Flora Gorgeous Gardenia

Flora by Gucci Gorgeous Gardenia

Gucci 2012 Eau de Toilette

I received Gardenia by Gucci (unfortunately) as a gift from my brother, as he worked on the new Garden campaign for Gucci.

At first, I was of course very, very excited. The packaging, the design, and ultimately the bottle are truly beautiful. So pretty that the scent would visually fit very nicely in my bathroom shelf.
Unfortunately, it is just too sweet for me. Personally, I prefer fresh, light fragrances.
Gardenia is not that. Maybe at the very beginning, just for a brief moment (pear, berries)... then it is very, very sweet for a long time, and many hours later, and this is the only thing I personally like about the scent, it becomes powdery on the skin. However, before it reaches this state, it gives me headaches.
In itself, Gardenia is certainly a nice, rounded fragrance if you like sweet scents. It fits well for spring and summer, but perhaps also on cooler days for snuggling under a cozy blanket.
Somehow, I perceive it as a typical, sugary sweet girl’s fragrance... unfortunately not for me.
It somewhat reminds me of Pure by Jil Sander. (which is also too sweet for me personally)

Now I have to champion this wonderfully beautiful fragrance! Since I first tested it, it hasn't let me go; I love it from the first spray to the last soft whisper.
When I first smelled it on my arm, I immediately thought - this is it, exactly what I have been searching for so long, even though I had imagined it quite differently.
At first, it is sweet-fruity, which I find totally delicious when sprayed on, but I wouldn't actually want to smell like this all day. Yet in that first moment, it smells so wonderfully of summer holidays, cycling home from a day at the pool or to the park, hair still damp and tied up, just a shirt over the bikini and long free weeks ahead.
Then the fragrance becomes softer, less sweet and floral, and the notes blend beautifully. It is the twilight of this lovely summer day. But it is just beginning, and the air is still warm, but not oppressive.
Then it slowly and quietly fades away, yet sometimes my nose still catches a hint of that summer evening.
I could smell it forever, and no other fragrance has transported me to another time like this. Thank you, Gardenia!

"Flora Gorgeous Gardenia" is a sugary little flower of the finer sort. More like frosted Frangipani than Gardenia, but still great. Fruity, sweet, feminine, youthful, spontaneous, naive, summery... these are adjectives that come to mind with this pink Gucci.

Easy to wear for young women who know how to playfully seduce. Although tailored to mass taste, it is never intrusive or sticky, never pushy or loud. Wasps and other critters are definitely attracted to it, especially this hot summer. Of course, it's different, but I can somehow handle it here. A creeping playmate, a monotonous spring awakening. The lady of the world from Rio to Berlin can hardly go wrong with this from 16 to 24. Because it surely attracts not only stinging flying insects...

Bottle: beautiful color, nice design. With a bow.
Sillage: fortunately not too heavy... that would have been deadly this summer. Not just for those with wasp allergies...
Longevity: 6 hours is longer than expected

Conclusion: sweet, tender, summery - a fine flower that lacks a bit of uniqueness. Nevertheless: worth a try!

~ Inspiration ~
So far, I have tested the regular "Flora" and "Glamorous Magnolia" from the Gucci "Flora Garden" line and was now curious about "Gorgeous Gardenia".

~ Bottle ~
The hexagonal shape indicates that this is a version of "Gucci Flora". It also features a thin black ribbon around the neck. The liquid in a delicate rose tone promises a subtle, floral scent. The name "Gorgeous Gardenia" means "Magnificent Gardenias".

~ Fragrance ~
It starts fruity-fresh with crisp green pears and tart red berries. The powerful floral heart of white gardenias and frangipani gives it a sweet yet slightly sultry aura, rounded off with brown sugar and patchouli in the base.

~ Longevity ~
On my skin, it lasts about 7 hours (on clothing and hair even longer). 2-3 sprays are sufficient, as it is quite intense and otherwise comes off too synthetic and overloaded. The sillage is unobtrusive but noticeable.

~ Occasion ~
A lush floral scent for the warmer days and evenings in spring, summer, and autumn.

~ Conclusion ~
You can recognize the typical "Flora" character of the perfume. It has a bit of "Oh Lola!" by Marc Jacobs.

Since I enjoy wearing Flora di Gucci and Gorgeous Magnolia, I was looking forward to Gorgeous Gardenia - especially since the lovingly painted bottle appeals to me.

I expect a lovely wildflower meadow that one carefully walks through barefoot to avoid bending the stems.

However, the quite
floral scent is accompanied by a harsh soapy note that doesn't quite match my expectations.
Alongside fruity and floral elements, the clean soap keeps peeking through.
Is the gardenia responsible for this cleanliness factor?
Thus, the lovely wildflower meadow loses its romance.
I can't perceive any sweetness - the scent remains floral but harsh for me.
Somehow unbalanced.

I would rather stick with Flora di Gucci and Gorgeous Magnolia.