Safari

Just had the great fortune of coming across an original bottle with the box in my favorite vintage store. Something about it vaguely stuck out to me as being very familiar. Out of curiosity I opened it outside and gave it a few sprays. INSTANTLY teleported back to the 1990s! My parents were both hairdressers, they owned a trendy salon in South Florida and after school I always came to their shop and chatted with clients and read through the magazines and loved smelling the fragrance strips, maybe their nail tech would paint my nails if she didn't have anyone left for the day. I remember this scent, I'm sure it was very popular. And as others have mentioned, the ads for this perfume were a whole vibe. Anyways, on to the actual perfume itself. The galbanum-led floral opening is great: fresh, funky, green, and tart in a way that grabs your attention, definitely captures the subtropical savannah essence, makes me think of many childhood memories of running in through blazing hot sun and tall dry grass. I'm a big hyacinth lover and after the first 10 or so minutes that note and the narcissus really started to come through, and help give this fragrance a more feminine edge. But that feminine quality IS exactly that: edgy. To me this is a cool and independent chick. The middle notes are all present and accounted for. About 30-45 mins in, to my nose, I got orris, rose, jasmine, and orange blossom, but now that I see rosemary I totally get that, definitely provides some grounding and dryness to the scent. Really lovely at this point and much more feminine. The drydown is just so soothing. Reminds me of a high end spa, or that smell of hot wood and rocks in a sauna. And I can still smell it the next day on my skin, 12 hours later. I'm so obsessed with this fragrance, I'm glad I happened to pick it up but now I am afraid to run out!

I used to wear this many years ago and I loved it. It was different, and it satisfied a particular craving that I always get for it round about the end of summer. A beautiful warm, elegant green-floral chypre. Right away, the galbanum and marigold give it that fresh, slightly bitter green snap, balanced by a soft floral heart—think narcissus, rose, and jasmine weaving in a natural elegance. As it dries down, the oakmoss and vetiver give it a classic depth, slightly woody, slightly leathery, making it feel adventurous yet refined. Just stunning! But so hard to find now sadly. If anyone has a bottle for sale, please DM me.

This smells INCREDIBLE I want this asap, my mum use to wear this and I LOVED how it smells, it's one of the only none sweet/floral perfumes I really really love, I want to get this and the male version for me and my bf

The advertisements for Safari in the 90's fashion mags had me swooning, with Ralph Lauren models posed in cream linen next to elephants in the Serengeti with glow-y skin and effortless, flowing stick straight hair. And that simulated antique style cut glass bottle was divine. How I coveted it all...except the product itself. Safari was overtly animalic in an unsophisticated way for my skin, and I say that hoping that the Ralph Lauren gods don't strike me down right now as I am a devotee of three decades. It comes across as muddy and dirty perfume, literally like bagged manure with flowers sprinkled on top. Perhaps this fragrance concoction was good for the grunge types of the 90's...and perhaps that's exactly why its gone now, too. My hubby's take on my 1990's bottle: this is a nothingburger frag.

I bought it brand new off Ebay, I was really excited to smell it due to all the great positive reviews as well as I remember it been a best seller in the 90's. Unfortunately is not for me, to me is very masculine and it reminds me of the perfumes they use in Santería to clean you, if you are Hispanic you will understand what I mean, thankfully im able to return it.

Another masterpiece that unfortunately belongs to the past...why???🥲

This is now history. Like Robert Piguet's Bandit -- It was not a scent for females in any conventional sense . It smelled like you were going into a grassy horse stable filled with beer kegs (and I mean that in a good way). And this is OLD SCHOOL so mature feels like a mature Clint Eastwood or an older Charles Bronson. This should have been labeled "unisex". To this date - I still do not know what the "Men's" version of this smelled like. No way could it have been more "Horse Alpha" ?! I used to buy half full , fully matured, bottles of this on ebay for $25.00. (ebay now kicks off sellers selling 'used perfumes' . Damn them. ) Thankfully I have a few left . And they now reside in the "special occasion" case. I hope Dominique Ropion won an award for making this come to life. I'll bet one of the biggie NICHE companies is stealing this recipe as I write .....

I am looking to buy any amount of this perfume from someone in the Netherlands. Please contact me if you are selling. We can use Vinted (so if you are in Italy or France that works too) or Markplaats.

This 's been indeed one of my cloud nine memories of a 90's fragrances fleet and still in my deepen heart. Firstly , I has loved Safari Ralph L. ; and second is No.5 Chanel .

Still my favourite. Dry, green, aromatic, deep, warm, bold. Waving yellow grass, great planes, sun, nightfall. It makes me feel grounded, like a hug from my mother because she loves it too. An elegant and tenacious woman, a soulful and endlessly complex scent. It tells me a story every time I wear it. Thank you Dominique Ropion.

Gosh I adore this fragrance! I fell head over heels for it back in the 90s and purchased many bottles, gift sets and still have the big Safari cane umbrella that came in the gift once! I was first attracted to the bottle with that gorgeous cut glass and amber juice looking like a fine cognac I was too young and unrefined to drink at the time. But the fragrance itself is what made me feel so grown up, sophisticated and well put together. It was confidence in a bottle for me and it was tragic it was discontinued! I recently purchased a vintage bottle and it still smells exactly the same after all these years! I do not find it dated at all!! Maybe nostalgic but not dated! It is a true classic to me. The longevity is amazing also! I’m so glad to have it back in my collection and will cherish it!

I received this as a gift from my first boyfriend in my 20s. It was the beautiful big box that is now my sowing box. It instantly became my signature scent. The mix of complex florals and the green Galbanum is absolutely intoxicating. The sillage and longevity is amazing. It maybe a little too intense for daytime. But still it’s the perfect homage to great 90s perfumery. I still have the little Eau de Parfum :)

This perfume takes me straight back to 1991 in Pensacola, Florida. Cordova Mall, my first real paycheck and the thrill (and guilt) of overspending just to scrub off the lingering stench of poverty. Back then, Lauren made me feel pretty, but Safari made me feel powerful. It’s a little sharp, not at all playful, and carryies the weight of ambition and edge that felt like armor at the time. It’s less about sweetness or comfort, and more about that raw mix of defiance and desire that comes with growing up wanting more, and hoping a designer label might provide a glimpse of a better life.

Opens with galbanum that soon subsides, then come the flowers, warm, soft flowers like a hug and there's also some vetiver that adds an airy spiciness. Beautiful! 9/10

Smelled like a foresty cologne then suddenly warms into a burnt weed? Am I crazy. The Black Orchid comparisons are reaching. Doesn't perform too well

found a bottle at the thrift, its a soft elegant smell. Not too strong and not weak at all! Interesting blend! Reminds me of Jontue by Revlon.

love this. elegant and timeless. a stunning chypre, a little green, a little floral, a little aromatic, a little bitter-sweet. wish I had a lot available, so I can shower in it. not a silage monster, but within arm's lengh, people will notice you smell amazing, and ask for a name :) too bad is scarce, the vintage

I have a vintage bottle that smells amazing on me. It melds with my body chemistry perfectly. It smells creamy, but clean and fresh.

Classy, sexy, even mature fragrance. Ralph Lauren was really on a roll during the 80s/90s with Polo, Lauren (another favorite of mine), Safari, etc. Deep, sweet, chypre. Crazy complex. I was a die-hard Lauren user (the square red bottle, which was already complex enough on its own), and then graduated to Safari. I was taken in by the gorgeous bottle, and at the time, it was VERY expensive for me, but that didn't stop me! Definitely beast mode - I never needed more than just a couple spritzes to last me all day! (WHYYYY did that end???)

Absolutely beautiful fragrance. This is one that has to be experienced to really "get" how timeless it is. While originally marketed as a fragrance for women, this is completely unisex today. I also own a Cosmair era men's version and actually prefer this one. The women's version is just so smooth and serene without being overly floral or sweet. It is so well blended and smooth after all of this time. The galbanum, and the citric aspects mix with the subtle floral notes and create an expansive, "take your breath away" landscape of scent. Its honestly hard to describe, but very beautiful to experience. It comes and goes on the air, without ever dominating or becoming obnoxious. It brings to mind open spaces, and longing glances. This is one to be worn with restraint, and 2 to 3 sprays is more than enough to enjoy all day and night. Magical.

It has such a unique start - smoky, leathery floral. Marigolds plus galbanum I think. Beautiful are also the sweet citrus facets of the start and narcissus is also prominent. It has a powdery-floral effect and is like an aromatic drink though this association is maybe thanks to the gorgeous bottle. Very unique. The heart is rich, the base is dominated by vetiver and cedar in a great way. My like for the scent is turning to love this warm day.

i love boneless buffalo wings at Applebee’s. Safari reminds me of the complimentary celery on the side if it were drizzled in honey and basking in rays of sunshine. very good.

I finally got this perfume after so many years, as soon as I opened the box It smelled so wonderful, this Is so unique if you like vintage frangances. I fell in love with it when I was 16 my Mom's friend was wearing it.

Ralph Lauren's muse...she wears khaki pants, white silk blouse, big but classy longish golden-brown hair, and she's beautiful with that "no makeup makeup look". There is really nothing quite like it. Another 90's romantic and stunning treasure. Honestly, I wore this on a date with a guy who turned out to be a creep, so I haven't worn it much since (bad memories) and it's such a shame. I should wear it more so I can accumulate good memories to associate with it.

I never owned this back in the nineties, but I remember the scent. Now I added a bottle from 1993 in my collection, and I’m happy I did. Such a throwback! In the best of ways. The opening is green, very galbanum indeed. A surprisingly warm take on galbanum. Then comes the marigold, beautifully blending in. I love Silences, Armani Woman and chypres I general. Safari starts off as a chypre but I’m not sure if it is a chypre actually. The base is a warm soft floral, with a strong powdery iris note, not typical of the genre. It reminds me of some other vintage fume but my brain can’t put the name on it. I am very happy to have this Ropion masterpiece in my hands. I can recommend on getting a Cosmair era bottle if this. You’ll be in for a treat.

So much has been said about the grandeur of Safari: galbanum this, 1990s-via-1970s that, fruity chypre, so on and so forth—it leaves me thinking what more can I add to all the praise without risking redundancy. The treble of its florals do it for me: clarion hyacinth, sunny marigold—so much glorious tagetes oil! Then there is a hay-like, cresolic narcissus as well. They are all tinted by the hue of quenching, tart, dark berry fruitiness. This drenched and delectable bouquet is affixed to a sunset amber and drier, grassy vetiver that drives deep inhalations out of me. The whole experience feels like a happy glow, a kick-your-heels-in-the-air energy: a perfect remedy for the dark and short days of early winter. It is fascinating that in its time of release, Safari was defiant to the fast approaching trends of the 1990s, and ultimately may have kept it less obvious in the shadow of such releases as Angel and Dune, and would eventually meet its fate by the 2010s. But man, what a gem indeed. I was so fortunate to have found this bottle from the 90s at a vintage store this past summer—for 10 dollars.

It smells like a Romantic painting of autumn leaves in a park. Makes me tear up.

I found it creamy, soapy and clean like the classic Nivea cream of blue container, joined with a vibe of Jadore Infinissime from Dior.

I can't comment on any modern formulations, but I found a tiny vintage at a local thrift store. Safari is anachronistic for a 90s release, it doesn't have the typical 90s notes or accords. It's a 70s style chypre perfume, with 80s touches: fruity notes and a synthetic amber in the base. Galbanum, yes, but it's extremely dry and oakmoss-y. Bitter, green, with a hoarse texture. I think the herbal marigold and the complimentary sweet ambery base are what make this perfume stand out among other chypres. Sharp and prickly, but not without a soft, sweet heart. Reminds me a bit of Diva, Creation, and Halston, without overlapping too much with any of them. My nose typically agrees with Ropion's work, so Safari is my favorite. Utterly gorgeous, somehow very refreshing. The progression is fantastic, Ropion knocked this gem out of the park. I must imagine Safari is less expensive than his older and more coveted output. This is a vintage perfume that chypre lovers should be on the lookout for. Edit: Occasionally old bottles of this perfume pop up for reasonable prices on resale platforms. I have finally added a big bottle to my collection.

She was one of the It Girls when she first arrived on the scene. Such a stunning bottle filled with such a unusual and stunning scent. There was nothing sweet about her, she was dry, arid, green and lush. I replaced her a few times, we were really close for a while, then others turned my head. I think it todays world of coffee and sweet scents she would not fit in. She was a time, an era, a place but that time has passed.