Candy from Strangers

Fragrances centered around actual violet, rather than the violet-and-iris combination or violet leaf, are not abundant. Most perfumes that feature violet as one of their main notes are either too sweet, too powdery, or too leathery. Candy from Strangers is an amazing, candied but very natural-smelling violet fragrance. It has a bit of everything - freshness and greenness, powderiness and sweetness, leatheriness and a micro touch of animalic - Francesca's DNA. Its gothic, damper, and gloomier sister is Violetta Mannara by Strega del Castello. Viole Nere would be the most gothic and dusty of them. The sweetness is definitely there - just not to the extent of Insolence by Guerlain (to my nose), which is a lovely fragrance with an amazing violet note. I only wish Insolence was not so sweet.

Love the fragrance. Hate the name. This is one of those rare fragrances where I can genuinely smell every layer. The raspberry, leather, caramel, iris, jasmine, and bergamot blend together beautifully while each note still has its own moment to shine. The composition is rich, decadent, and incredibly well balanced. The performance is exceptional. The rich oils allow the fragrance to melt into my skin, creating a scent that feels luxurious from start to finish. It projects beautifully, has incredible staying power, and never loses the character that makes it so captivating. The fragrance deserves an award. The marketing department deserves a gentle conversation.

The woke overreactors clutching pearls at the name of this fragrance are seriously in need of group therapy. This review section looks like a pan ode to cancel culture and conspiracy theorists. It’s embarrassing and more than a little troubling that so many people thought it was perfectly normal that their brains went immediately to perverts and their children SA victims. The fragrance itself is delicious, like all of Bianchi’s creations and like all of her creations it smells familiar to the entire line...especially Tyger Tyger. Strong leather, syrupy florals. Very feminine.

i kicked myseld hard yest as i smelled this the first time, trying to remember what it reminds me of. then it clicked: violette volynka, not 1:1 copy but probably inspired by. i really love it though. all year round, the bergamot in the beginning can be a bit harsh but it did accentuate the candy-like sweetness in the violet. lasts all day too. try it!

I don’t care about the name. This perfume is lovely, light violet dragee with subtle wooden accord. I think it’s the most wearable one, out of all FB’s creations.

The name of the perfume doesn't bother me, but I have to say it's the best candy scent I've ever smelled. Update: It's too loud for my liking.

One hour ago, I received the sample I ordered and I like this a lot! I can imagine I will buy a FB. It’s not too heavy, but it’s special. I am getting a bit tired of all the mainstream scents which are trendy right now (and I am not a snob). I love the opening and the flowers that come next, the leather is also coming through. This a scent that could become a classic.

Oh noes. I don’t like it. Bought a decant with high hopes, and it smells like a floor cleaner. Maybe it just wasn’t what I was expecting, I was hoping for something like Dama Bianca because of the violet, but no, this is not my cup of tea sadly.

The name is genuinely repulsive. Indie houses love being "edgy." Bianchi has successfully done adult intimacy before (Sex and the Sea, The Dark Side). The phrase "candy from strangers" is a universal warning taught to children to protect them from predators and abductors. Using it for a luxury perfume line is highly unsettling and uncomfortably adjacent to themes of child exploitation and pedophilia. In 2026, consumer awareness surrounding child safety and exploitation is at an all-time high. Trying to use a phrase deeply tied to child grooming for shock value or "ambiguous intrigue" feels entirely tone-deaf, socially irresponsible, and deeply out of touch. I love Francesca Bianchi’s work, but this is a massive misstep. The fragrance might be a 10/10, but the branding is a 0/10.

What a redundant addition to the sea of never-endind releasess. What happend to this once promissing house? This is Bianchi's third release in six months alone. FB did not bring out anything of substance and interest since 2020. All of her creations since then have been derrivative, uninspiring and in the case of The Code of Emotion a downright theft. Save your pennies on this one: it is basaically one of the modes the perfumer dug out of her discarded formulae for The Encounters. Dusted, added an accord from Obsessive Devotion and voilà! With the little halp of AI, you got yourself a new release. For a house that so proudly stands for sustainibility standardss and code of ethics (as per her own writting on her own website), I find the incessent churrning of AI generated imagery with ChatGPT captions tiring and offensive. Add to that the over usage of shock-provoking marketing tactics and you get yourself a thoroughly repulsive brand. Back in the days when FB made pics of her perfumes on her own sweaters the perfumes were selling on their own right, because they were good! Since cvd hit, there is none of that any more. Gone is the authenticity, gone is the creativity, gone is the substance. Mrs Bianchi is obviously in it for the money now, having exhausted her inspiration muse. Perhaps with the expectation of selling out to the big investors any time soon? I would not be suprised.

I love the name, I love the perfume and I love Francesca Bianchi style, italianissima. I just ordered a set of testers from the house and received a full 100ml bottle of this delicious perfume as a gift. Overwhelmed by the kindness. 😍❤️😍❤️ I see myself wearing Candy for Strangers, in a bar, drinking a Manhattan made with the best vermut Turínese, and exchanging seductive glances with every sexy living thing at the place. It's smooth, no edges; sweet and powdery violets kept in a leather pouch. Very light touches of wood and patchouli join the leather at the base. Flirtation, sexyness, promises, Bianchi.... And the prudes talking about the name should have some sense of humor and take that stick out of wherever they have it. Edit: after trying the discovery set I just ordered The Dark Side.... Fantastic..... Intense

Unfortunately, the phrase “candy from strangers” is an already well-known warning phrase with clear cultural associations, so ...the people here who act shocked that ppl notice (or saying that this isn't a big deal) are naive. You can insist it “didn’t occur to you,” or that everyone who thought of something bad is "in need of therapy", but that doesn’t erase how language works or how predictable reactions are when you deliberately pick a loaded phrase for branding. Intent isn’t magic - context still exists whether you acknowledge it or not. Add to that the terribly low-brow Ai-promos Bianchi keeps throwing on her socials, and you get a very bad-taste release regardless of how this smells like.

I don't even want to imagine how miserable the lives of people that comment bad about the name really are.. or how insufferable they are in person.. you have to be ill minded for you to read this pop culture phrase and instantly associate it solely to p***philia. I don't like whataboutism one bit but in the meantime I don't see anyone complain the same way about Bianchi's Love for Sale.. which is a less vague phrase for an immoral & wrong doing which targets women in need.. which is pro****ution schemes.

I bought this blind based on the notes which do not include anything animalic. It is a very unusual violet perfume which sure enough does have a candy like scent but somehow does not really go into lolly shop or gourmand territory , or into powder compact territory either. It is basically a very soft suede with a sweet parma violet sheen. Actually really lovely and calming. Good for winter and autumn and any gender.

Maybe the fragrance is good but she’s done a couple very deeply tone deaf things recently, between naming a perfume Gaugin(he molested children) to ‘queer soyeux’ as an April fools joke, now an AI video ad for this one, complete with misspelling typos, and this predatory title, in this Epstein era. Very dark. Not supporting.

I sprayed this 5 times before going to say . Lets just say it was like a nuclear bomb has exploded . This is so strong . Dont get me wrong , its a beautiful powdered sweet violets with a leather patchouli undertone . Next till i will go lightly on the nozzle . But i love it . It fills up my whole house 😍

What is wrong with this woman.... Starts her career off with incredible works of art hooks me in then two pedo perfumes out of nowhere for absolutely no reason. It’s not clever or funny Francesca you are not funny. I know u read every YouTube comment so u must read these. Cut this shit out

The top notes might as well not even exist. From the beginning, all I get is slightly violet-scented patchouli, leather, and cedar. The cedar and patchouli are both green and pungent, like a wood cleaner. Don't really like this at all.

This is actually a raspberry and leather dominated fragrance as described by Francesca. Here raspberry is not even listed lol. And yeah, this one also falls in the realm of tyger tyger, a floral amber!!

Candy From Strangers is like if Simply Jil Sander Touch of Leather, Guerlain Insolence, & Chanel Misia edp had a baby. 💜 This fragrance is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Full bottle & signature worthy.