Joy by Jean Patou

dalmajen

My husband bought Joy for me as a gift. This was way back in the late seventies, and it was the little black glass bottle with the red top.(still have it). But, alas! as i have Never been a fan of floral's, this was definitly not for me! I found it so floral and cloying, made me dizzy! I was younger then, and thought then it was for more mature ladies. Even today i find this perfume overpowering! And I have never liked light fragrences, but suppose this is due to the heavy floral nature of this perfume. I have known other people who have worn this, but it seems to me they have put far too much on. It does smell nice from a distance, but avoid getting in small spaces, as can be super strong!

valarian

I experienced Joy for the first time today and it completely bowled me over! A large perfume with a heaviness to it which surprised me as the name Joy alludes to lightness and laughter but Joy can be deep too. They say it was a favorite of the Queen Mother and for me that sort of fits! All the heavies are centre stage in this and it would not not suit anyone wanting to fade into the background. I agree with some of the other comments, “This Perfume Wears You”! Personally I loved it but would be sensitive to others disliking it especially when worn in confined spaces. However, that said if you love this huge larger than life perfume you would willingly allow it to walk all over you, for maybe a day or night. Then a much needed rest would be in order!! The Civet bit doesn’t put me off as that part is probably synthetic now anyway! The Civet, for me, gives it the interesting edge like hot skin. I loved that about this perfume, it would be too sweet without it. I would wear this outside where others would get a waft as I walked past rather than an inescapable onslaught. I would also wear for an evening of seduction. This scent gives out very strong signals, and the opposite sex will notice you, doubt not! Beware if you are planning a platonic kiss at the end of the night! Overall, I’m honored to have this Classic in my perfume stash but will only wear when appropriate!

kastehelmi

Thanks NebraskaLovesScent for the sample!

Sherapop and several others here said it: Joy is a litmus test for sensitivity to civet.

I hate this-I knew I would, but I tried it. Civet is often described as having an "almost fecal" note-the tiniest dose well-blended is not offensive that way, but this is a classic that almost frightens me. Even seeing the picture of the civet cat among the note listings in fragrances on this website creeps me out-how can this smell be sensual? How can anybody find this beautiful? It smells expensive- like a purebred dog smells expensive!

Donc....chacun à son goût, chacun à son nez!

PS People used to wear civet in the days when everybody bathed less often-perhaps it did smell nice then-covering up body odors. But without the body odors of old competing with the perfume, the perfume makes you smell dirtier...be alert, and be aware!

AnnMarie

okay, make my year (day not 'nuff) Buy me this, you millionaire you...

nyoka

I do love this.Ahhhhhhh the tuberose,The dry down is softer,like finally resting after a long beautidul,exciting day.It has stood the test of time.Women of all ages can wear it.A little goes a long way.

sky76sky

Geeeesh, I know Joy isn't for everyone, but it seems the aldehydes have gone to some people's heads!

Joy joins a set of full-on womanly perfumes of a certain time. Very animalic, leaden with strange, intoxicating flowers. Not quite real, almost overkill....like a technicolour picture of a massive vase of flowers, their scent emphasied by the use of olfactory filters & re-touching.

My mother would never wear Joy, although it was popular with the "in set" in the 1960's. She always said it smelled better on other people, never on the wearer. A suitor tried to pass off a large, expensive bottle of Joy as a gift to entice her to go out with him. Pity his ex was called Joy.

So, for me, too....Joy is better found on other people & at a distance. Too close & she begins to take over your personal space.

Taliera

Joy is like a soulmate who is with another woman. We are in love, but he cannot leave her for me. All because of body chemistry... It is heartbreaking.

Joy is opulance, elegance and romance. It was appropriately named, as it brings me "joy". Joy is rich and old fashioned, and very pungent - like a bouquet of expensive flowers that permeates the room. We need more perfumes like this! Too much flavored lolly water on the market these days...

Lady Venomtongue

i have recieved Joy 1 oz. pure parfum from my dear mother-in-law on my wedding day 2 years ago , & i loved it ever since , because it got sort of haunting extensively Retro ever classic charm to it & yes its so darn Unique ( never in my life have i encountered a scent like him ) , at that time i was completely naiive of the master Parfumeur Jean Patou & my mother in law just gave me hints about him tellin me that Joy is her own signature Parfum & she had received it also on her wedding day from her own mother , what a Caring loving mother (in law ) i got ! God bless her...

Any how back to Joy,,, Joy is a difficult one of a scent , he is extremely demanding (
Bossy !! ), requires a high degree of patience ,
requires time ,,, requires a Classic style devotee of a woman , requires a maximial body tolerance to the hyper- doused Civet in the base ,,, nonetheless requiring a compatible nose & body chemistry ,,, Yet intensively rewarding afterwards.
the opulance of flowers & roses in Joy is shaded by abstractness from the aldehydes & the classic old style of blending ( yet a complete different story than the Grand favourite Chanel No5 ) ,,,
Joy is Cold & elegant, Joy wears you not otherwise , & i am grateful of him to loving me that much that i am complemented by husband , family & friends nearly every time he wears me ! ,,
there is an apparent opulent amount of sexiness & dare to say eroticism in Joy's Civet & simplistic enriched floral bouquet , so i am not reaching for him that much becoz certainly i don't need that exact type of impression , hence, Joy mostly doesn't trespass the sanctity of my boudoir or when visiting exclusively close female friends & family.
Joy is indeed not every woman's joy , but a mythical joyful world by his own.

sherapop

Unfortunately, Jean Patou's JOY edp does not fill me with joy. I want to love it, but from the very first moment I am accosted by the dark, heavy civet, which overtakes all of the florals and makes the composition very hard for me to appreciate.

I love the bottle; I love the story; I love the idea. But JOY is a real litmus test of sensitivity to civet, a consequence no doubt, at least in part, of the fact that few modern perfumes contain this note. Rather than framing the flowers, I find that the overwhelming civet causes them to wilt!

However, I have not given up yet. My beautiful 2.5oz edp waits patiently for me to take it up again. Who knows, perhaps it's all a question of application. Accustomed as we have become to evanescent, fly-by-night fragrances claiming to be perfumes, perhaps the key to JOY is to apply only the faintest dab, in the manner of a vrai parfum.

For now, I am civeted out and crave a hot bath!

(I should perhaps add here that my cat seems to like JOY a lot...)

vincy_gal

A true clasic that will hopefully be available forever.

krmarich

How do I love thee, let me count the ways...Joy is an endless floral bouquet that keeps one counting how wonderful this composition fascinates nearly a century later. True, I am a man, yet I love florals and had to get a sample to try this legendary classic.

I was not disappointed. The first thing I thought of was Chanel no 5. Then it wanders off in its own territory. What sort of magic the 1920s bestowed absolute masterpeices like this? I can only imagine a world where art crossed into perfumerie. The notes within are unmatched today. Rose and jasmine are blended skillfully to create a euphoriant in a bottle. Now I understand why it is called JOY! Imagine a basement jazz cafe, in a basement of old Paris of couse, and little blace dress with its pearls as a compliment. Miles Davis blasts his trumpet!

Or is you wish, imagine a simple May garden, in a lacy white dress, eagerly awaiting the first rose to bloom! Joy lets you wait no longer. Love is by your side, forever. Thank you M Patou!!!

Tuberose

Wonderfully womanly , rich ,rounded golden jasmine with rose and a touch of civet. Classically beautiful and elegant.

wynstelle

I would like to get a sample. Can anyone please help me out and give me some information as to where I can get/buy a sample? Thanks!!!!

milena

A joy of a scent simply divine, a classic. Bought it today, and not dissapointed.

tana2329

I combine a spritz of Joy and a spritz of Flowerbomb. It takes off the "old fashioned edge" off Joy . They balance each other out perfectly with my chemistry. Actually, the two combined is what I thought Flowerbomb should have smelled like given the name, instead of all cashmere softness.

the_good_life

This review is based on the Eau de Parfum.

The Platonic essence of "old-fashioned women's perfume." Your choice whether "old-fashioned" means classic or dated. One things is for sure: they don't make 'em like this anymore. Because I suppose most people don't want 'em like this anymore. I can't help but smell a 40+ conservative high-end designer clad society-lady within these vapors. It would truly seem out of place on a young 21st century woman, in the way that Vintage Tabarome would seem like an olfactory oversized suit on a 20-year old bachelor. These may only be conventions, and the perfumista will ignore them - but conventions are pretty powerful, after all.
It is a brilliant perfume and I cannot add much to the descriptions. A peachy aldehydic top, which I find better-tempered than in Chanel No.5, whose aldehydes knock me over. A perfect heart of blended florals - indolic jasmine, noticeable muguet and rose (as well as Ylang, orris and orchid) and slowly emerging spicy sandalwood and musk. A pronounced civet note hovers above it all from the opening, to slightly recede into the floral mix, adding some raunchiness to the bouquet of innocence. Add the wonderful art deco flacon (though the EdP stopper is only plastic) and you have one of the all-time greats of 20th century perfume culture.

Sassy1

I've never smelled the original formula so don't know any difference. Actually, I see no point in falling in love with a scent you can't get anymore...So, as to the current blend, I have to say it's my absolute favorite floral of all. It works so perfectly with my chemistry I get compliments every time I wear it. I'm an admitted aldehyde and flower junkie so this one's my golden ticket!

Malegria

Thanks to generosity of a Fragrantica member, I tried a vintage version. I am surprised, because I think I like the new one more.
The old version smells a little bit like ammonia and acetone, it is of course very subtle and you can still recall the familiar Joy, but all the time I had it on me, I could not get rid of the feeling that I just removed the nail polish!!!If you can survive all this in the beginning, you will be granted with a most beautiful night blooming jasmine - opulent, sparkling scent that you will fall in love with.

The new version seems to be more straightforward - instead of opening little by little, it gives you everything at once.

guest_A. Rose

A hazy, sunlit flicker--like seeing the gleaming smiles of 30's film stars light up a screen or morning sunlight glimmer across a creamy, satin gown. "Joy" is bright but quiet, reflective; intensely buoyant but in a slightly wistful way. This is passed time of sunny mornings in a backyard garden (many generations of mornings), languid jazz records, gently singing about love and change--hope in a bottle.

"Joy" opens on a fresh, aldehydic burst of citrusy-tart and creamy rose; fleshy, creamy-pink in impression and slightly soapy in a "cold cream and rosewater" sort of way. It moves into a period of banana-jam and creme pudding, dusted over with a slightly pinchy powder, but still lush with roses. The jamminess evolves into a liquid sweetness, freshly fluid yet syrupy--like the contradictory texture of mead or riesling; astringent while remaining honeyed in texture and golden, golden, golden all the way. The champagne and roses tartness of the mid-notes deepen into something slightly polished and woody, yet still soapy-creamy; the sandalwood emerges. Sandalwood then mixes with a breathy, slightly ripe saltiness--the musk undertones. Although "Joy" is dense, oily and rich throughout, it always feels clean; there is a fresh, salty briskness to it that tempers any heavy animalic touches or overripe blooms (following correspondence with a P.R. rep, I was under the impression that actual "Civet" has been substituted by a lab composition and that might be the "change" sniffers have noticed between older "Joy" potions and the newer ones). "Joy" is pure sunshine--but not necessarily the giddy sunshine of youth; there is experience in this morning, the understand that life is precious and that each new day should be cherished and awed at; appreciated for it's very unlikely existence. "Joy" makes me think of the quiet optimism of an Art Deco sunbeam; refined, yet simple in its honesty: Life is beautiful. As is "Joy".

vena w

A friend had received this as a gift and it smelled wonderful on her. I tried it and smelled like cat urine. Something about a fragrance heavy with roses turns into something really bad when mixed with my chemistry.

Tiramisu

I bought a Joy EDT mini sample,and I was like a cat with cat-nip; I loved it so much I had to buy a 30ml EDP. Then bought a large tube of Joy lotion and a small tube of Joy bath gel. First I got a slightly aldehyde- melted plastic smell, like heated jasmine and roses, which I was not sure about. Then I noticed a soft rich floral perfume developing which I couldn't get enough of. After a time this smell dried down to a quiet powdery floral scent, which made me want to apply it more and more to re-capture the smell of the middle notes I kept craving. I can't tell if it just fades away or if I have over-dosed my olfactory nerves and simply can't smell it any more, walking around offending everyone! No one has ever commented on it,either positively or negatively, so I suppose it must have failed to last. I am having a break from it for now, to see if it seems different after I've abstained a while!

esprit2fly

Joy is not a common fragrance. You can love it or hate it. I love it.

randik

This has got to be the biggest disappointment in my collection of perfumes... I bought the EDP unsniffed (I know...not too smart) based on some of the heavenly reviews I've read. It seemed like a rare gem: a treasure that would melt into my skin and paint the most wonderful scenes in my mind. I ordered it, anticipation sky-high, and when I finally received it and spritzed it on to my wrist I could not believe my own sensory system! Sniffing it was literally painful!It was like hitting a concrete WALL. What's more: after two hours or so, the scent had totally evaporated (!) I really, really wanted to get a long with this refined and alluring type of scent, but alas... JOY is not going to be my friend...

rosesbecomeme

Urban Skies has it ..it is pure gold and a total joy to wear. It's really one of the most beautiful perfumes in the World.

dannynguy3n

Joy by Jean Patou indeed brings me joy. Loads of flowers, jasmine and roses. Classic fragrance but not as old-fashioned as No5 .

classic

Just love it. Very classic, warm, fresh, subtle, lasting and yes it not only is expensive, it smells expensive and men seem to like it.

Mals86

Elegant and beautiful; classic French perfume in the best sense of the words. Having said that, I must also say that it is not for me. I found the aldehydes far smoother than in many aldehydic scents (I'm talking about YOU, No. 5!), and the peach/green opening is luscious. Then the rose and jasmine heart opens up, and is absolutely huge, warm and enveloping. However, it is composed of so many, many flowers that it smells cooked, like floral jam, which I find over-the-top and opposite to my preferences. The jasmine is fairly indolic and the civet is more animalic than "clean."

I tend to find classic French perfumes too indolic/animalic for my personal taste. Certainly I would only wear Joy in very private, romantic circumstances, and definitely not "out" somewhere.

Edit: I'm growing accustomed to the deep animalic base of many classic perfumes. I'd still be careful where I wore them, but I now find them fascinating rather than off-putting.

Elisabeth

It`s warm, sweet rosehoneylike. But one can detect the lily of the valley- if you like them...
I used to like it better, but then I had the perfume. Maybe the eau de toilette comes out less sweet.
Anyway- today too `oldfashioned` for my nose.

nicolita

I consider this is one of the best in the market; delicate, gentle, soft, sexy and with personality.

belle de sud

Joy, a sublime rosy -jasmine creation, is absolutely the essence of femininity and le boudoir. The civet base-note is a favorite bottom for me and I never tire of the rich, opulent aura of Joy. Almeras placed himself in the upper crust of parfumeurs with Joy which has rightly maintained a large following of fans for 80 years....though I doubt it is still "the costliest perfume in the world" as advertised in the 1950's advertisements. 5 stars!

Leesee

Joy, arguably the best known fragrance ever produced by the House of couturier Jean Patou, was predicated on the notion that, by combining a staggering amount of rose and jasmine absolutes in just the right proportions, one could create the impression of a single, grand, and impossibly gorgeous flower. Considering that almost 80 years have passed since Joy (which was created by Henri Almeras) was first introduced, the fact that the scent is still debated, worn, and, yes -- treasured even now, speaks not only to the artistry of Almeras, but also to the genius of Patou.

Taliera

So good on the testing strips! So bad on my skin! It smells like mashed up jasmine flowers on me. Foul.

Carla

I bought this on my trip to Paris years ago and to me it smells like "old money"! Much too strong in the Parfum and the Eau De Parfum and not much lighter in the Eau de Toilette/Cologne Had they formulated this combination of alluring notes in the Eau de Fraiche not for the price point but for the lower concentration then it could have well become an everday luxury scent for me.

vtothek

My mother loves this scent, mostly because it makes her nostalgic. As a classic I can appreciate it in the bottle, but when I spray it on the florals immediately turn sour. Jasmine is always a hit or miss and I think it's much to blame for the problems with this fragrance. As always, it depends on one's chemistry and perhaps also the notes it works with. It's also very detecable when wearing it, I should add. I'd recommend it if you're crazy about classics or really love rose and jasmine scents.

Taliera

Joy is exactly what its name says: joy. It has a light, joyful beginning of jasmine and bright smelling flowers. The heart is richly floral, and pleasurable in the extreme - like a bouquet of flowers that you can lie on and roll in. The base is sensual and complex.
It is a classic scent, which I am aware of being too old for me - and for that reason I thought I would like EnJoy better (the modern verson) but it is so different; not nearly as good as Joy.
I would like to get it, but I am still weighing up a few factors - the price, it being too old for me, and the encounter of having tried it on my skin once and it not changing off the top notes. I must give it some thought...

Scent lover

I believe some of the perfumes needs a time to be appreciated. So I kept trying Joy EDP on me and finally I started to like it. I find the green notes to my nose slightly bitter as an opposite for fresh flower smell. I can appreciate it even more when I read the history of the perfume. It is not for everyone and appearantly wasnt right for me at first, but as with Chanel No. 5 there is just a perfect timing in everyone's life when you can UNDERSTAND the perfume and now I can understand Joy's joy :)

Sherihan

I loved the history behinde it, I am not that much with rose perfumes,especially too much roses like this one,but I feel happy when I wear it(ego talk).My Mum said once:"Yasterday you was wearing a bad perfume" . It is classic in a way that even older generations finde it strange.

dollladie

There is NOTHING like it on earth! When I was young - 35+ years ago, I saw it at Bendel's, and knew I had to possess it. It took me 3 paydays! I miss it; must try it again. It's so sensuous, but womanly; not girly!

Marianne

Today, I got a sample of it and it smelled EXACTLY like I imagined it after reading some descriptions about it. (Roses, jasmine, aldehydes). Some might call this kind of perfume classic, but it's just the kind of perfume I hate. Maybe, it smells different on different people...Anyway, I feel too young for wearing it.
It reminds me of First Van Cleef & Arpels, Chanel No.5 and Coco.

esprit2fly

Somebody said "Joy is the Ferrari in the world of perfumes."
Yes, I agree with him and I am happy to be in the possession of a Ferrari. Ops, I mean a Joy. =)

Marianne

I would really like to test this famous perfume and discover what makes it the second most often bought one in the world, but unfortunately, I can't find it anywhere in Austria. There is no store that offers it so I could test it. And I don't want to pay 4o Euros or more for a fragrance that's possibly not my taste. But when I read takemyhusbandplz's description, I don't think that i would like it. (I hate aldehydes like in Chanel No.5)

guest_Diorissimo or Die

I can smell the aldehydes in this and it does make my allergies go off the charts, too. But, I really love the fragrance. I have found that I do not wear the EDT well at all. But, when the parfum dries down on me, I like the fragrance. In fact, I LOOOOVE it! Now, to cope with the allergies :-).

What might be considered, too, is the age and the upkeep of the Joy in question. I bought some used EDT a while back and it did not do well on me. But, I just bought a brand spankin' new bottle of parfum and it seems to do a little better.

takemyhusbandplz

On me Joy is aldehyde heavy and has a super synthetic smelling heavy jasmine note that is just awful. Also something in this makes my allergies go off the charts. Simply horrible smelling stuff in my opinion. For the record, I've tried this one many times and I wanted to like it. I envy those that this works on. It's definitely not for me.

Urban Skies

I recently re-visited this fragrance, so I'll add to my earlier comment. There are some very heavy animalic notes. Far too much civet for me to actually wear in public! I mainly own this one for its historical-reference value. Probably works best with more "mature" body chemistry. However, it certainly does smell expensive (reminds me of the rich ladies at church), although is probably no longer "the costliest parfum in the world" as Jean Patou originally marketed it to be.

Urban Skies

Classic, warm, elegant, refined. Very ladylike. The frangrance equivalent of gold jewelry.