Cabaret by Grès was launched in 2002 but did not have the impact it deserved and rather quickly joined the ranks of discounted perfumes. Why did this happen? Instead of being a fragrance much cared about, it is one that one can call "underrated". Without having studied this case, one can assume that a relatively modest budget launch, the fact that it was a chypre creation when chypres were not yet on the rebound, and its mature, distinguished, elegant, somewhat austere, and refined personality all have contributed to some extent to its lack of broad popular appeal.
The advert did read "Cherchez la femme" (look for the woman) and apparently it landed in a market crowded with girls.
The perfume was composed by Michel Almairac. It is a beautifully balanced classic chypre and in it the rose note is never opulent but rather transparent, sparkling, and dry, fusing together with the near-austere spirit of chypre instead of affirming her floralcy. The rose here tinges the perfume and is very delicate making you think of a dry sparkling rosé wine without any literal boozy connotations....
3 iconic cabaret women characters. In the perfume "Cabaret" the cabaret fantasy remains internalized. We have to note that when we think of Lisa Minnelli's character wearing this perfume, the patchouli facet becomes more aggressive and comes to the fore. When we think of the Blue Angel, the perfume becomes rosier. And when we see Satine wearing it, it becomes more powdery. (Images: IMDB)
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