La Perla

An uplifting chypre with lasting power and depth. The carnation at the top is so inviting. I bought a bottle about 8 years ago based on reviews. Loved it enough to buy a back up bottle because it was about 45 bucks. Then poof! I guess they pulled the plug. The market is invaded by armies of new releases every season it's a wonder something like this stayed in production as long as it did. I have the boat bottle with the tacky cap. It's such a great fall fragrance.

I started wearing La Perla when I was in my mid 20’s. I didn’t really put much thought into what or why I liked it back then, other than that the bottle I found was cheap and I thought la Perla lingerie was cool. The bottle eventually got put in a box - I think I felt too young at the time for something that was classified as an “80’s powerhouse”. Fast forward to 2026 and I am now turning 40. The other night I was going through my old perfume box and came across this one. I have the version with the boat shaped bottle - it is hideous (not gonna lie). The lid is broken. But, my god, smelling the sprayer is a dream and really brought me back. Around Christmas, I now usually wear Chanel Coco EDT. While Coco is an oriental and La Perla a Chypre, my mind likes to put these two in a similar category. While La Perla doesn’t give me that cloves fix, it does however really give me patchouli. And wow, this patchouli is done right. There were so many years where “fruitchoulis” were a hit, I just couldn’t get into them (with the exception of Britney’s Believe). This patchouli is a natural one and combines so well with the oakmoss, florals and spice. If you are looking for a nice patch, don’t be afraid of the initial 80s blast, the dry-down is worth it.

*Paloma Picassos baby sister. I have the vintage EDT from the late 80s! Beautiful creamy, warm, oriental. I don’t get much rose that I’m aware of, it’s similar to Paloma Picasso but much softer. I only have a small 10ml gold twist-up bottle so will need to be very frugal. I think I even prefer it to Paloma, (I don’t), it’s less bossy more genteel. It fades down too quickly on my chewy skin, ends a bit dusty powdery, lovely though.

Oh, I only have a drop of the vintage left and I'm already missing it. The deep soapy, complex-floral feminine incense of it. I miss it so much. It's beyond me how this got discontinued.

I discovered this gem thanks to one blogger YouTuber who reviewed it. The British guy, the owner of "Pulse of Perfumery" shop, his description is real treat, must watch. And when I tried it I asked myself exactly the same question that everyone else had. How come I have never heard about it before? For one thing, this particular company very rare in my country (which is sad). It took some time to find a person who would sell it but I got lucky. If you (like myself) really appreciate chypre fragrances this one is real gem. So spicy, so warm, gorgeous ladylike scent. I absolutely love it. Sublime pearl in the ocean of chypre fragrances. The formulation I reviewed is 8ml mini version ship-shaped bottle.

This is a true classic for a reason! La Perla is elegant and sophisticated. The floral notes are beautiful but not overwhelming, and the spices add warmth and depth. It lasts all day and gets me compliments everywhere I go.

I used to buy this at Victoria’s Secret years ago. Not sure why they would sell La Perla perfume at Victoria’s Secret since La Perla is way more sexy and sophisticated than VS. It’s sexy, classy and different. It’s a luxurious and decadent fragrance. It made me feel incredibly sexy when I wore it. It made me feel like I was rich. Sadly, it is discontinued. I miss it!

I cannot believe they’ve discontinued this beautiful perfume. One of the best chypre frags ever made imho. The best from La Perla. Nothing comes close in comparison, why did they stop this? Utter madness. If you ever see it, particularly vintage, buy it - it’s insanely good.

I have a bottle of this (I think? Black with a gold lid?) Which might be a more modern reformulation but it is stunning. Very vintage smelling women's musky floral perfume. Stunning, It is the type that would definitely form a cloud around you as you travel and would leave people thinking you smell very vintage. It is lovely and very of the time. Big fan.

This fragrance is divine. I find it more similar to Magie Noire than to Diva and Paloma Picasso. But the current version of Magie Noire is much blunter. La Perla is subtler and more sophisticated. I find it irresistible in a classical way, without being sweet or gourmand. The bottle I have is like the one pictured above, the original one, and it is edp. I think it has been reformulated after that, with the new bottle. I stopped seeing it in online shops, maybe it has been discontinued. It is a shame.

Mine is a batch from 1999 (of which I have an additional unopened bottle from the same time). Back in the late 90s and early millennium much of my attention was focused on La Perla (especially) and Gucci. And this was central to my day-to-day attire for several years. Not sure why, but La Perla has escaped my notice for some time. It caught my eye this morning, and it just had to be! The rich and dense spray immediately calls to mind Rochas Femme and Jean Patou Joy. Carnation and rose linger noticeably for the first hour, then I think it is the jasmine and lily-of-the-valley that emerge. Then, pepper, cardamom and incense, and finally patchouli, amber and a really 'good' musk vis à vis Grès Cabochard and Madame Rochas. La Perla projects well and lasts all day. If you drop on any of this pre-2010 don't pass it by. It is so worth seeking out. Complex and multi-faceted, La Perla is very feminine and exudes classiness: real perfume for true perfume lovers. An 'anytime' scent. Makes me feel warm and cosy, and it gets a lot of attention when I wear this – men as well as women. It feels expensive (and in its day, it was). I'm thankful having had the sense to keep back a bottle, knowing it'll last out my days. Sophisticated. Sumptuous. A fusion of Italy and womanhood in a bottle. No wonder it's been a keeper. Bellissimo La Perla 💚🤍❤️

A perfume for life...To me it was love at first sniff, back in the Nineties (It was issued in the late Eighties, though). I was quite young at the time, but that fragrance was the hype of the moment and wearing that was a kind of status symbol. Today I would use it with more modesty, because it is a quite potent one, important, in the sense that you won't go unnoticed when wearing that (tons of compliments by men), it is easy to overdo. Or, it was. I am speaking about the original formulation, when the bottle was oyster shaped, pls see for reference the original ads posted above. La Perla is a spicy chypre with a strong, bold spicy carnation. And a hundred different notes. Animalic, deep, sexy. A powerhouse of the eighties, with a super intimate drydown, oriental with resins and a hot pachouli. It is wrapping you in a silk sheet. But the description of the notes alone does not do it justice. You should wear it for getting its real essence. It was unique, one of a kind. Gorgeous. Now, I got a new tall bottle of the edp, like the one pictured here. What a disappointment... the new formulation lacks all the depth and the animalic part. I find it soapy, loud and screechy. Very ordinary. Nothing like the real one. I never wear it, as i prefer remembering how great it was. Get the vintage one if you can.

Had a sample and I tried it. Smells like something old. I would not define it a parfum... If you like it though, it is very strong so you can be sure people will notice you.

Once upon a time I had a 5ml miniature bottle of La Perla and found it to be a beautiful sexy musky chypre. A few years later I purchased the version pictured above online and I wonder if it a bad reformulation or a fake because all I can get from it is a very faint green patchouli which lasts about 10 minutes before it is completely gone. Very disappointing. 80s chypres are my jam. I have powered through vintage Magie Noire (current version is regrettable), Montana de Peau, Rumba, Halston, O de Lancome & Aromatics Elixir. Currently I have vintage Paloma Picasso, No. 19, Diva, vintage Fendi, Jil Sander #4 and Vent Vert but unfortunately La Perla just does not meet the mark.

I just received the new limited edition of this perfume by the name 1986 - the year it was originally formulated. It is such a beautiful and elegant scent. It opens quite powerful, 10 minutes later I get more of a vintage soapy vibe. After an hour it turns into a sweet citrus scent but not overly sweet. More like the sweetness of a summer breeze where you can smell the flowers and fruits in the air. The dry down ends in a combination of sensual powdery notes and warm earthy notes.

Just to add...for me the fragrance is unrecognisable now and the bottle is small and squat....the vintage version is sublime! X

La Perla, La Perla fragrance when I wore it in the 1980's/90's was earthy, woody and spicy, I always wore this Masterpiece, very beautiful and smelt expensive...always received compliments..the bottle was tall and majestic..unfortunately for me now it is unrecognisable and the bottle small and squat...will find a vintage one to wear❤️

اوراقٌ خضراء نديّة و اغصانٌ جافّة .. نقاء طبقة الاوزون عند مطلع الفجر

La Perla is earthy, green, and woody with oakmoss, patchouli, coriander, and a bit of honey. It reminds me a lot of Jean Couturier Coriandre in the beginning and then turns into something similar to Paloma Picasso. Not quite as intense as Paloma, but close. A definite keeper!

A recent purchase of one of my favourite scents I used to wear about 20 years ago. It still has the distinct warm aroma I remember. I agree it is quite similar to Magie Noire but with a few subtle differences, I think this is more floral. I own Avon's Perle Noire which bears an even more uncanny resemblance to it, in smell, name & similar bottle. I love all three anyhow, and am mighty glad to have it back in my collection after all these years.

Wow. How did I not know about this till a few weeks ago? The best perfume for hot weather especially. So tart at the top with uplifting softness, then a middle range of incredibly feminine sparkling earthy notes. I have a mini EDT not sure how old but its zinging still. Its so beautiful and recently I got a bottle of the first formulation in the squat bottle. I am blown away by its subtle sparkle. Sounds paradoxical, and that is the magic that keeps me sniffing my wrists even though I am in a cloud of powdery femininity. When I inhale my wrist i get the citrus hit more which I absolutely crave because its so soothing and refreshing. Tons of compliments on this one in the current English heatwave. Amazing. The perfumer hit this out of the park! I love love love vintage Chypre animalic creations and thus far, this one is the most wearable for any occasion that I have. Sillage is about 2 feet and the closer people get they get that citrus zing. Very safely alluring. Animale is next on my list! Bravo La Perla - you are a gem.

Subtle but sharp. Flowery but mossy. I love it and wear it to work. It's a great pick me up. Wish I could sample the vintage. This lasts very well on skin and fabric. I wore it today and it resurged at 4 pm. The patchouli really came out. There isn't much roundness to this one...it's sharp and faceted, clean. It inspires a sense of "being capable," it has that grown-up air.

And, I got a vintage EDT of this. WHOA! This is the current EDP on STEROIDS! HELLS YEAH! This is just louder and stronger/deeper and more fabulous than the current EDP offering. This is also Paloma to the MAX! The oldest Paloma I smelled was 2013. Everything is richer and fuller in the vintage. Louder. Way green and earthy, still some sour animalic to it. This is my preferred 80s era green perfume! LOVE!

I spent the weekend with this La Perla EDP (boat shaped current bottle) and I LOVE IT! I def want to track down a vintage bottle now. This still opens up a bit sour/sharp (like Animale) but there is a mix of clean-green-soap and earthy-sweat (a mossy perspiration like in Charlie Blue). I wore it on a sunny 70-degree day and I love it. I think it beats Paloma and Animale as far as vintage-smelling old soapy chypres go!

Based on a bottle of the current EDP juice, the "squatty" low bottle (not tall and oval shaped). At first this has the same sour/icky smell I also find in Animale and Parfum de Peau by Montana. I swear it's ylang ylang-- which I find waxy and sweet-- which has no business being in chypres/greens IMO. Anywho, it does pass. (And when applied to skin, this sourness doesn't even show up- this was a tissue test for me) I do get a sharp green, earthy pepper scent, but as it dries down it gets more soapy/powder/floral and feels really nice! Vintage smelling chypres/greens/animalics are my thing now, and this fits! I do have the current version, so I think the potency is meh. I do see the similarity to Paloma, but PP doesn't have that sour part. This has a slighty earthy/sweaty feel to the middle. It's interesting, I will def update on how it wears on skin in the summer. (Mind you all, my Michigan summers are rarely HOT and HUMID. I consider 80 degrees to be sweltering!) Overall, so far, this version is actually kinda green and clean, like Irish Spring.

Review based on a brand new bottle of EDT bought at a British department store. What has happened to this glorious scent??? I used to always have a bottle of this on the go in the 1990's and adored its smooth, balsamic, woodsy, luxurious scent so much. It was never my 'signature' scent but I really loved it... I have not owned a bottle for a long time, until recently when I excitedly bought a massive bottle of La Perla EDT, in the discount 'bins' at a well known department store here in the UK. I was so thrilled as I thought I had snapped up a real bargain (£17.50)! I dashed home and spritzed it, liberally as usual, but I could not smell anything! Literally. A slight floral/woody/stale smell which didn't even hang around for ten minutes! I was SO disappointed...and cross... I have always thought the reformation of perfume discussions on this site rather a bore, until it happened to me! Sorry folks, I am now on that band waggon of bemoaning the demise of once wonderful, evocative scents... I have relegated this huge bottle of non-smelling 'water' to the bathrooms at work for everyone to use to freshen up...it's all it's good for really and even then it does a very poor job. Sob...

I bought the Edt and it reminds me of Paloma Picasso, Lancome Ô de Lancome and Lancome Magie Noire. On me it's a little bit soapy and green. Disappeared quickly, next time I will go for the Edp.

Fragranza ottima, davvero una "perla" da scoprire e riscoprire della profumeria italiana. A me piace tantissimo! Ottimo! Caldo, dolce, seducente. <3

To me this is almost a parody of a 1980s powerhouse chypre it is so stinky and deep, as if you grew Ungaro on a bed of manure. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE chypres. I have an old miniature where the citrusy topnotes have for the most part left and it gets right to the flowers growing on a bed of perfectly fresh compost. I believe I also smell asafoetida mixed in with the spice. This is not an unpleasant perfume if dabbed carefully, but it is funny that this was once the signature perfume for a lingerie house associated with the most delicate and lacy feminine concoctions. When did feminism end and women get so sirupy-sweet and brazilian-waxed?

Spicy, floral, sweet... All i get is a spicy concoction of roses and honey. The twist comes from the patchouli and the vetyver, but mostly that's all i get. Sadly, that's basically every rose fragrance around. The patchouli-rose combo is WAY overdone.