Pavlova Nicolaï 2024

I had really high hopes for this one! The notes looked amazing delicious nothing in if sounded synthetic or ambroxanish to me. Yes I know I just made my own word up. On my skin I instantly got a amber ambroxan strong sting to my nose. Very sad because the room where I sprayed in i smelled the most amazing delicious gourmand notes the ones I saw and was hoping for but on me it smelled very sharp and synthetic the way Carner Barcelona smells on me. This unfortunately was a sad moment a failure but glad i had no blind bought the bottle!

This Pavlova wears so beautifully!
The slightly tipsy pineapple is in the foreground here. The berry mix is also intensely present, accompanied by a light hint of coconut. However, for me, it is not a Pina Colada, as the cream is clearly missing here. The scent is very fruity and clear (in terms of the consistency I imagine); it is not creamy and/or milky. Inspired by the meringue dessert, the fragrance maximally reflects that excess of powdered sugar that makes the pineapple seem so overripe, which is by no means bothersome, it never becomes overwhelming. The lightly alcoholic pineapple gives a slight soapy touch, yet everything is harmonious here, the scent remains fresh with a decent dose of that certain something. A half-gourmand, but not in an edible or drinkable direction. Absolutely office-appropriate, season-independent, except on very cold days, when it feels like a silk dress under a down coat - somewhat out of place. Longevity/Sillage - good and appropriate, depending on the amount sprayed. The prices are now quite irresistible)

Here’s a review of a brand for which I haven't written a review yet and of course don’t have any fragrances in my collection: the French brand Nicolai by perfumer Patricia de Nicolai. Known primarily for the fantastic "New York Intense | Nicolaï," there are indeed many other great fragrances from this brand. The big spark hasn’t ignited for me yet, but I really like Pavlova from the Les Gourmandises line. Especially because I enjoy fruity and cheerful scents. This is what Pavlova offers, which has been on the market for less than 2 years. I tested it with an official sample, and it convinced me so much that I want to share my impressions. The structure of the fragrance and the pyramid immediately remind me of the somewhat overused Erba Pura and its thousand twins. Roughly, the scents go in a similar direction, but Pavlova feels significantly more restrained and thus a bit more elegant. Those who like fruity fragrances will find a great alternative here with distinctive notes.

This fragrance is available in 30 and 100ml. In terms of price, the recommended retail prices are €90 and €210, but in some online shops, it can be found for at least half that. This is really good, and due to the lack of hype, the brand will often be available at lower prices. The bottle is really pretty, especially the large one.
In the opening, you primarily get juicy pineapple, not synthetic and very invigorating-summery. Even though the fragrance was released in a gourmand line, it never becomes too gourmand. Pavlova is supposed to be a dessert, which I have never encountered, and it also has a meringue base. For that, you get a fruity sweetness that some might associate with gummy bears or fruit gum, and it also lightly leans towards a fruity dessert. In my opinion, it’s not too sticky-sweet and also lightly heads towards a fruity cocktail. The manufacturer lists the 3 main notes as pineapple, peach, and sandalwood in the sample. I can agree with that. In addition to the fruity notes, there’s a wonderful passion fruit and also slightly berry notes. Rum and coconut are not so prominent but add their vibes and contribute to this slightly tropical cocktail vibe. In the base, you find the usual combination of clean and sweet notes like musk, vanilla & sandalwood. The base is very soft, and the musk note is not too piercing; rather, it’s refined and gentle with the sandalwood. Pleasing and easy to like. The fragrance works anytime and is not challenging and never heavy.
Performance is in a solid range. Of course, it’s never that beast mode like one knows from, for example, Erba Pura, but still satisfactory with 7-8 hours of longevity and a solid sillage.

Overall, a great fragrance that can definitely be integrated into everyday life if you like fruity scents. This fragrance also conveys gentle, well-groomed vibes, making it a true crowd-pleaser that never rubs anyone the wrong way.