Our take
What does Youth Dew smell like?
Estée Lauder launched Youth Dew in 1953 as a bath oil, a clever move that encouraged women to treat themselves rather than wait for a bottle as a gift. The scent itself is anything but shy. Aldehydes and peach open with a burnished, almost coppery glow, lifted by a thread of bergamot. Rose, jasmine and ylang-ylang soon melt into a warm, spiced bouquet where no single petal stands out, like an heirloom fabric. The base is all about staying power: resinous vanilla, dark patchouli and musk that cling to skin and coat collars for days. It is an old-school oriental, dense and generous, and a clear ancestor of many ambery blockbusters that followed.
When to wear it
Save it for winter evenings and apply a single dab at the neck. Lovers of opulent orientals and fragrances with heritage adore it.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber, Spicy family. Youth Dew is one of 3 creations by Estée Lauder in our encyclopedia.
