Lemon Sorbet

this was my first non-mainstream fragrance...at that time I was totally relieved to find something that wouldn't nauseate me in terms of (beginning of 90ies) heavy florals, shrill and acrid aquatics or numb vanilla. so nice, still, the vetiver in this...- it's not a real citrus scent, nor it is has a sorbet-like quality, it's much more a dry&silvery, spicy citrus-vetiver thing and not much on the juicy side...

“Lemon Sorbet” is the first fragrance I ́ve tried from Etro even though, judging by many of the reviews of the juice, it ́s not been enthusiastically embraced by the perfume community. Now I understand why. “Lemon Sorbet” opens with a fresh burst of citruses (lemon, to be more precise) combined with herbs (petitgrain and rosemary). The herbal notes lend some quirkiness to the composition in the form of a slightly dirty vibe which prevents the scent from being categorised as “yet-another-uninspiring-summery-citrusy” cologne. In the heart, its herbal character is sustained by the appearance of lavender, but the scent gradually loses much of its intensity. The base is a bit of an anticlimax, demonstrating that “Lemon Sorbet”, just like many other citrus-based fragrances, has fallen into the common trap of failing to maintain one ́s interest down to the basenotes. On balance, if I were given a flacon of “Lemon Sorbet” as a gift, I definitely wouldn ́t roll my eyes but would be quite contented to use it till the last drop. However, since such a scenario seems highly unlikely, there are much better citrus scents out there that my nose and heart (but not my wallet, unfortunately) hanker after. Still, I find “Lemon Sorbet” to be an interesting enough introduction into the world of Etro fragrances.

Boom 💥 when I first received this bottle, I like others didn’t like it. Not that it smelled bad per se...but it just smelled like other commenters said...like harsh cleaning supplies. It has been sitting in my drawer for months. On my way to possibly list it for sale I sprayed it again...and yikes it smells so good! I’m not sure if my taste has changed or it has macerated...but now it smells like a creamy, delightful, powdery cold lemon sorbet treat on an unfathomably warm day. It’s a Wes Anderson flick in bright pastels, on an Italian beige Vespa scooter, with a white pleated tennis skirt, yellow v- neck sweater tied around your shoulders, cruising through Rome on a warm day. Perfect for day during warmer seasons- unfortunately it doesn’t last more than a few hours for me. I layer it with Celine Oriental Summer for a different depth.

Among the most direct green tart citrus scents, potent with good projection while also feeling natural and high quality. I disagree with the comparisons to cleaning sprays. People tend to immediately equate the intense acidity and the intense bitterness with the astringency of a detergent mixed with limonene. If you surpass that initial shock of green brightness you actually observe the depth of the citrus oils with the robust green woody herbal facets mixed with some vetiver in the base to create a very pleasant lemon tree experience. Not my favourite of this genre but definitely up there. Good value for money.

This is the lemon sorbet you order at a fancy restaurant—fresh squeezed lemons with a sprig of lavender and rosemary. It’s the opposite of the sugary sweet sorbet you’d buy on sale at the grocery store. Etro’s Lemon Sorbet works because it’s realistic and aromatic, no where near the detergent smell direction that many citrus scents go. If I owned Lemon Sorbet I would spray liberally in the warmer months. Liberally, because this scent is not long lasting. Opening is quite strong but it quickly morphs into a familiar Etro sandalwood base. Perfect unisex scent and a strong like.