Krasnaya Moskva (for women)

tessture

I have no childhood affiliation with this perfume, and no Russian relatives, so this is purely a review of the perfume and not the politics. It's lovely. First on, I get a strange candied floral aldehyde, just very old style perfume with a sweet tart edge that smells almost innocent. Dry down produces an edge commonly referred to as the 'play-doh' note, which I believe comes from tonka or sometimes from powdery vanillas. Strangely it works very well here. I end up with a floral blend with candy and slightly salty vanilla notes. It's fun and oddly pretty. Pleasant and enjoyable. I really like this and plan to look for it. It must be worn in small doses or it does indeed become overwhelming.

rebella

Maybe we should start a discussion about perfume and politics in the forum instead, and leave this space for what it´s for; reviews.

Malegria

Belle, you should read with more attention. Juliette was referring to a liberal socialism - not a totalitarian on that was in former USSR. Many European countries enjoy benefits of such socialism without the horrors you are writing about (I wouldn`t mind affordable medical care, btw...).You are talking about very different things!

Malegria

Eros,take it easy.There are many things in the world that remind us of horrible things.If this perfume is so tightly connected in your mind with socialism - I really feel sorry for you, you must be having panic attacks seeing BMWs on the streets just cause it was financed by Nazi.For many people this perfume is connected with pleasant memories - our loved ones, mothers, childhood. I would not want anyone to go ahead and spoil it for me.Live and let live, will you.

Russian

Eros,nobody with a brain inside of his/her head would want socialism back.But this doctrine IS part of modern history,noone could ever deny it,nor you.It is good that Krasnaya Moskva is still produced,so this time could be remembered by us- with it's good and mostly bad parts.
It's about the air,the time,the memories that come in your mind when you feel this fragrance.
Whether it was socialism,nazism or whatever else,this is history and this fragrance is a part of it.
I really don't get why would you hate so fragrance this much...

Romola

I got a sample of this exquisitely crafted perfume from a friend. It is very rich and voluptuous-what I thought Chanel #5 would be. Everything is over the top in this one-but tasteful and very enjoyable for all that intensity. I wouldn't wear it to work. It requires lots of room and drama. To the Opera maybe or a very fine bone china tea with a very special friend who loves perfumes.Don't buy it if you like white bread. The exoticsm would choke you.

Russian

I "met" this some days ago,at my grandmother's house.I knew almost nothing about this fragrance,except for the fact that was one of the most popular fragrances in the USSR.
My grandmother still uses it,though she has a lot of other perfumes bought recently.She told me this perfume was very hard to find those times,because it was a very expensive one.She got hers when she visited Moscow a long time ago.
I held the bottle in my hands for a couple of minutes,undecided whether I should try it or not.Honestly,I was afraid I might despise it.But my curiosity was stronger that any fear,so I opened it.
Strange but true,the first thing that came to my mind is that this fragrance is a VERY strong Chypre floral,though I never knew what was the olfactive group this belonged to.
Now,I realise that it is the coriander + a little of bergamot that make that strong first-sensation.The carnation is the "basic" ingredient for the middle notes and the base notes are very powdery and extremely long-lasting.
I am so glad I didn't hate this fragrance,because I really wouldn't want to.For me,this fragrance is a symbol and a statement of a period of time that women have passed through.
This fragrance is bold and it's a perfect match for the name - Red Moscow.Because Moscow is a unique city,because red is a provocative colour,because bold things deserve to make history,that's what Krasnaya Moskva states.
In my opinion,this fragrance is the Moscow's smell,the old,soviet Moscow,the city that made and still makes history and I'm so glad this fragrance is still produced and it's capable to pass on the air from an old generation to a future one!

Kotofey

Modern version of Krasnaya Moskva was reconstructed by Jacque Cavallier. So, composition for this parfum is manufacturing by Firmenich.

rebella

This is that kind of fragrance that I want to own, more for what it is than for how it smells. It´s kind of cult for me, living in western europe to have something that was so big and popular during the soviet-era. And now, thanks to dear F_A i have a whole bottle of my own. It feels really cool, but when I tried it one, I didn´t expect to like it so much. But guess what? I do! The topnotes is strong, sweet, fresh and lemony, almost to strong for me, but without causing headache. I guess it actually could when I am more sensitive. No problem, I was out walking with my dog and sniff once in a while and think it was good. When I come home the fragrance has settled and become very soft, sensual, powdery, a little sweet, very nice indeed. And the drydown lasted for so long. So to own the bottle is the big thing for me, but the fragrance is really worth trying and enjoying. Not maybe a big favourite, but when I am in the mood for something classic, yet a bit different and longlasting, I wouldn´t hesitate to chose this one.

archangel

I remember this perfume, my Granny used to wear it when I was a child.I still remember that spicy, old-fashioned and sooo pleasant smell.

F_A

This fragrance is a wind from the past when my mum was a young lady and I was a naughty child running around and pouring her Krasnaya Moskva on myself:D Indeed this fragrance was very popular in Soviet Union.

The old version of KM was more spicy, stronger and more rich. The new version is very similar, but I find less character in it. I still find it beautiful. It can be "a cousin" of Guerlain's famous Mitsouko for my nose. Krasnaya Moskva gives this elegant and classy feel. On my skin it smells of dusty rather than powdery flowers. The weather where those flowers grow is hot and the air is dry. Lovely chypre!

P.S. Novaya Zarya also exports its fragrances under the name "Nouvelle Etoile" and "Brocard".

jeca

I bought Red Moscow in pure perfume as they wrote on the label. It's still very chip, only 147 rubles (about 5 dollars), and beautiful, but less oily and less carnation (unfortunately), also I remember this perfume was very powdery, in the final notes, even dusty thanks to the base ingredients (orris, tonka and vanilla). I smell it now on my wrist, but the dustiness is not so oriental and so total as I remember it was. It's dusty warm in more wearable way.
The perfume became thinner.

Malegria

I like it so.I like it despite of the fact that noone wears it anymore, and if one does, one does not admit it.Red Moscow`s reputation was spoiled for years, almost creating a nickname for a stinky perfume out of it...How sad! The scent is truly beautiful, yet very retro. It is also very recognizable, which is almost always a sign of a real masterpiece. I had pleasure of trying the old version - my grandma had it, though never used it, and it was bought in early 60s.Fantastic! Oily carnation (one of the best, imho), head turning jasmine, and those sensual notes of ylang ylang and rose.The heart opens with such exhilaration, that one can easily forget the reputation and age of this scent - it`s very, very young at heart! I like to wear it and get compliments too, though some of my Russian girlfriends refuse to believe it.Good for you if you`re not predigeous! Yo can widen your horizons so much more.

Jalutschka

Krasnaya Moskva was a roaring success in the Soviet Union and probably the most famous perfume there ever. I cannot really detect much of a change of the formula in its recent reorchestration, the "new" KM smells about the same to me. It is still as warmly embracing, sweet and powdery as you might remember your dear old granny's scent. Carnation and roses, sensuous tonka bean, wood and various spices burst into your nostrils, rather heavy and very penetrating. It is a very sentimental scent, in my opinion quite close to l'Heure Bleue. Wearing it boils down to the following: If you are in the mood for it, then just go ahead! I don't think you will feel like your granny!

Vickalena

To Jeca.
Thank you for wonderful article about Krasnaya Moskva. Would be very interesting to compare modern scent with "classic", which was really very strong, spicy, oily, carnation was quite dominant, as far, as I remember. But it was still beautiful.

jeca

I've found it in their boutique this summer, in the perfume extract. I think now it's softer, less spicier, more floral and warm. But it's still Krasnaya Moskva.