Lancome ~ Tresor and Tresor Eau de Printemps (Sheer)
I think sometimes people are at a loss to understand how one can admire without liking. Pictured here is a small wasp nest tucked under the eaves of my house. Look at that perfectly mathematical eye-pleasing form. Isn’t it gorgeous? I admire it. But I do not like it, for wasp nests mean wasps that sting. In my own way, this is how I experience Lancome’s Tresor (1990 version.)
Tresor presents a view of femininity suited for ladies, not women. Cross your legs, mind the posture, take that gum out of your mouth, be pleasant and smile when people are talking to you, and please have a little pride and wear some makeup, but not too much! I make a lousy lady; Tresor has never fit me well. Its powdery sweetness, amaretto-like rose and apricot combo, all add up to something that smells like a lie on me. Oh but I do admire it. Let no one say the lady Tresor possesses no depth or power. The richness of its aroma is made all the more remarkable by the simplicity of composition. I think in some ways this is perfumer Sophia Grojsman’s most audacious fragrance. Tresor seems almost radical with its expression of hyper-femininity. I simply cannot wear it: it overwhelms and oppresses me because it turns into cloying treacle on my skin.
Consequently, I felt skeptical about my chances of pulling off the newly introduced Eau de Printemps (Sheer) version of Tresor. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how anyone could alter and lighten Tresor while retaining its basic character. It appeared to be a preposterous prospect. Ah, but what do I know? The Eau de Printemps is entirely Tresor while proving much more wearable. The major difference between them is that the powdered sweetness has been stripped down, though not removed altogether. Rose and fruit are married in as pleasing a manner as in the regular Tresor, but without the heaviness. Interestingly, Eau de Printemps has a slightly more palpable green woody feel in the base. The ambery, slightly vanillic oomph of the original remains intact, but is transposed into veil-like transparency. Tresor Eau de Printemps… fits me. I think it is a fine addition to Lancome’s line up, providing a wonderful option to those like myself who would love to finally be able to wear Tresor. It’s a waspless nest, if you will. I am unable to guess at what lovers of the original will think: will they take exception to the changes?
My only beef is with the packaging. Like Kimora Lee Simmons’ Goddess, Eau de Printemps also comes with a ring seated around the bottle neck. Unlike Goddess, this rose engraved ring is an elegant design element to introduce. But it sure ain’t functional. I am not going to wear it, and I like the way the bottle looks with it on. However, due to the fact that it is loose, it wants to plop off whenever I remove the cap to spray. It’s annoying, and like with Goddess, I must protest this Happy Meal approach to packaging. Do not give me cheesy prize trinkets with my perfume. Spend the money on a complimentary purse atomizer, or better yet, please just sodder that lovely ring as a permanent piece on the bottle.
Tresor Eau de Printemps (Tresor Sheer) is a limited edition offering. If it at all piques your interest, best to try it out now before it is gone.
*The Tresor bottle in the photo is my mom’s. I wasn’t kidding before, it really looks almost unused. Waiting endlessly for “special” occcasions that never happen. If you squint you can see a vacation picture of my parents in the frame in the background.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
Interesting….since Tresor absolutely sucks buckets on me, anything that smells less like Tresor would probably be an improvement. Must be the fact that I, too, am lousy at ladyhood! It was so incredibly cloying and sweet on me, I couldn’t stand it.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:25 pm
sybil, you’re not alone in finding it too incredibly sweet and cloying. My husband rarely takes note of what the various perfumes smell like, but with Tresor he does because he ACTIVELY hates it so much. He can spot even the teensiest amount on someone better than I! He has the same objections to me or anyone wearing it that you do.
May 17th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
I gave the Sheer version a very brief airing on a test strip, and thought it was lighter, but possibly even sweeter than the original, maybe a more bubble-gum-ish, young kind of sweeter. Was I way off base? Will have to go try to snag a sample.
May 17th, 2006 at 5:59 pm
I personally don’t wear it as sweeter. It’s still sweet, of course, but not treacly sweet. Something in that more palpable green woodiness gives less an impression of syrup than the original. I agree it is, in a way, young smelling in comparison, however.
May 17th, 2006 at 6:32 pm
The original wears like a lie on me too and too opresses and overwhelms me. But after reading your review I am now willing to give a chance to this new version…but I’m sceptical, yes I am. :-)
May 17th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
Your skepticism is justified - regular Tresor is just that strong to warrant doubt. I was rather charmed overall by the Printemps, not too shabby, I think.
May 18th, 2006 at 6:40 am
As a bee keeper - I would tell you to trash the wasps nest - smack it hard and kill the buggers!!
they are bee murderers, selfish and nasty - yak yak.
I never like Tresor - which surprises me because it fit a certain mould that I really liked at the time
Heather
May 18th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
Oh yeah - first that thing got covered and then covered again with wasp spray. I just thought to get a picture before we destroyed it, because it looked neat ;)
May 19th, 2006 at 6:02 am
When I first saw that photo, I thought it was a light fixture, something from the 1950s or early 1960s, that would be in a house that had those swirly patterns on the ceiling. Amazing that such terrifying little creatures can make something so perfect.
May 22nd, 2006 at 4:05 am
Oooh, that would be a cool lighting fixture, though. “Amazing that such terrifying little creatures can make something so perfect.” I really thought it was beautiful enough to remember to take a snapshot before we obliterated it. But terrifying is right - and us chronic perfume-wearers are probably more at risk for arousing their interest and/or territorial anger than most folks ;)
May 22nd, 2006 at 2:45 pm
I was very disappointed in Tresor when it came out - it did not hold a candle to previous Lancome perfumes. I still adore Magie Noire, and O de Lancome is also wonderful in its own way. They have not really approached the level of Magie Noire ever again.
I just got a sample of Hypnose that I don’t really dare to wear - will it end up smelling cheap and “off” on me? Probably. I will reserve it for trying at home on a weekend so I can wash it off if I have to. Not really sure how Passion Flower, Vanilla and Vetiver go together - sounds a little scary!
May 24th, 2006 at 8:05 am
Tresor epitomizes for me the type of commercial department store perfume that I find I have to psychically “arm” myself against whenever I encounter it - it has the too strong, powder-y, overly lady like feel you describe, and it’s just not that attractive on anyone - it’s something to be tolerated, as far as I’m concerned, rather than embraced.
May 28th, 2006 at 7:57 am
Flora, I am not sure if you will go ga-ga for the Hypnose. Let me know what you think of it once you’ve tried it out? And Lancome did reintroduce some of their earlier scents - try a sample of the Climat if you like florals. It’s terribly easy to wear, and quite pretty.
Luccia, the powder can feel overbearing. I think on anyone Tresor is definitely one people should be judicious in application with. A little too much on is WAY too much on in Tresor’s case. I rather like the way it smells, but not on me. I can see why you’d say it must be tolerated rather than enjoyed, though - I think it totally does take psychic armor sometimes to protect oneself from it when stuck in close quarters with someone who’s wearing it.