
Bésame Cosmetics is a vintage and retro-inspired cosmetics line founded by Gabriela Hernandez, an Argentinian artist, cosmetic historian, and designer. The brand offers a range of perfumes, known as the Decades of Fragrance line, which includes scents inspired by different eras, such as the 1920s, 1930s, and 1960s. Each fragrance is unique and crafted from precious essential oils and natural vegan alcohol. While some customers have praised the perfumes, others have noted that the formulations have changed over time, with some expressing disappointment that the newer versions differ from the original scents. This has led to a search for perfumes that resemble the earlier formulations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Bésame Cosmetics |
| Founder | Gabriela Hernandez |
| Year founded | 2004 |
| Number of perfumes | 7 |
| Earliest edition | 2014 |
| Latest edition | 2018 |
| Perfume longevity | 3.08 out of 5 |
| Perfume sillage | 2.27 out of 4 |
| 1960 top notes | Grapefruit, Coriander, Wormwood |
| 1960 middle notes | Rose, Jasmine, Reseda |
| 1960 base notes | Patchouli, Agarwood (Oud), Oakmoss |
| 1950 scent family | Floral, Powdery |
| 1950 notes | Vanilla, Gardenia |
| 1930 notes | Cinnamon, Heliotrope, Vanilla, Cedar |
| 1920 top notes | Mandarin, Floral |
| 1920 base notes | Musky |
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What You'll Learn
- Bésame Cosmetics 1960 perfume: a Chypre Floral fragrance with grapefruit, coriander, and wormwood top notes
- The 1920s-inspired Bésame perfume with mandarin and floral top notes and a musky base
- Bésame Cosmetics 1930s perfume: a blend of cinnamon, heliotrope, vanilla, and cedar
- Bésame's 1950s fragrance: a floral, powdery scent with vanilla and gardenia
- Bésame's unique fragrances: a range of individual nuances and notes

Bésame Cosmetics 1960 perfume: a Chypre Floral fragrance with grapefruit, coriander, and wormwood top notes
Bésame Cosmetics was founded by Gabriela Hernandez, an artist, cosmetic historian, and designer. The company was founded in 2004, and its products are available at its two boutiques in California, Sephora and Anthropologie stores in the United States, and on its official American and European websites. Bésame Cosmetics has seven perfumes in its fragrance base, including the 1960 fragrance, which was launched in 2014.
The 1960 Bésame Cosmetics perfume is a Chypre Floral fragrance with top notes of grapefruit, coriander, and wormwood, middle notes of rose, jasmine, and reseda, and base notes of patchouli, agarwood (oud), and oakmoss. Chypre fragrances are characterised by their citrusy top notes, which develop into a heart of spicy florals and settle into a base of patchouli and oakmoss. This makes the 1960 perfume a fresh, spicy fragrance that feels familiar yet unique.
While some people find the scent pleasant, others find it too sharp or similar to other fragrances. Some people notice that the 2014 version of the perfume had a stronger focus on oud and patchouli, while the newer version seems to have replaced these herbal/woody notes with something more universally appealing. The newer version has been described as a rich, tobacco-ey rose fragrance, with fruity and vanilla undertones.
Similar top notes can be found in other Chypre fragrances, such as Ysatis by Givenchy, which has citrusy top notes, and Kouros, which has top notes of coriander and bergamot. In terms of middle notes, the jasmine and rose in Bésame's 1960 perfume can also be found in Ysatis, Kouros, and Aramis. Finally, the base notes of patchouli and oakmoss in the 1960 perfume are also present in Ysatis, Kouros, and Aromatics Elixir by Clinique.
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The 1920s-inspired Bésame perfume with mandarin and floral top notes and a musky base
Bésame Cosmetics was founded by Gabriela Hernandez, an artist, cosmetic historian, and designer. The brand offers a range of vintage and retro-inspired cosmetics, including its Decades of Fragrance line of perfumes.
One of its perfumes, inspired by the 1920s, features mandarin and floral top notes with a musky base. The 1920s was a decade of liberation for women, marked by new voting rights, shorter hairstyles, and flapper fashion. This perfume captures the spirit of that era in a bottle.
The Bésame 1920s-inspired perfume is part of the brand's Decades of Fragrance collection, which also includes perfumes inspired by the 1910s, 1930s, 1950s, and 1960s. Each fragrance in this collection is unique and crafted with attention to detail. The 1910s-inspired fragrance, for example, was a favourite among some customers and is sadly discontinued.
The Bésame 1960s-inspired perfume, launched in 2014, is a Chypre Floral fragrance with grapefruit, coriander, and wormwood as its top notes. Its middle notes are rose, jasmine, and reseda, while the base notes are patchouli, agarwood (oud), and oakmoss. This perfume has received mixed reviews, with some appreciating its unique, fresh, and spicy scent, while others found it disappointing compared to the original 1960s formula.
While the 1920s-inspired Bésame perfume stands out with its mandarin and floral top notes, the brand offers other fragrances with similar characteristics. The 1950s-inspired perfume, for instance, features a floral and powdery scent with vanilla and gardenia notes. The 1930s-inspired fragrance includes cinnamon, heliotrope, vanilla, and cedar notes, offering a warm and spicy aroma.
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Bésame Cosmetics 1930s perfume: a blend of cinnamon, heliotrope, vanilla, and cedar
Bésame Cosmetics was founded by Gabriela Hernandez, an artist, cosmetic historian, and designer. The brand was launched in 2004, and its fragrances were first introduced in 2014. The founder's fascination with her grandmother's beauty routine, along with her passion for the art and history of beauty, inspired her to create this vintage and retro-inspired cosmetics line.
One of Bésame Cosmetics' perfumes is the 1930s-inspired fragrance, a blend of cinnamon, heliotrope, vanilla, and cedar. This scent is part of the brand's "Decades of Fragrance" collection, which includes perfumes inspired by different eras, such as the 1920s and 1950s. The 1930s perfume comes in a 9mL vintage atomizer, reminiscent of the retro perfume bottles from that decade.
The Bésame Cosmetics 1930s perfume is described as having a blend of warm and sweet spices, with vanilla and heliotrope adding a touch of sweetness to the cinnamon and cedar base. The result is a fragrance that is both comforting and elegant, capturing the essence of the 1930s.
While the brand has received some criticism for changes in their fragrance formulations, many customers appreciate the unique and high-quality scents offered by Bésame Cosmetics. The perfumes are crafted from precious essential oils and natural vegan alcohol, ensuring a clean and meticulously crafted product.
The Bésame Cosmetics 1930s perfume, with its blend of cinnamon, heliotrope, vanilla, and cedar, offers a unique and elegant fragrance option for those seeking a scent inspired by the past. The brand invites customers to "transport [themselves] to another era" through their Decades of Fragrance collection, making these perfumes ideal for those who appreciate vintage-style perfumes.
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Bésame's 1950s fragrance: a floral, powdery scent with vanilla and gardenia
Bésame Cosmetics' 1950s fragrance is a floral, powdery scent with vanilla and gardenia. The perfume is described as sweet and exceptionally fresh, with top notes of mango and freesia, and a hint of citrus. The vanilla base notes are combined with undertones of sweet honey and intoxicating white flowers, imparting a timeless elegance. The scent is said to evoke the bright and cheery mood of the 1950s, with its pastel colours, pearl necklaces, and garden parties.
The perfume is part of Bésame's Decades of Fragrance line, which aims to revive the aromatic essence of decades past. The 1950s fragrance is available in a 9ml vintage atomizer, designed in a retro perfume bottle. The small size makes it perfect for carrying in a purse or while travelling.
Reviews of the perfume are generally positive, with one customer praising the scent and the quality of the bottle, which does not leak. Another reviewer mentions that the scent is pleasant and not too strong, while also lasting a long time. However, one customer notes that the perfume is quite diluted and does not last long, lasting only about an hour.
The Bésame 1950s fragrance is gluten, cruelty, and paraben-free. It is crafted from precious essential oils and natural vegan alcohol, in line with the brand's commitment to clean beauty. The perfume is available for purchase on Amazon and at Bésame boutiques in California, as well as Sephora and Anthropologie stores in the United States.
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Bésame's unique fragrances: a range of individual nuances and notes
Bésame Cosmetics was founded by Gabriela Hernandez, an artist, cosmetic historian, and designer, in 2004. The brand currently has seven perfumes in its fragrance base, with the earliest edition created in 2014 and the newest from 2018.
The unique fragrances of Bésame Cosmetics showcase a range of individual nuances and notes, with each scent capturing a different era. The 1920s-inspired fragrance, for example, evokes the era of new voting rights and liberation for women, featuring mandarin and floral top notes with a musky base. The 1930s-inspired perfume has cinnamon, heliotrope, vanilla, and cedar notes, while the 1950s scent is a floral, powdery fragrance with vanilla and gardenia notes.
The 1960s fragrance is a Chypre Floral scent with top notes of grapefruit, coriander, and wormwood, middle notes of rose, jasmine, and reseda, and base notes of patchouli, agarwood (oud), and oakmoss. This scent has been described as fresh and spicy, with a unique, high-quality feel. It is a reformulation, and some reviewers have noted that it differs from the original 1960s scent, which was woodsy and sensual, with prominent notes of patchouli, rose, oud, jasmine, and sandalwood.
The Bésame Decades of Fragrance line also includes a 1910s scent, which some reviewers have lamented is no longer available. While specific notes are not mentioned, one reviewer describes the scents as "lovely" and "super feminine," noting that the small size is perfect for travel.
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