Perfume Review: Loulou by Cacharel
December 20th, 2006
Lately, I’ve been curious about the perfumes of the 80s, mostly due to the fact the 80s fashion is back (which I don’t welcome), and perhaps also because I can’t think of any other era of such bold fragrances. I find it amusing that the 80s fashion is what usually produces quite a reaction (and most of us would probably rather not remember it). In the fragrance world, making a statement seemed to be the top priority, with such power scents as Giorgio (1981), Paloma Picasso (1984), Eternity (1988), Poison (1985). Since I was but a child back then, my perception of these scents isn’t loaded with memories, and, while I couldn’t wear most of them today, I find some timeless. One of such scents is Loulou by Cacharel.
“Inspired by Louise Brooks as Lulu in the movie Pandora’s Box (1928), Loulou has the troubling, seductive character of a naive girl who is half-woman, half-child.” (Osmoz.com). Created in 1987, Loulou was among the top selling fragrances in the 80s. Its avant-garde bottle design with its clashing colors sends the same message as the juice inside - “I have a gun, and I’m not afraid to use it”. The gun in this case is tiare flower, heavily loaded with creamy violet, tuberose, and vanilla. It’s a voluptuous, well-rounded blend that has no rivals - sort of like the Angel of the 80s. It will work for you if applied with a light hand only.
Loulou features the notes of violet, plum, cassis, anise, marigold, tiare flower, tuberose, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, orris, tonka bean, vanilla, benzoin, musk. It can be found at several online discount perfume sites and eBay.
Image source: www.escentual.co.uk
Entry Filed under: Perfume Reviews
31 Comments Add your own
1. Marina | December 20th, 2006 at 11:32 pm
I have a sample of this sent by none other than You…It’s Bold and Beautiful, and totally unwearable for me
2. Ina | December 20th, 2006 at 11:39 pm
Marina, it’s only wearable with one light spritz. I actually find it similar to Micallef Hiver or was it Automne? Can’t recall now.
3. dinazad | December 21st, 2006 at 4:01 am
Isn’t it a pity that “bold” has gone out of fashion in fragrances? Especially since the few bold fragrances of our days often sell well (to wit: Angel). Loulou I can’t wear, but I do admire the way it still stands out and makes a statement!
4. chaya ruchama | December 21st, 2006 at 6:54 am
Like Dina, Loulou isn’t me- I was WAY femme fatale by then !
But it was very in-your-face, and the gamines in the ads were even better than the fragrance itself- highly provocative, Lolita-ish.
5. Elle | December 21st, 2006 at 7:21 am
LouLou is indeed one power house of a scent. A true weapon of mass destruction if over applied. Marina got it right - it is remarkably similar to Micallef Hiver and I think I prefer Hiver.
6. Marina | December 21st, 2006 at 8:01 am
…can’t wear Hiver either…:-(
7. Patty | December 21st, 2006 at 8:30 am
i remember all the advertising for it,b ut I never did wear it, and it sounds like it would wear me. But the packaging and the whole concept of it is so darn cute!
8. newproducts | December 21st, 2006 at 8:42 am
I love the bottle with its contrasting colors. I wonder if I would love the juice. Most likely not, though I do love Poison.
9. March | December 21st, 2006 at 8:48 am
Too over-the-top for me, but a perfect fragrance for its time.
10. Leopoldo | December 21st, 2006 at 10:12 am
I feel like a need a perm and a Joan Collins shoulder-padded power suit…
11. sara | December 21st, 2006 at 10:16 am
I can’t believe I’ve never tried this one! Which version do you prefer–EDT, EDP or extrait??
12. tmp00 | December 21st, 2006 at 12:20 pm
The 80’s for me was all about Annick Goutal and Barneys Route de The. I think I was reacting to all of those heady 80’s scents..
13. SniffQ | December 21st, 2006 at 1:34 pm
In the 80s, those fragrances had to have sillage that reached beyond your shoulder pads–so they HAD to be strong! I am so grateful to Giorgio and LouLou because they turned me away from department store fragrance counter perfumes and into a niche perfume puppy. I got hit with a blast of Red in 1986 and had to burn the suit. It took three days for the shoulder pads to burn out.
But I found Annik Goutal and was happy again. . .
–Q
14. Judith | December 21st, 2006 at 3:25 pm
Kinda like it, myself. But I’m weird, very weird.
15. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:49 pm
Dinazad, I totally agree with you! We need more boldness.
16. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:50 pm
Chaya, I wish I’d have witnessed the days of Loulou. I only tried it about a year ago.
17. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:51 pm
Elle, I wasn’t sure if it was Hiver or Automne. Yep, I think I prefer Hiver, too.
18. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:51 pm
Marina, that’s too bad.
19. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:51 pm
Patty, it’d definitely wear you. And then some.
20. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:52 pm
Newproducts, you might appreciate it but not be able to wear it.
21. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:53 pm
March, yes, I agree.
22. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:54 pm
Leo, LOL!
23. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:54 pm
Sara, I’ve only tried the edp, I think.
24. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:55 pm
Tom, I had no idea Barney’s Route du The has been around for this long!
25. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:56 pm
SniffQ, I can’t help but wonder what I’d have worn in the 80s. Shoulder pads… the thought alone gives me the shivers!
26. Ina | December 21st, 2006 at 9:56 pm
Judith, I kinda like it, too. But you’re so not weird!
27. Katie | December 24th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
This was a perfume favorite of a friend of mine’s mom when we were growing up… I still have memories of her forbidding us to use it while letting us try the others on her dresser because Lou Lou was “hers!” I forget about it, and haven’t retried it as an adult - thanks for the good reminder!!
Merry Christmas to you, Ina, I hope your holiday is a warm, bright one
28. Ina | December 24th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Katie, what a fun story!
Thanks for the wishes! Same to you!
29. BBliss | January 3rd, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Happy New Year! Just catching up on all of my online reading
This is one of my old favorites - I still have some in EDP in the opaque blue bottle with the red stopper - the packaging has kept the juice good, and I love the Art Deco look. I think the secret to LouLou, is it must be DABBED, not sprayed. Or, yes, it can do you in for sure! I wore this at Christmas and it was fantastic still!
30. Ina | January 9th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Bbliss, dabbed! Why didn’t I think of that. But of course! Thank you for your suggestion!
31. sunny | August 25th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
In my very early 20’s I wore this stuff …it was my signature scent. I loved it and got many compliments on it. At the old age of 37 I think I will go on down to Filene’s, pick up a bottle and re-live the good old days. Its beautiful, soft yet intoxicating.
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