5th Avenue Perfume was released by Elizabeth Arden in 1996 as a tribute to New York glamour, and the fragrance still holds onto that grand, maximalist floral ambition today. Lilac, bergamot, linden blossom, mandarin and magnolia start the eau de parfum brightly before an enormous floral heart takes over, violet, jasmine, ylang ylang, tuberose, carnation, peach and nutmeg layered together into a bouquet few modern fragrances would attempt.
Amber, sandalwood, vanilla, iris and musk close the composition, a warm, powdery drydown typical of classic 1990s perfumery. 5th Avenue Eau de Parfum suits formal events, evenings and occasions calling for a fragrance built to be noticed rather than quietly worn. Its scale and complexity set it apart from the sheerer florals that dominate the current market, appealing instead to women who remember, or admire, an earlier era of American perfumery.
Anyone seeking a substantial, old world floral will find 5th Avenue a nostalgic, satisfying choice.