Thursday 20 June 2019

LONDON 1969 by 4160 Tuesdays

I don’t think a perfume review is ever written without the word “inspiration” appearing somewhere within it. We love to know the background to a scent and the concept of the perfumer, but sometimes the original inspiration becomes entwined in ways that were never imagined. When Sarah McCartney of 4160 Tuesdays created London 1969 five years ago she could never have dreamed that it would take on a personal significance for the company, and just how important that date was. Far more than just an effervescent citrus, London 1969 takes you on a journey into the past but with one foot firmly in the present.

When Sarah McCartney launched The Vintage Cities collection back in 2014 the idea was to create fragrances using materials that were available at their actual time, but which also summed up the locations as Sarah envisaged them. The series consisted of Paris 1948, New York 1955, Rome 1963, and London 1969. The concept of using period specific ingredients is one that Sarah would return to many times, most notably with Goodbye Piccadilly and Old Sport, but five years ago this was a pretty novel idea and one which could only really have been born within her East Acton walls.

Towards the beginning of 4160 Tuesdays’ life they were asked to collaborate with the Peroni House of Italian Style, and it was here that Sarah worked with Silvia Bergomi to create what would become Rome 1963. They took the Fellini film of “Giulietta degli Spiriti” as the inspiration for this white flower fragrance and the idea then spawned a further three scents, which comprised The Vintage Cities. When London 1969 was created it was a celebration of “a city in flux” on the cusp of a new decade. However, five years later, the worlds of real life and fiction are about to spectacularly collide.

In 1969 Judy Garland was in London performing what would become part of her last series of concert appearances, she died in the city on 22nd June. Her run at the famous Talk of the Town nightclub was recorded and eventually released as Judy London 1969, and this period was also the inspiration for the play End of the Rainbow. An adaptation, now simply called Judy, has just been filmed starring Renée Zellweger and it also features 4160 Tuesdays’ very own Arthur McBain in the supporting role of Askith. Judy Garland famously wore Joy by Jean Patou, but I wonder what she would have made of London 1969?

It opens with an almost transparent citrus rather than the usual tart quality and straight away you start to get touches of earthy patchouli providing that wonderfully sixties feel. Everything seems to happen within these two extremes, you can think of it as day to night or Mayfair to Soho, and it provides a real pull of styles. A smooth sandalwood is contrasted with an aromatic lavender and the combination of incense and violet provides a mystical floral quality that supports perfectly without dominating. The development of the scent reveals a delicately sensuous labdanum and musk that places you firmly outside London’s Talk of the Town, in the evening warmth, as the fur coats pass you by.

London 1969 is available from the 4160 Tuesdays website at 4160Tuesdays.com and selected stockists priced at £40 for 30ml, £60 for 50ml or £90 for 100ml.

4 comments:

  1. That was brilliant reading Stephan. I love the way you bring everything into context, so your perfume reviews are not only a review, they are an education too.

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    1. Hello Barry, thank you for your lovely comment. I always try to make the reviews about more than just the scent and I'm pleased that comes over. Best, Stephan

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  2. I think I'm going to have to try it from the reading of this. Another addition to the 4160 collection

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    1. Hello Isanie, thank you for your comment. It's half price on their website this week so it might be a good time to take the plunge. Best, Stephan

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