J'adore Eau de Parfum

Launched in 1999, J’adore arrived at the dawn of the new millennium. Created by Calice Becker (who has continued to Do The Most™ in the perfume world), the scent was a bit of a departure from the heavy, spice-laden fragrances that dominated the 1980s (think YSL Opium, or Chanel Coco–not subtle).

For a fragrance that is dominantly a floral, on the first spritz, J’adore is quite fruity. There’s an upbeat blend of pear, peach and bergamot. It’s a bright opening that manages to feel sophisticated without leaning into cloying sweetness. In the heart we get oodles of white florals: jasmine, tuberose, lily of the valley.

As the florals fade there’s some perfunctory vanilla and cedar, and while these do extend the life of the scent, they feel a bit incongruous with the light, bright opening. It kind of makes me which I could just reapply a couple hours later to stay in the fruity-floral domain. But in a world obsessed with longevity, that’s a hard pitch to make. And there’s nothing at all offensive about the dry down, it’s just a little idiosyncratic for my taste.

Ultimately, J’adore is a delicate scent that wants to be liked, and it’s pretty likable.