My Honest Take on Avon Far Away: A Classic Eastern Perfume

Hey everyone, I'm sharing my genuine thoughts on Avon Far Away, a scent that's been around since 1994 and still has a loyal following.

I have to admit, I was initially skeptical about this perfume, but now it's one of my top picks from the Avon brand. The Far Away line has been popular for ages, and it's even being replicated in some Arabic perfumery and on online marketplaces like AliExpress.

Avon Far Away review xa0

I've been buying this perfume for a while now, and I used to grab the 10ml miniatures all the time. However, this is my first full-size purchase, and I'm glad I got the 30ml bottle with the spray nozzle - it's a lot more pleasant to hold.

I'll get into all the details below, but for now, let's talk about the basics.

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THE BASICS

Where to buy: You can find Avon Far Away through Avon reps or their catalogues.

Production: My full-size bottle was made in Russia, while the miniatures are made in Poland.

Volume: The perfume comes in four different sizes - 10, 30, 50, and even 100ml.

Price: Right now, a 50ml bottle costs 979 rubles, but I bought it before the price hike for around 600 rubles.

Concentration: The concentration of Avon Far Away is perfume water.

Launch year: This perfume was launched in 1994.

Perfumers: The perfumers behind Avon Far Away are Rene Morgenthaler and Javier Renard.

Type of scent: Avon Far Away is an eastern-style perfume.

Shelf life: The shelf life of this perfume is three years.

Ingredients:

The ingredients list is quite long, but Avon Far Away still manages to surprise me. Here's the list: ALCOHOL DENAT., AQUA, PARFUM, BENZOPHENONE-1, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, BENZOPHENONE-3, TRIS(TETRAMETHYLHYDROXYPIPERIDINOL) CITRATE, CI 47005, CI 14700, CI 17200, CI 42090, BENZYL SALICYLATE, LINALOOL, HYDROXYCITRONELLAL, COUMARIN, BENZYL ALCOHOL, BENZYL BENZOATE, CITRONELLOL, GERANIOL, FARNESOL, ISOEUGENOL, CITRAL.

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PACKAGING / EXTERIOR DESIGN

The Avon Far Away bottle is instantly recognizable - it's a rounded shape with a lid that's shaped like a sphere. And let's not forget the iconic brush that adds a touch of elegance to the design.

The glass is dense and heavy, making the bottle feel substantial in my hand:

Avon Far Away review xa0

The bottle's shape is quite sturdy, although it does have a slight indentation, making it look a bit flat when viewed from the side:

Avon Far Away xa0

The bottom of the bottle features a sticker with the main information:

Avon Far Away xa0

The lid fits snugly onto the bottle, and under it lies a beautifully designed gold-colored atomizer. It's made with high-quality materials and sprays a generous cloud of fine droplets:

I was surprised to see how the perfume atomizer is just clipped onto the bottle where the spray nozzle attaches. It doesn't budge when I'm using it, but it's easy to remove if I need to.

When I first opened the perfume, it was nicely presented in a compact box with a simple design:

Avon Far Away review

The back of the box has all the details you'd want to know - the product's origin, ingredients, expiration date, and more:

I also wanted to show you the mini version. Mine has a ball, but some versions come with a spray nozzle. The ball is super convenient for applying the scent to my skin, and it's perfect for tossing into my bag:

Avon Far Away mini version

I'm genuinely loving the design of this line. The bottles look classic, which suits the scent perfectly. There's nothing unnecessary or kitschy about the design. The packaging is top-notch, and it doesn't give away its budget-friendly nature.

A few years ago, Avon gave this line a major revamp, and I think they nailed the new look for the classic bottle. They only changed the lines on the bottle itself, but it's still that rounded, unmistakable shape. It looks modern, but not in a bad way. I'd give it top marks for the packaging of this water.

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NOTES / DESCRIPTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER

Avon Far Away is currently the oldest fragrance in their catalog, dating back to the 90s, and it's still in high demand. Over the years, they've released countless flankers that continued the 'eastern' theme set by the original Far Away.

I left reviews for some of the newer releases in this line:

- Far Away Endless Sun, which I really liked

- my take on the lovely Far Away Splendoria, which amps up the woody notes

- the only sweet and long-lasting scents in the line are Far Away Beyond

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And here's how the classic Far Away is described on the official site:

Follow your dreams! Far Away fragrances are a journey to a mysterious world of women! Sensuality, femininity, intrigue... What sensations will you choose?

I was curious about the notes in Avon's Far Away perfume, so I checked the official website for the most up-to-date information.

• Top notes: peach, freesia • Heart notes: jasmine, osmanthus, carnations • Base notes: vanilla musk, sandalwood, amber

Avon Far Away Notes xa0

Features

• The color of this perfume is a bright, honey-like hue that can leave stains on paper. Be careful when spraying it over light-colored clothing, as it might leave marks:

Avon Far Away Review xa0

• Fortunately, Avon Far Away didn't cause any allergic reactions in me.

• It doesn't leave any unpleasant sensations (stickiness or dryness) on the skin where it's applied.

• The fragrance lasts incredibly long, almost like a perfume. One spritz is enough for me, even on my hair. Two spritzes might be necessary on a chilly day or when I'm going outside. For my skin, it's perfect - the mini version with a rollerball is ideal, as I can apply it in tiny amounts.

• Roller notes: The scent in it isn't much different in intensity, but the consistency is another story. This perfume water is infused with glycerin (as per the ingredients), making it thick and leaving a moist sheen on the skin. Here's what it looks like after a minute or two:

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My expectations/requirements

I'm a big fan of the Far Away line, and I have a bunch of favorites both from the current offerings and the discontinued ones. Not all the scents in this line resonate with me, but I find that misses are relatively rare. I think both the flagship and many flankers are successful. I've been familiar with this line for a long time, ever since Far Away Bella and Far Away Bella Sunset.

At first, I was skeptical about the classic Far Away – I had some samples that drew me in with their 'expensive' sound, but repelled me with their richness and intensity. The flagship just overwhelmed me back then.

But, years went by, and I got a mini-set with the roller as a gift. I'd occasionally take it out and apply a tiny bit to my wrist. I guess something changed in my attitude towards these scents, and I started enjoying them. Initially, it was just a little bit, but eventually, I bought a larger quantity.

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If I were to list my requirements for perfumery in general, they'd be:

- Longevity is a must – the longer, the better (at least 3 hours, because on my warm skin, not all fragrances last well)

- The scent should sound harmonious, well-balanced, and not grate on any note – but that's a subjective point

I also have a design wish for the bottle: I'm not a fan of over-the-top designs with too much decoration, I prefer a more minimalist look. But, I can overlook the gaudy design if I really love the scent.

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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THE SCENT / ASSOCIATIONS

For me, Far Away is sweet, vanilla-woody. Those are the notes I hear most prominently in it. And, of course, it's eastern - there's that same spicy, piquant quality throughout.

I've got a direct association: Far Away = cozy. That coziness has romance, the crackle of a fire (candles or even a fireplace), and something deliciously intoxicating like mulled wine, the feeling of a vacation, relaxation, and carefree bliss.

From the associative chain, I can also name heavy velvet and silk fabrics, dark blue, burgundy, and coral colors, sexy lingerie, high heels, long earrings, and gold. In short, Far Away is undoubtedly hiding a feminine sense of luxury. Depending on the character of the owner, it can be magnetic/seductive or appealing/cozy.

I tried to gather my brightest associations with Far Away in a collage:

My associations xa0

It starts off with a vanilla and spice vibe, and at first, it's tough to pick out the other notes. On the plus side, the booze is barely noticeable at the beginning. But the intensity of the scent at first is so strong that it feels harsh. The vanilla here isn't the sweet, bakery kind – it's more like the dry, slightly stale smell of vanilla pods that have been sitting in a paper bag with other spices (like cloves and cinnamon).

The middle notes are all that same vanilla, a hint of musky powder, white flowers, and woody notes that get more pronounced as the scent settles on your skin. The powder isn't the typical cosmetic kind, but rather a dry, earthy one, like the kind you'd find in a spice cabinet. Overall, the scent is super warm, with a sunny feel, a spicy kick, and a creamy sandalwood smoothness. There are some ambiguous tropical notes in there that remind me of dried-out fruits and candied fruits – I'm not sure what's what, but I think some people might pick out coconut, while the manufacturer claims it's peach. Either way, it's a fruity-tropical chord with a clear sweetness.

The flowers are present in the background – it's a pretty exotic bouquet with a bit of freesia, a bit of jasmine, and some tropical flowers (like ilang-ilang and frangipani in the 'Monroe' by Givenchy). The flowers don't take center stage, they're more there to soften the overall sweetness and break it up.

Base notes - a sweet, woody scent. Thankfully, the musk is concentrated in the middle notes, where it reveals itself as a powder, and doesn't come out too soapy in the base. I can really smell the sandalwood, jasmine, and a hint of amber. The jasmine here is interesting. I'm used to it having a more floral scent, but in this fragrance, it's recognizable but smoky and sun-kissed.

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Unfolding is well-expressed. Give this fragrance a chance. If it scared you off at first, leave it on for an hour or two and listen again - it'll change its tune and become softer. At first, it's very sharp and pungent, a real Eastern scent, but later on, it's much calmer, powderier, and more gentle. And the more time passes since application, the less overwhelming it becomes. On my skin, it warms up quickly and transitions into a sweet, woody scent, so I can easily tolerate its initial transformations.

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My personal take is that this fragrance is a calming influence. I apply it, and mentally, I'm transported to that carefree, reckless state that only comes with youth, student days. I guess that's when I first experienced it from the women around me - it was super popular back then. So, there's a certain dose of nostalgia in my affection for it.

I enjoy this fragrance differently in different seasons. In winter, it gives me a sense of coziness: the scent wraps me in warmth and a soft, sweet powder. In the summer, on a cool, rainy day, it reveals a pleasant woody scent with tropical fruits, and the vanilla is much less noticeable when it's humid.

This perfume really hits the spot for me in late summer and early autumn. As soon as the evenings start to get a chill in the air, and the first hints of yellow appear on the trees, it's like a signal to me that it's time to break out the FE. And I use it all the time during those three to four weeks when summer is slowly transitioning into autumn, and the coffee and chocolate scents start to come out.

I'm not even sure when I first discovered Far Away, but it was probably around this time of year, years ago. And since then, it's been my go-to way to make everything feel cozier – just spray it on, and I get a rush of nostalgia, a boost of positivity, and a great mood.

One thing that's worth noting is that on my skin, it's not as powdery as it looks on the blotter. To me, it's more woody than powdery. On the blotter, the powdery notes are much more prominent, and the fruits are more intense. But even in its transformed state, there are some perks – on my skin, the sweetness of FE dies down quickly, leaving behind a subtle, smoky base that doesn't irritate me even in warm weather.

Far Away has been a staple in my perfume collection for years, in one form or another. It's stuck, I've grown to love it, and it's become one of my go-to Avon scents. I'm not planning on getting rid of it, even though I don't use it every day. When it's gone, I'll just buy a new one – maybe 50ml, maybe 30ml like last time.

Avon Far Away review xa0

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How others react to the scent is a love-it-or-hate-it situation, and I'm not exaggerating. Some people will compliment it, while others will comment on how sweet it is – it's definitely not a subtle scent. And for some reason, men seem to like it more than women.

From what I've noticed, it's just one of those scents that people love or hate. So, don't let someone else's opinion stop you from using it – just be mindful of how much you apply, as two spritzes can be overwhelming for those around you.

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Similarities to other scents are hard to find, as Avon Far Away is a truly unique scent that stands out from the crowd. While some flankers may share a similar vibe, Far Away itself is one-of-a-kind.

If I had to compare it to other scents, I'd say Far Away Gold has a similar atmosphere and base notes, but with a bit more exotic and floral notes.

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LONGEVITY AND SILLAGE

Longevity is truly impressive here. I'm not sure about the older versions (maybe they had a longer-lasting scent), but the new formula doesn't disappoint. It lasts beautifully on both skin and hair. You can notice it throughout a full workday (around 8 hours), and by evening it gradually fades, but keep in mind that I have sensitive skin, so it might last longer on cooler skin.

If you spritz it on a paper blotter, the scent will linger for several days (just like on your clothes). You can still smell it on your hair the next day.

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The dry down is a sweet, woody, and memorable blend. The sillage is around a meter or more, in my opinion. If you're wearing it in an enclosed space, it can fill the room and be overpowering for your colleagues. In such cases, it's best to apply it in small doses.

Avon Far Away review xa0

WHO IT'S FOR

Who it's for is a matter of debate. Some people think it's outdated and retro, while others see it as a classic of Eastern perfumery. Some people dismiss it as 'grandma's perfume,' but I know several young women who enjoy using it. So, there are no rules or restrictions. My only condition for this scent is that it's for fans of Eastern perfumery. Those who prefer fresh and aquatic scents will likely dislike it, although you never know. It can be worn both during the day and at night, and it suits different styles. However, it's best appreciated in open spaces, as it can be overwhelming in enclosed areas.

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***

By the time of year, Far Away is a seasonal scent for me, as I mentioned earlier. The only exception is extreme heat. It fits in perfectly in any other weather, and you can even sense a different mood depending on the season. In the fall, it feels more spicy, in the spring, more tropical, and so on.

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THE BOTTOM LINE

I'm amazed at how this fragrance travels through the years and still has a loyal following. You can safely call Far Away a classic in Eastern perfumery - it's not only great-sounding, but it's also maintained its quality over time. It's still just as long-lasting and trail-like.

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What I want to highlight as positives:

● Beautiful, recognizable bottle

● Original, one-of-a-kind exotic fragrance

● Long-lasting trail

● Excellent longevity

● Affordable price

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There are no negatives here. If you look at negative reviews, they'll all be about the same thing - the fragrance just didn't click. So, it seems it's just not for everyone, but that's not a bad thing.

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I highly recommend trying Avon Far Away if you're not familiar with it yet, especially if you're a fan of 'Eastern' scents, vanilla, and spices in perfumery.

Avon Far Away review________________Thanks for reading!

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