The return of SUN SONG

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BULL

BULL

Decade Club
Apr 19, 2015
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#1
Sun Song was a classic all-citrus cologne—'cologne' in the traditional European sense of royal perfumery dating back to the 1700s, not the American usage. It was launched in 2019 alongside Cactus Garden (Vuitton's only tea-based scent) and Afternoon Swim, the only hit from the series and the one that’s still around.
They’ve brought back Sun Song in a new bottle featuring an Alex Israel gradient.
Curious how you all remember it—and whether you were hoping for its return.
 

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#2
What a pretty summery looking bottle!
Would love to learn more about this definition of cologne vs the American one or eu du toilette vs parfum ( I remember my mother always insisting on buying only parfum but I was never sure of the difference)
 
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#3
A bottle of Red said:
What a pretty summery looking bottle!
Would love to learn more about this definition of cologne vs the American one or eu du toilette vs parfum ( I remember my mother always insisting on buying only parfum but I was never sure of the difference)
Click to expand...
Eau de Cologne is the second one on the concentration ladder:
1. Eau Fraîche
2. Eau de Cologne
3. Eau de Toilette
4. Eau de Parfum
5. Parfum
(this list is also nor set in stone, neither comprehensive, since perfumers use all kinds of variations by adding extra words like Forte, Absolu, etc...)

All Vuitton creations are at level 4. In American English cologne refers to any kind of men's perfume in general. No matter the concentration. Perfume enthusiasts go mad when people throw around the word cologne like that :D

What few people know is that Eau de Cologne was originally a very specific type of scent, made of predominantly citrus notes (lemon, orange, bergamot, petitgrain, neroli, etc...). The first one was made by Johann Farina in the early 1700's, and the fact that he could blend all these oils with high precision was a technical marvel back then. It was extremely popular in the royal courts and rich people were fighting over it, just like they do now over croco Birkins.
This type of citrus blend became a genre of its own, and houses revisited it numerous times every since. A great example is Cologne Royal from the Dior Privée line. It even pays homage to the history of the scent being a royal favourite back then. And despite the name cologne, this one was also an Eau de Parfum.
 

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#4
That's really interesting; so is 1 the most concentrated and strongest while 5 is the most diluted?

Also interesting is how the word cologne evolved from what Mr Farina created back then to general usage today.
 
#5
A bottle of Red said:
That's really interesting; so is 1 the most concentrated and strongest while 5 is the most diluted?

Also interesting is how the word cologne evolved from what Mr Farina created back then to general usage today.
Click to expand...
On this list Eau Fraîche is the most diluted (some say that splash waters, after shaves should also be on the list, those are even less potent), and Parfum is the most concentrated. I should have been more precise, sorry.
Absolu and Extrait are also derivatives or Parfum, with very high oil concentrations.

Of course pure 100% oils are also possible, but they are — kinda suprisingly — less potent than perfume blends. The high alcohol concentration helps with projection tremendously, and blending with other strong (large-molecule) base oils — again, with the help of alcohols — help with longevity tremendously.

A good example for these designer oils is the Élixir Précieux line from Dior, they literally sell 3 ml of perfume oil for 400€ (!!!). Lower quality oils (and without the brand name, of course) can be bought in many regular shops for the fraction of this price, but without alcohol and the help of a smart blend and recipe, they are not a substitutes for perfumes.
 
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#6
When this first came out I was in the store waiting for my CA. Another CA (who I adored) came over and said I must try it. He doused me in it.

I could smell it for days. I couldn’t get it off of me. It absorbed everywhere I touched.

I remember liking the smell initially but absolutely despising it after it wouldn’t let go of me.

I still have a half bottle of Cactus Garden and I’ll be heartbroken when its empty.
 
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#8
This is my favorite after-shower scent. In the Hispanic community back in the day (not sure it's still around) there was a "baby cologne" parents would put on their children and it to me it smelled exactly like Sun Song. Unfortunately, Hudson Yards in NYC was the last boutique I knew of with the refill tank but they ran out in December, 2024. Do you think they'll refill my old bottle?
 
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#10
BULL said:
On this list Eau Fraîche is the most diluted (some say that splash waters, after shaves should also be on the list, those are even less potent), and Parfum is the most concentrated. I should have been more precise, sorry.
Absolu and Extrait are also derivatives or Parfum, with very high oil concentrations.

Of course pure 100% oils are also possible, but they are — kinda suprisingly — less potent than perfume blends. The high alcohol concentration helps with projection tremendously, and blending with other strong (large-molecule) base oils — again, with the help of alcohols — help with longevity tremendously.

A good example for these designer oils is the Élixir Précieux line from Dior, they literally sell 3 ml of perfume oil for 400€ (!!!). Lower quality oils (and without the brand name, of course) can be bought in many regular shops for the fraction of this price, but without alcohol and the help of a smart blend and recipe, they are not a substitutes for perfumes.
Click to expand...
Oh ok so that makes sense why my mom wanted parfum and why it smelled so strong .... I have bad allergies so I don't use any perfume but this is still super interesting to me
 
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#11
jazzy1587 said:
This is my favorite after-shower scent. In the Hispanic community back in the day (not sure it's still around) there was a "baby cologne" parents would put on their children and it to me it smelled exactly like Sun Song. Unfortunately, Hudson Yards in NYC was the last boutique I knew of with the refill tank but they ran out in December, 2024. Do you think they'll refill my old bottle?
Click to expand...
If I understood it well, this is a relaunch and not a reformulation, so the juice will be exactly the same. Afternoon Swim (without a hiatus) also got a new gradient bottle, and people with the old blue bottles can still go for a refill, so I am sure if you have an old Sun Song, they'll refill for you once it's launched again.
 
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#12
BULL said:
Sun Song was a classic all-citrus cologne—'cologne' in the traditional European sense of royal perfumery dating back to the 1700s, not the American usage. It was launched in 2019 alongside Cactus Garden (Vuitton's only tea-based scent) and Afternoon Swim, the only hit from the series and the one that’s still around.
They’ve brought back Sun Song in a new bottle featuring an Alex Israel gradient.
Curious how you all remember it—and whether you were hoping for its return.
Click to expand...
Interesting! I still have a sample from LV of this lying around somewhere, I need to find it. I wanted to buy it after trying it but it had just been discontinued.

I blind bought cactus garden but never fell in love with it, though it's nice. I'm surprised it wasn't a hit based on how people talk about it though. Meanwhile my bottle that I maybe only sprayed 10 times is collecting dust on my dresser lol
 
#13
ingenieux00 said:
I blind bought cactus garden but never fell in love with it, though it's nice. I'm surprised it wasn't a hit based on how people talk about it though. Meanwhile my bottle that I maybe only sprayed 10 times is collecting dust on my dresser lol
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Oh that is such a gem though, I am holding onto my bottle, with around 40% left.
Tea fragrances are not super popular in general, I can see why they marketed it as cactus, rather than tea, while in reality it had nothing to do with cactii :D
 
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#14
ingenieux00 said:
Interesting! I still have a sample from LV of this lying around somewhere, I need to find it. I wanted to buy it after trying it but it had just been discontinued.

I blind bought cactus garden but never fell in love with it, though it's nice. I'm surprised it wasn't a hit based on how people talk about it though. Meanwhile my bottle that I maybe only sprayed 10 times is collecting dust on my dresser lol
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They sell for massive markups in the fragrance community if you’re so motivated.
 
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#15
mrceral said:
They sell for massive markups in the fragrance community if you’re so motivated.
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Wow, really?? 🤔

I got my bottle in 2021, though. How long do fragrances typically last?

Also, holy cow I just did a quick search on ebay and people have them listed in the thousands of dollars??? 🤯 I would've maybe expected to sell mine for like $200 lol
 
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