We went to Kamakura yesterday to meet a new perfume friend and I decided on Patou “1000” parfum. This was a rare decision on my part, as I usually consider ‘Mille’ more of a precious object to enjoy looking at on display than to wear – Jean Kerleo’s elegiacally elegant masterpiece is both effortless and very emotionally involving; an ingenious and deeply interwoven, rich, oily tincture of earthy sandalwood, civet, patchouli, osmanthus and violet, with other, higher green notes of rose and coriander that can feel more like ‘high jewellery’ than mere fragrance. It is quite a lot.
And yet we found ourselves broaching some quite heavy and intense personal subjects, and having this perfume just there in my background made me feel, paradoxically., rather grounded and ‘inside myself’ and yet at the same time confidently open. I enjoyed the experience immensely and wish now that I had more left.
While rather sharp and peculiar at the offset ( on the bus, someone was sneezing and d said to me blimey you smell strong… what is it ?
“Jean Patou 1000”
“It’s very vintage, extremely soapy’
I myself was rather enjoying its stark anachronism and weird, obvious beauty. There is nothing else like Patou, especially in this vintage parfum, and the dirty sandalwood/ violet osmanthus of the finish, still lingering on my shirt very keenly today, is simply sublime. 1000 is a scent that questions but doesn’t answer, leaving you somewhere in the chasm between reality and the abstraction of aesthetics. Unspoken , but expressed ; the antithesis of vulgarity.
This is an incredible scent. Sadly it can’t be found easily anymore unless I buy decants from a vintage perfume seller. I do have one replacement perfume in mind, but I am definitely looking for other options that could deliver the same ballpark beauty as 1000.
What is comparable ?
Also I only like this green bottle – other iterations just aren’t the same : slightly repellent initially then gravely gorgeous
I haven’t tried the parfum, only both the EDP and EDT. And I believe the oldest batch I had was from the 90s? I can imagine the parfum is a whole other level.
I hope I don’t get in trouble for saying this haha. Roja Dove’s Haute Luxe strongly evokes 1000 to me, with different top notes and different base. I won’t pay money for a Roja, but DUA does an excellent clone of Haute Luxe at a significantly lower price. I dare say it’s 95% similar although the clone has a weird oily film that it leaves on skin. That would be something I would consider if my supplier runs out of her 1000 EDT and I can’t find any other alternative.
A D D I C T !
I wish this appeared more frequently in Japan than Joy does – I am going to pay more attention
In truth you might not actually like the parfum more. It is STRANGE, honestly. But also extraordinarily beautiful and emotive
I have loved Patou 1000 since my 20’s. The cool sophistication and the violets immediately drew me in. The push – pull animalistic haughtiness of “I don’t want you but I know you want me.” I was intrigued. Joy is beautiful but it was never me. And this bottle is beautiful beyond words.
I know – I adore it. The fit is so beautiful in the hand like a cool jade pebble.
As for the perfume, I know some people say it is a bit ‘twinset and pearls’ and too snooty, which it kind of is, but at the same time it is quite untethered and animalistic in a way – quietly erotic while keeping a distance of adult chic.
On a man’s skin it loses these associations though and feels more unplaceable and mysterious
“Quietly erotic.” Exactly!!
I have a lifetime’s supply of the parfum, and maybe 5 or six bottles of vintage edt (next-favourite potion) and edp. Doubt you are surprised! Of course, I hoovered up every word of this, dearest N. It is my favourite Patou. I almost get an edgy green olive brininess in the depths, oddly working with the rich golden yellow of osmanthus. It is the definition of French chic in the mid-20th century sense, to my nose. I feel as though I want to twist my hair up into a loose chignon and wear something sleek and high-necked.
Jealous of your precious stash but happy to know that somewhere out there you still wear this beauty.
‘An edgy green olive brininess’ yes – that and the violet/patchouli and ingenious dosage of real osmanthus but so TONED DOWN and secretive at the same time.
Pure genius
It’s so wonderful to read all the love for this Parfum… I, too, have an enviable stash of vintage parfums, certainly more than one person needs, but I do find it PERFECT on a man (namely, myself!) who dares to give it a wear… This truly is one of the greatest perfumes ever created and I can’t think of anything that resembles it… The steely violet with that PERFECT patchouli underneath gives a faint nod to Fahrenheit by Dior, though I do think 1000 does it a bit better….!!
My bottle is broken. Still q sad about that. But that jade bottle is SO beautiful and that patchouli coolness is still so vivid as a smell that I will never get rid of it.
Imagine how curiously debonair you must smell in this !