Pavlova Payot for women

I wore this as my signature scent in highschool for a while, and my boyfiend always bought it for me as he preferred it. My bottles in the early 80's were shaped much like the amarige bottle is currently- ( not quite so round shoulders tho) it was narrower base than top, about 3/4" thick front to back, rounded edges and frosted glass -- oh and there was a raised design of a swan *and * the pink and green painted flower garland. It was a splash, with a simple black cap (like classic coco). Would love to find a vintage bottle.

Everything about Pavlova is mysterious. The packaging, the bottle and the fragrance itself. This fragrance isn't trying to fit in with the crowd. Very different smell, at first I wasn't sure I liked it and then it grew on me. Smells to me like a mild Giorgio Red. Very inexpensive.

An Art Deco scent in baroque packaging, Pavlova reminds me of powdered rosin on pointe shoes, and dusty velvet curtains. I'm remembering the 1980s formulation, and I think of it as a classic chypre-type fragrance. Pavlova is a very rich scent, heavy on sage, benzoin, oakmoss, and labdanum. Don't expect this to be "pretty", like a Cinderella-ballerina. Pavlova evokes Saint-Saëns's Le Cygne in St. Petersburg during the winter of 1905. Its notes seem to radiate life's bitter struggles against an endless search for beauty.

Beware--reformulated.

I loved Pavlova in the 80s, for all the reasons mentioned above. Unfortunately, it was reformulated and now it is thin, sour, and very grandmother's closet, as a PP described. The tuberose notes used to be more predominant, and I believe that the previous version was described as having an amber element in the base. The dying swan finial is a tip-off that the bottle contains the reformulated version. If you are looking for the original, the cap is a plain glass stopper (for the perfume) or an ovalish cylinder of black plastic for the cologne spray.

I remember smelling this on my grandmother's dressing table. It was rich and luscious. So when I bought a bottle I was horrified at what its become. Surely they reformulated.... in a sick and twisted manner.
Its complexity has been altered somehow. The fragrance seems 'shallow'. It quite simple lacks the depth and 'emotion' that it once had. So I wear it sometimes like the shadow of a memory. The dying swan......

It's a very, but very, old lady's perfume.
And this thing is said by someone who likes mostly old-fashioned perfumes (me). It's not unpleasant at all, it's quite nice and very long lasting, but if you are not at least 50 and don't dress up concervatively, say for a church appearance, you'd better not invest money and hopes on this perfume. To me, geranium and then tuberose are the most striking notes.
I am happy I got the 30ml version.
My bottle says that it's from 1922.

This is a very interesting perfume. I can consider it a bouquet with a bee in it. Yes it is floral, but there is an amazing sharp note that makes it something else. This is a fragrance for the woman who likes to be "difficult."

My mom used to wear it in the 80s, and I'll always associate it with her. She's still alive, but she prefers Molinard now. You know, maybe I'll try this sometime. I always liked it on her.

I would definitely call it a cold weather fragrance. I remember it as being very floral which is what I like.

My grandmother was chosen by the great Anna Pavlova to be her protege in 1916 (she was 8). Unfortunately, her Ma-Ma, my great-grandmother, immediately stopped the ballet lessons after this wonderful invitation, and did not disclose the truth to my grandmother until she was an adult. This lovely fragrance came onto the market when I was in high school, and I always bought it for my chére grand-mère. After her L'heure Bleu days, and then her Calèche days, she wore Pavlova til the end of her days. Just like my grandmother, it was a classic. Perfectly feminine and refined in every way. I still adore it and wish I could find it.

A sharp jasmine opening with noticeable cassia and a note that initially smells like rubber, which is actually delightful. The drydown opens into several flowers anchored by vetiver and musk. As it warms on your skin the oakmoss and orange become more noticeable. Is this a great perfume? No but it's got a lot of depth for what it is and the price can't be beat. If you've never tried it give it a whirl. You'll mark it "like" rather than "love" but it's a grown-up feminine scent that puts several $100+ perfumes to shame. (Although it's a floral chypre I think that this is a perfume that loves cold weather--it's not nearly as interesting when it's hot or humid.)

the description says it is a floral perfume, but it is more than a floral, it is a floral chypre very sharp start, nice drydown not much vanilla, ideal for 30+ during day cold or hot (I have the edt!)

It was the box that got me: shiny black with that broken wreath of pink flowers, the art nouveau lettering. The bottle cap with the ballerina in the the dying swan position is a heart melter. But the perfume just misses greatness. It is a nice enough blend of fruits, flowers, spices, and woodsy notes. But that's all it is -- nice enough. It is missing that special something that elevates a scent from very good to classic. Perhaps a bit too romantic for the office but lovely for any other occasion.

Wow, another trip down memory road...

It must have been 1983, and I bought one of my first perfumes, alone. The bottle attracted me, so did the name of the great Pavlova. And the fragrance was just what I needed. It was a cold and long winter, and Pavlova graced my cashmere sweaters and coat. It was gentle, lovely, graceful and very feminine scent, somehow polite like a woman who can't help being noticed, but is much too modest to push herself forward.

On me, it was a bit powdery, a soft floral scent with depth and long lasting power. If they really changed the formula, it's a pity, because it was perfect the way it was.

I wore this back in the 80s and loved it. It was my favorite. However, I would not wear it now because it doesn't seem to fit anymore than the clothes and permed hair I had back then would suit me now. I still like the smell though. A light hand is best if you do wear it .

This has been one of the fragrances that I've received the most compliments on !!! and by men !!!! must fit my chemistry... I didn't care for it too much kind of busy and strong but other people liked it on me..I like sandalwoody powdery smells, and or lemony/orange... When I was young I'd spray love's baby soft lemon and vanilla fields boy that smelled good !!!

well, it's time to make a pas or two...
meet m-lle pavlova, closest friend of miss Dior! :)
as for me, i would like better to think it is floral CHYPRE, than simply-floral-scent.
it's nice, austere, elegant, swell.
what is this little ballerina?
nor sprite, neither sylph. It's fully made of bone, brawn and blood, so light but big, so strong, but delicate, so white but with some darkness inside... Wait! It's the swan!!! just the swan. only the swan. Queen swan. The Dying Swan. :D
nothing imponderable,nothing amusing, but the back is straight, the manners are excellent, the eyeshadows are made of brilliant powder and you are always on tip of your toes. you're not so fragile, as you seem.
it's time to wear an old school, ladies! :)
ps. I'm russian, so I've been watching "The Dying Swan" perfomed by plenty of ballerinas :D of course, I LOVE IT

This was a very nice fragrance, but not for years seen in perfumery. I don't know if I could still find this lovely bottle. The fragrance by Payot was so charming , is not altogether so easy as it seems at the very beginning. Top notes are light, later base notes are really elegant. Feminine and sophisticated, had a strange note that bothered me. Elegant, wearable in all seasons and not too strong.

Actually have read many other places that this was launched in 1922 (also which is why it is on the bottle) for Anna Pavlova, the famous ballerina.

I found this in a bargain bin 20 years ago. In the bottle, it was slightly citrus but soft flowers, good for office wear. For 5 bucks, it was worth a try. I liked it, using it up before I moved on.
I found a bottle of it a few months ago and purchased it unsniffed as an alternative work frag. Wow, they must have changed the formula. The citrus/grapefruit top note is bitter and never seems to fade. Where are the nice soft flowers? I couldn't wear it so used as bathroom spray. So sorry little ballarina...

I bout it for my mom, because she was charmed with a vintage bottle - the final of the Dying Swan on the top,not less! We carefully sniffed it straight from the bottle.My first though was - ugh,gran`s closet. My brave mom, who once shaved her head bald because she liked Sinead O`Connor, with a doubtful look on her face, said - I like it AND I will wear it! Heaven save us all, I thought.
Let`s put it this way. My mom can`t tell petit grain from a Downy laundry conditioner.She does not care and she never will.So, boldly she put on this mysterious scent and I prepared to face the consequences.
Next morning I woke up , got out in the hallway and immediately I was enchanted. The hallway was fragrant and vibrating with something lush, golden,almost touchable scent. I knew it has to be my mom`s new perfume pet. So I stood in the hallway barefoot and listened.
The trail left was elegant and bewitching. I could immediately feel ylang ylang and the slight presence of geranium. The flowers were rich, the raspberry was ripe and thick with juice. Tuberose gave a sensual tone to the performance, and there was a fresh accord that didn`t let it become stale and heavy. As I traveled through the quiet sleeping house into the kitchen, I felt warm patchouli and dry amber, like a touch of powder puff.Art Nuveau, Tiffany glass, beaded purse and peacock feathers in a vase.
I would advice to go easy on this unusual and retro perfume. It is not for everyone and won`t reveal itself on everybody.My mother still wears it and get compliments on it, and I am not surprised - it suits her perfectly. A bit eccentric!