Krasnaya Moskva. To anyone who has spent much time in Russia, this scent will be familiar. It's the smell of dolled-up older ladies on trolleybuses; it's the smell of the 50+ lady in front of you in line at the grocery store. It's the smell of Soviet femininity.

Krasnaya Moskva, which means "red Moscow," is a perfume that was extremely popular in the Soviet Union. To me, it smells like a mix of grape syrup and baby powder, although it has been compared to Chanel No. 5 (which also has a baby-powder quality about it). Maybe in small amounts Krasnaya Moskva would be alluring, but it is never used in moderation. It makes a sickeningly sweet haze that gets into your mouth and brings up memories of old ladies scolding you for not wearing a hat on a cool day. It is definitely a grandmother perfume, and I can't imagine any young Russian women would wear it. But that's okay; the old ladies wear enough of it for everyone.