Helena666

This fragrance really surprised me, I tested it in the store, also on the tip of my scarf. And the next day I walked past the coat rack in my hallway and had to pause for a moment to think about what smelled so delicious.
So I had to get it soon after. That was not planned.

It starts with beautiful jasmine, quite similar to the jasmine in Alien, but more subdued. That was actually it for the similarities.
Next, I perceive a sweet honey mixture that pays tribute to the original Scandal, but then quickly dissipates. What follows is Se* in a bottle, in perfection.
This indescribably seductive Playdoh-vanilla note that calls to mind the similarity to Hypnotic Poison. Yes, I understand the comparison. BUT... here it is much softer, more balanced, more wearable, somehow creamy and powdery at the same time, without biting too intensely into the nose like HP.

I am shockingly in love. This is one of those fragrances that shine beautifully in the cold seasons. One immediately wants to wear black boots, a cozy scarf, and red lipstick. And pretty underwear.

Longevity and sillage are moderate, not a beast. But you can also dose it yourself. On fabric, it holds quite well, in my opinion.

.....you could also be a yellow or orange bottle. Black somehow doesn't quite fit. Even though it's my favorite color.
The scent captivates me. It is a well-balanced interplay of the typical Angel DNA with fruit.
The typical patchouli paired with pineapple. But in a wearable way. The patchouli is well-balanced and doesn't overwhelm. The pineapple comes through very well. On my skin, vanilla and coconut remain subtly in the background. I don't get any tiare at all. The sillage is moderate compared to, for example, Angel Nova.
All in all, a harmonious fragrance experience. Sweet, warm, fruity, and rounded.

When I heard that this fragrance was coming out, the name already caught my attention, even if it supposedly stands for boring flower sex. I think what was meant is that the vanilla is running wild here, with almonds and even more vanilla.
So, a lively threesome.

In the top note, it strongly reminds me of Lost Cherry, without the cherry. You know what I mean.
Then I find a parallel with Hypnotic Poison, that Play-Doh scent. Quite genius. I also get that with Mmmm... by Juliet.

Vanilla is right in the middle the whole time instead of just being there. It has to be that way, given the name.

Suddenly it gets wild and animalistic, no idea where that comes from. But it goes away just as quickly as it came.

As the Play-Doh vanilla gradually becomes tamer, it gets cozy. Everyone has had their fun and is now having a cigarette afterwards.
I perceive the scent of a campfire up close. Making out in campfire romance.

In the end, a little bit of everything remains, and even something white floral and adult.
So, this vanilla sex is not boring at all.

ZARA!!! My dear lady, what is going on here again? I think I can't close the door. I buy a fragrance that only lists vanilla, and someone on YouTube mentioned something about fruit or popsicle. And I thought, yes, vanilla always works for me. And now this. Very surprising......

I spray my blind buy one or two times on my left forearm for testing. But what comes towards me is something completely different..... Sour, fresh, and fruity. And it feels so familiar. And then I have the revelation.

I take my L' Imperatrice from the shelf and spray it on my right forearm. And indeed. The first 20 minutes they are twins. Lily's Nest is of course a bit more timid than the original.
A little later, they are about 85 percent similar. Lily is indeed a bit more vanilla-heavy. But the typical fruity note, the recognizability, remains, albeit lighter.
I am thrilled to have found such an affordable alternative to one of my favorites for spring and summer. Even though I actually expected a cozy vanilla scent, I have now experienced a different lovely surprise.

Roma was one of my first fragrances, back when I was a teenager. I must have been around 17 years old. I received it as a birthday gift from a friend who otherwise gave it to his mother.
At that time, I had no idea about perfume and fragrance notes. I just liked it; for that time, it was great. Sweet and different, like the things that were in fashion in 1997. I found it timeless and beautiful.
In the spirit of nostalgia, I bought it again for my collection.
I am confused. Didn't it smell a bit different back then? At first, it is so piercing and alcoholic. Where has that special quality gone? The round fruity-synthetic?
It is much scratchier. And only then does that familiar DNA come through. What a shame. Perhaps nostalgia and memory are just deceiving me?