Avon Topaze Perfume

Question

My dear wife is looking for an Avon perfume (Topaze) – it’s a blast from the past that she’d like to rekindle.

Avon no longer operates in Australia. You can get it online through ebay and others but that can be a bit dodgy.

We’ll be in Honolulu (Waikiki specifically) in September/October (can't wait - but I digress ... ).

Can anyone point us in the right direction to try and find it while we’re there?

Thanks in anticipation.

Answer

Good question. It can be tricky to find a bottle of Avon “Topaze” perfume in person — even in Honolulu — but it isn’t totally hopeless. Here’s what you should know (and what you could try) when you visit Waikīkī in September/October.

Why it’s difficult to find Avon Topaze in Oʻahu / Honolulu:

Avon in the U.S. primarily sells via independent representatives (catalog, home-sales, or online orders), not through widespread retail stores — so there are very few (if any) brick-and-mortar shops stocking a broad Avon fragrance line.
Because of that distribution model, even local Avon “stores” or reps often don’t carry older or discontinued fragrances like Topaze, especially in vintage/original form. Many Avon-related listings in Honolulu refer to independent reps, not stores with full product shelves.
As others have observed (in online travel-forum discussion about Topaze), “trying to find it in person in Waikīkī/Honolulu/Oʻahu” is often considered “pointless”.

Given that, here are the most realistic options to try when you’re in Honolulu / Waikīkī — but prepare for the chance you might not succeed:

Contact a local Avon representative in advance. There *are* independent reps listed in Honolulu / Oʻahu. You could call one (or a few) and ask if they currently have Topaze in stock or could order it for you. (Phone numbers and addresses of several reps are publicly listed in directories.)
Order online from a US-based Avon rep before your trip. Some Hawaii-serving Avon reps offer online ordering and ship within the U.S. That might be your safest bet if you want a decent shot at getting Topaze (especially if you want a “vintage” or older-formulation bottle).
Be open to “used / vintage / second-hand” bottles (if authenticity is okay with you). Because Topaze is old and possibly discontinued (or at least not widely stocked), finding a pristine new bottle may be unrealistic. Many collectors and resellers list bottles online, often under “vintage Avon Topaze.” These might be worth checking (though they come with the usual caveats about condition, authenticity, and longevity).

What you might want to expect (or accept):

The version of Topaze you find may be an older formulation — which many fans consider “more authentic,” because fragrance formulas (especially ones using older musk/aldehyde bases) often changed over time.
If you rely on local reps, stock may be very limited or nonexistent by the time you arrive — so even calling ahead doesn’t guarantee success. It’s wise to have backup plans (e.g. accept a vintage bottle, or consider a different fragrance).
Because of the fragmented distribution model (i.e. independent reps rather than retail stores), you may spend time calling around with no yield — so it’s a “low chance, high nostalgia” gamble.

My recommendation, given what you told me:

If your wife’s goal is to *re-live* the memories and get a real (or close to original) bottle of Topaze, the best strategy would be to reach out before your trip to a few Hawaii-based Avon representatives and ask if they can ship (or have in stock) Topaze. If that fails — and you’re open to a vintage/second-hand option — be ready to buy online from a reputable seller (US-based) rather than depending on retail-store luck in Waikīkī. If authenticity matters a lot, insist on honest photos, vintage-era bottles (pre-IFRA reformulation), and condition check. If not — you might find a “modern-ish” Topaze bottle, or a slightly modified re-release.