Charlie! So misunderstood for so long and by so many! Many many moons ago, when Charlie came to be, it was frowned upon by many. Understandably. Especially in Europe. With an array of Fidji’s, Miss Dior’s, Madame Rochas, Ô de Lancôme, Rive Gauche’s, Diorella’s and Cristalle’s, there was no need for a ‘cheap’ drugstore perfume like Charlie. I came to know it by a small silver apple pendant with a creamy formula that my mother had and never used. It wasn’t her style but I immediately loved its bitterness. I came to find a while ago a cologne from the 70’s in its baby blue box. Pristine. A time capsule of all sorts. And Charlie has won me over again! Upon first sniff, I can see where Charlie took its inspiration; Estēe and Fidji, its European equivalent. While Fidji was always a bit softer, Estēe, like a good American fragrance, was louder. And Charlie too. But instead of the polished sofistication of the Lauder, Revlon gave us a more approachable version. A rougher around the edges perfume, that just like its ads, didn’t need anything else to feel complete. Charlie greets me with a hyacintine floral beauty, with soft echoes of tropical white flowers. Some jasmine, some tuberose/gardenia but without a heavy feel. Flowers drenched in sparkling aldehydes and soft citrus notes that elevate this fresh cologne to last and last. Just like the box states. But the green heart soon comes along. Charlie has spades of oakmoss and galbanum, what mostly shows on my skin, with a touch of spicy coriander. Vetiver and sandalwood, which I’m smelling as proper Mysore, add a deeper woody background but never shadowing the green verdancy. Charlie keeps its slight floral character throughout, but as a background voice. The theme here is green. Green meadows, a freshly mowed lawn, your back garden. Things that would appeal to the newly independent American woman who was starting to take the workplace by storm, was sufficiently self-sustained without a man and could juggle her career and personal life. Things were changing, and Charlie came to be an affordable high quality fragrance for the modern woman. It was fresh, it was new, but most importantly, it was within everyone’s reach and it lasted the entire day. I love it. I’ve always had a soft spot for it, and now that I can wear the cologne freely, I feel in heaven with every breath. Carefree and wild spirited while retaining a certain elegance that within today’s market, increases drastically, Charlie is as unisex as they come. Its marketing and launch captured a moment in time that marked a change, but today, Charlie shines on its own merits. Sillage and longevity outstanding! Mid 70’s, 235cc Eau de Cologne reviewed.