarities to Chanel no 19, if you are looking for a stronger version of chanel no19, this would be a good one to sample

despite sum bad reviews i love it.it is a beautiful green scent that smells of an orange orchard,surrounded by an old wire fence covered by honey suckle.the floral comes forth with the distinct smell of big overflowing chyrsanthemums.the amber is stroked by the musk for a soft still very green drydown.a masterpiece.i can c why she kept it for herself.

I see a woman in a pin striped grey suit wearing narrow glasses, silver, white gold and platinum. She has a backbone made of steel, she is awe inspiring, she is business like, she is super professional, she is deadly efficient, she is no nonsense, she is amazing, and she is not me.

I just smelled this the other day and i was turned off by it.It smelled like heavy chemicals!! It almost smells dangerous to wear!! I just can't get that heavy unsafe smell out my mind,its almost like gasoline mixed with marijuana.It smells horrible!!

This is a review of the "Pure Fragrance" concentration, which has incredible sillage and lasts for hours. Comparable to a parfum.

I admit, I'm hugely impressed by Private Collection, but at the same time, I'm not sure I really like it.

It's an amazingly complex fragrance: tropical flowers and juicy, freshly-crushed greens atop some of the driest woody notes I've smelled in any perfume. And these three scents dance in and out throughout the life of the fragrance on my skin. It's almost like the scent is constantly cycling through these three phases, with small variations as it goes. It seems to defy the typical structure of top notes yielding to heart notes which dry down to base notes. All three phases seem to be present or emerging at any given time.

I would almost call it old-fashioned, but it's probably best to describe it as unique and intense. Perhaps the notes are classic or old-fashioned, but the structure is avant garde or even radical. I've not smelled any other fragrance like it.

I have a feeling this one might perform better for me in the summer. I'm going to stash my sample and try it again when the weather is warm.

Editing: this one is just a no-go for me, even in warm weather. Definitely one to sample and try ON YOUR SKIN before purchasing.

I spotted E. Lauder counter, I approached it with the intention to find Private Collection as I had read about it recently and was looking for chrysanthemums. I quickly discerned the chosen bottle and without noticing the shop assistant I sprayed it on my wrist. In that very moment she appeared out of the background and asked if I need anything. The dose which was meant to go on that left wrist divided between my hand and my mouth and I had tasted Private Collection for the first time in my life. No need to mention the review of its taste would need its own website space. But the smell, oh divine!

Its complexity proved that it is a fragrance blended very well and not intended to give all in the first few minutes. The top notes developed the sought for chrysanthemum and greenery. I was very pleased to realise that I could wear it now, in the autumn or winter days, as those notes carried the solemn austerity of these seasons.

I think there were chypre or aldehydic notes.(I'm not an expert in reading them).The middle notes were strong flowers. The intensity is the same now, after 3-4 hours as it was in the beginning.

The drydown has left the autumnal white flower with green sharpness behind, and has sweetened up oozing a lovely mixture of sophisticated woods and a bit of powder.

I believe its creators must have had in mind that if there is a woman who prefers to use only one single scent as her signature in favour of having a large collection, that woman has a high chance to chose this one - for its memorable, luxurious, very classic formula.

i allways will have it in my collection
i adore it , its green and sweet in elgant way , .

more like chanel 19 and a bit of tender poison. great perfume

Bought the perfume today.very green, outdoorsy smell, sophisticated and elegant at the same time.

Today i tested this perfume by estee lauder, i was not impressed by the top notes. Three hours later wow class all the way.

Just gorgeous, very complex and unexpected in all it does. It is strong, you have to be gentle with it but it has always felt pure class.

My mothers scent, but I cant wear it and I am over 40. Very strong, signature scent for my mom.

A friend of mine wore nothing but Private Collection and it smelled wonderful on her. It was rich and floral but a little woodsy as well.I tried it at a local department store,I just knew I would love it. It was so bad,the store clerk suggested another scent. So if you can wear it, enjoy, on the right person it smells amazing.

I love this one ...mouth watering ...don't be heavy handed with it.

I wanted to try this scent because I liked the sound of the notes and thought that perhaps it would be a little similar to my all-time favourite Burberry Weekend.

Well, similar it is not. This fragrance goes on very strong, it almost knocked me out. It has a very distinctive, mature and old-fashioned type scent.

It was very difficult for me to sniff my wrist to get a proper description for reviewing this scent because the fragrance was so heavy and overpowering. I can sense the greeness in this fragrance, however, like Chanel No.19, all I could smell was wet grass.

From a distance I didn't mind the scent. It was a rather intense, powdery and likable blend of floral notes. However, up close it smelt like rotten vegetables, dangerous chemicals and spicy herbs.

This fragrance is certainly not my cup of tea, however I am reviewing this fragrance from a younger perspective. Perhaps when I am older I will appreciate this scent more, but I doubt I will ever be adding this to my collection.

I have concluded that this is either a love it or hate it type of scent. To me this fragrance is far too potent and unpleasant for my liking.

EDIT:
I am re-visiting this fragrance nearly two years on, and I must say my opinions and tastes have differed. While I don't love Private Collection just yet, it is surprisingly soapier than when I last tested it. That rotten smell has vanished and what is left is a rather mature and clean floral green.

I adore Chanel No. 19 and was enticed by the similarity of notes in this one. However, I was a little disappointed when I tested the miniature bottle of pure parfum I bought: it's very, very green on my skin and never dips into florals the way No. 19 does. I get galbanum and chrysanthemum, and the narcissus only seems to come in very faintly. The heart-drydown goes very faint on me. It may, however, be my skin - a friend who's familiar with PC sniffed my bottle and told me that it smells fine and hasn't turned. Indeed, it smells quite different - more floral, with discernible oakmoss - in the bottle than it does on my skin. So, sadly I decide that this one's not for me, although I love a nice green floral.

Oh my - I have bottles of this and can never be without it. I layer the talc, over the body lotion, then add and the perfume as armour for a blue day. Nothing makes me feel more indomitable or more secretly sexy! It could dive into this scent and swim away to heaven. It is so complex.

I do not have it, but I find this scent utterly charming and sexy on others! It is a classic, indeed!

It's hard to find another so sophisticated scent like Private Collection.

It can be described as aromatic and very green, like chypre and like very rich floral and woody at the same time.

Very heavy, not for everyday wear, but I like it, it smells classic and very feminine.

I was wandering desultorily around the tiny cosmetics department of my local department store today when I spotted a tester of this scent, hidden behind several bottles of Lauder's hipper, splashier scents. One spray and I was instantly smitten. I have tended to avoid Lauder scents all of my life so I am doubly surprised by how much I like this fragrance. But like it I do!

My friend wears this fragrance and I think it smells great!