Cinnabar by Estee Lauder

krmarich

This was my sister's signature in the 1980s. All that I remember was cinnamon buried in wierd floral. She would spay it and her little dog and I would sneeze. I kept encouraging YSL Opium, yet all of her friends were wearing it at the time. Honestly, its a very wintry scent that really never undestood the nature of "oriental". Sorry...

kastehelmi

Patchouli rules this spicy Oriental-if I could love patchouli, I would like this....If I could like patchouli, this would be fine! The patchouli hits within 2 minutes, so the initial spice-rack-spritz passes all of its allure immediately. Much stronger than Opium, deserves its reputation. The spice version of Tabu-no hoo-ha here, just strong hot dry spicy woodiness, but-smells rather stale. One spray can be too much-it seems a bottle will turn before it should be completely used up....

Sissi

This is in my Opinion a lighter
less pungent version of Giorgio Of Beverly Hills Red. the opening starts
with Delectable spices oranges jasmine
orange blossom and it dries down to a
variety of woods this is good warm
scent for a cold day.

Cyndyava

This will forever remind me of my high school years in the mid-eighties! We were all Estee freaks. My friends Liz and Cindy wore this and it smelled great on them. I couldn't quite pull it off and I felt like the burned cinnamon quality lingered on my skin a bit too long and never really changed on me. It reminds me of winter and spicy, cold, bundle-up weather...While going out and being "bad girls!"

Caro

Cinnabar is my signature fragrance! I admit I'm a woman "of a certain age"though, and I can understand why younger women would not care to wear this. It's really an older woman's perfume: spicy, rich, intense, not a gamine's light, modern, unisex floral--thank God! We sophisticated woman would prefer not to smell like a geranium or a salad!

soniamcalear

This scent is hella strong! I love to smell it in the bottle but it is better left in the bottle! It is a cinnamon, heavy spicy scent beyond comparison other than to Opium-both are atomic bomb strength! Way to outdated for their own good!

Frenzy

I wore this all through the early 80's. It was my signature scent. I happened upon it over the weekend and though, "Let's give this another try." Big mistake! Although it suited me when I was in my late teens early 20's it no longer suited my body chemistry. It comes on very strong and by the time you think it may mellow to a nice level it is gone. Somethings are better left in the past.

Jinalda

I took a sample of Cinnabar as fast as I noticed it in our local store. I liked it immediately on the paper strip and quickly sprayed it on my wrist. I thought “oh… that is something very interesting, something bitter, and there is a cinnamon, and it has some vintage elegance in it”. I liked it so much that dared to spray it on the neck (the final test before buying), ‘cause I was almost convinced that Cinnabar would be my next buy.
And the title – my mother who is an artist would appreciate it ;)

But in an hour almost everything disappeared except the cinnamon. And that was not it’s best embodiment. That was a big surprise to me ‘cause I always liked the cinnamon scent for the cozy feeling it creates. But this time it was somewhat freshed-up cinnamon. I don’t mean that I like to smell like cinnamon bun, but I expected something more interesting from the combination of cinnamon, amber, benzoin and vanilla.The cinnamon that I received was very boring, and I just didn’t know where to get myself from it. It caught me up every time I tried to run away from it. The strong wind couldn’t put it off me, only a hot shower helped.

Well, not my cup of Estee Lauder tea again.) Got to settle another search campaign!

Jeannine

I have heard about this quite often but am ashamed to say today is the first time I tried it. And I have to say while it is interesting, slightly animal and not entirely unsexy, it is way too strong for me. It is actually pretty harsh. In the top notes, I was hit by spices, cloves, bergamot, and a hint of tangerine, while the orange blossom stayed somewhat subdued on my skin and didn't soften the blow. The middle notes were dominated by the cinnamon; and the base notes, on my skin, drowned in patchouli and incense. So while I can imagine it being great on some women, it did not do wonders on me.
The perfume reminded me of my childhood in the eighties, of strong women with big shoulder pads, legwarmers and dyed perms, who didn't seem to take crap from anyone; very early Madonna. It somewhat lacks subtlety though and although I am defintiely more a woodsy spice kind of gal than a floral-lover, this was a bit much.
I totally see, though, why it would attract fans. A very sensual, unique fragrance.

shelpen

Ah! This one was almost perfect until the base: tolu balsam + incense gave out a strange but unmistakable note of tire burnining.
It is true: the smell is strong, exotic and warm...just like a burn tire. :)

sweetcookie

Everyone who wears scents usually has one that totally captivates them, and Cinnabar is mine. For me, this glorious concoction, (Estee's very best), is the embodiment of the winter holidays, warm and joyous, right down to the red cap, and is as exotic as the eponymous mercury compound.
The opening brings a whiff of spice, a bit of peach and tangerine, a jolt of cloves- not totally unlike a holiday dessert table, complete with spicy cakes and pies, fruit bowls, and warm wine adorned with clove-studded oranges.
You then begin to smell the presence of (red) carnations, the sweet jasmine, and the wonderful sroma of cinnamon found in many a Christmas cookie. How festive can a perfume get?
But wait, stay around for the finale, which brings with it the exotic, courtesy of the amber, patchouli, and, especially. the incense, and the homey touch of vanilla. Quite a combination, and I just adore it.
One of the best things about Cinnabar os it leaves a lasting impression, just as all those warm, inviting holiday get-togethers do. Thanks for the memories, EL!

cleo cupcake

I wore this all the time in the eighties. I was I confess, rather heavy-handed with it - we took pleasure in being able to knock out a room with our scent in those days! As a result I think this kind of oriental got a bad rep - don't blame Cinnabar, it's a lovely warm and seductive fragrance and I still wear it in the evening - used with a little restraint it's gorgeous.

Flybethy

This is the fragrance my best friend first wore when we were teenagers, a very unusual choice. But as she is dark and exotic looking it was perfect. I could not wear it, it is always her but I loved how warm, spicy, rich it was.

mrolfhus

I bought this to get the make-up special value with a fragrance purchase (I used to love Pleasures but my body chemistry changed and now it makes me gag). I didn't like it when I first put it on, but as it developed I kinda grooved to it. It IS a more mature scent, but it has its place.

litldove7

The name Cinnabar sounds delicious...though to me, the aroma or rather, odor, was far from it. Too strong. Waaaay too strong for me. The spice was overly done. I just now looked at the notes, and they look harmless enough (even quite refreshing)...but it didn't smell like anything the notes implied, at least not on me. I don't know. Maybe the bottle was really old.... because it smelled more like old perfume mixed with gasoline to me. =( I must have a strange chemistry...

exciter76

I'm not a huge fan of oriental fragrances but this is one of my favorites. Reading other reviews I feel maybe this is a favorite for me (and possibly others who feel as I do) because I'm not partial toward oriental fragrances. I might even call this fragrance a 'superficial' oriental because it lightly touches upon the elements that qualify it as an 'oriental' yet it contains the overpowering strength of an 'oriental'.

Yes, my mother did wear this one back in the day (the 1980s) and quite possibly I enjoy it as a homage to her.

dalkiuyu

my mom has a bottle of this, but i have never tried to wear it as i think its quite challenging, not very wearable. it's strong, spicy, very oriental. if you have ever tried altoids cinnamon gum, this smells exactly like it.

Vivi

I have a friend who wears nothing else. I do love it, but a bit heavy for me most of the time.

classic

My mother used to wear this one in the 80s. I liked the spicy top notes originally but some ingredient has always given me a dreadful headache; not common to me with perfumes. I'm practically allergic to it.

ineedavktion

I was looking in the mall tonight for something spicy and warm. I stopped to smell Spellbound and thought it smelled like cinnamon and cloves, when the sales lady asked if I had ever tried Cinnabar. Hadn't...so tried it...and glad that was over with. I probably should have let it dry down a little more, but first whiff and yucky. Just not my style.

katyas

This was my first "grown up" and "expensive" perfume that I bought for myself. As far as I know, I still have some of it left back out at my folks' place. I really liked it - I remember enjoying how spicy it was. It has been so long - I wonder if I would still like it?

hibernia

I have had 2 bottles.Everyone raved about Opium which did nothing for me.Cinnabar was THE one for me in the spicy oriental range. I would get it again.

Chatnoir

This was my mother's signature scent in the early 1980's. People call it Opium's poor relation, and I understand why, but I think it stands nicely on its own. Cinnabar definitely highlights the cinnamon note, unlike Opium, where cinnamon is one note among many. I like to think of Cinnabar as the daytime version of Opium. A little cleaner and drier, a little less challenging, it works better as a daytime fragrance, especially in winter.

margierose

Not a favorite Estee Lauder fragranceof mine. I find this one a bit strong as I found her Youth dew fragrance. However if you love Cinnamon,this will definitely be a hit with you so try it.

cognac

I hadnt untill now noticed that i have a thing for cinnamon fragrances.:)
This is a heavy and expensive perfume.
IT has a place to worn to.The amber ,vanilla and incense and frankinsence does give it a very middle eastern persona.
I bought this on my first trip to the UAE and when ever i spray this on my skin it takes me back to the middle east and the wonderful holiday i had there.
love this perfume and enjoy wearing it.

Smauglius

For me it has much less cinnamon than Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant or Tigre, Givenchy Organza Indecence, Hermes Ambre Narguile. My nose identifies no cinnamon which would make this fragrance a cinnamony fragrance. Unfortunately .......

PR

I expected something different I tink, the only thing which justified my expectations was the warmness of the scent. It wasn't for me as sickening and pronounced as Luten's Rousse cinnamon ( and as one-dimentional), but I didn't like it anyway. It reminded me the smell of old closet, or kitchen's cabinet, old too, with lots of spices and stuff of uknown origins leaving their traces of smell and mixing in the dark of the drawer.
I sprayed it on a paper strip, I was scared to spray it on myself. After and hour, in a car, we felt the sickly sweet cinnamonish smell and my husband asked me if I took that 'horrible sample' (referring to Rousse), when I found in my pocket the strip sprayed with Cinnabar..I couldn't leave it anywhere near myself

just to add , I think I'd rather stick to my beloved Hermes Elixir des Merveilles, and everything with merveilles on the bottle from Hermes..

BitterOrange

I like this until the later stages when the patchouli comes to the fore on me - Cinnabar really suits me up till that point, then it goes all wrong.

sweetcookie

Cinnabar- WOW! My slltime favorite scent- so warm, exciting, exotic. I love the spice, the incense, the orange blossom, and I get compliments galore. Some say it's too strong, and it is powerful, but it's sooooooooooooo delicious.

guest_Jade

I love this perfume! It smells amazing on me, something in my body chemisty alters the scent. I wear this almost every single day.

takemyhusbandplz

While I like Cinnabar, it's associated with horrible childhood memories. I could never wear it, but it does smell nice on others.