Boozy, narcotic and dangerous, Rumeur is definitely a sensual, femme fatale perfume. The notes that came to the fore upon first application: dark vanilla, civet, creamy white florals; upon second and third application: leather and tobacco.
It reminds me of Baghari in the almost tropical lushness of the flowers, and, as it turns out that whatever flowers are in it (I can't find a definitive list of notes), it is fruit that lends it some of its sweetness: peach and plum. And although Baghari is animalic, Rumeur is more obviously so. I wonder if Rumeur has Baghari's flowers: ylang-ylang, jasmine, and rose or orange blossom. (I'm smelling something indolic here.) I described Baghari as unintimidating; Rumeur is definitely so. It is a very haunting, disturbing and dark fragrance to me.
When I visualize Rumeur, I imagine those dark, fleshy, oddly-colored orchids that you can hardly believe are flowers. My Sin and Baghari are white and sensual flowers — Rumeur their darker cousin. I am in love with this strange perfume.
Notes: According to The Perfumed Court, oakmoss, patchouli, bergamot, florals
According to Octavian Coifan, perfume historian, Rumeur is a fruity chypre between Mitsouko and Femme and contains: peach, plum, dark vanilla, nutmeg, cardamom, clove, civet, tobacco and cuir de russie bases prepared by Synarome.
(UPDATE: I got a whiff of the updated Rumeur; it's awful and chemical smelling. It doesn't even approximate this! Sad.) Orchid photo from Southern Garden Scents.
Aha! So you have tried vintage Rumeur. I just emailed you about this fragrance, B. I love it too. Exquisite and unique leather, and the most raw animalic base I have yet to experience. Truly gorgeous and worthy of praise....and worthy of a wary respect bordering on awe.
Posted by: robin | June 22, 2010 at 06:34 PM
Robin, it is incredibly animalic in the base, and the leather and tobacco are subtle, adding just enough roughness. The perfume now by the same name is 100% different. Sad for anyone who buys it thinking it's this beauty...
Posted by: Perfumaniac | June 23, 2010 at 12:21 PM
My mother wore Rumeur many years ago. She is now almost 92 and I would love to buy her a perfume that smells almost like it! Any ideas?
Posted by: Valerie | October 08, 2010 at 09:31 PM
Valerie, you could get her an original bottle of Rumeur for 30-something dollars! http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40_trksid=p3907.m570.l1313_nkw=vintage+rumeur_sacat=See-All-Categories I got my beautiful bottle of pristine, new-in-the-box vintage Rumeur on eBay. The closest I've come to it is more modern, but alas, also discontinued: Paco Rabanne's La Nuit.
Posted by: Perfumaniac | October 09, 2010 at 04:23 AM
HI check on ebay a ordinal Lanvin Rumeur is for sale
Posted by: Moe | March 03, 2014 at 08:05 AM
I own an unopened Rumeur by Lanvin bottle in unopened box from World War ll. Any idea where I can sell it or it's value. I also have a letter from the sender stationed in France to someone in the US during the war.
Posted by: Larry | March 01, 2016 at 06:24 PM