Sex and the Sea Neroli

Sex and the Sea Neroli is what it says on the tin - a flanker of sorts to Sex and the Sea, but with the addition of a generous helping of neroli. The original SATS is a pungent scent that can be summed up as tropical suntan lotion sweetness on an animalic base. SATSN features neroli as a focal point, its green-tinged orange-floral-tropical goodness a more obvious note to include than the powdery florals of the original SATS. This also has a musky, animalic base, but is curiously, less sweet. It is a more straightforward, wearable scent than the original. The amber here is saltier, less sweet and more evocative of the sea. In fact, this scent is more evocative of its name than the original SATS in my opinion - soaked in sand, suntan lotion, sea water and the scent of a lover. SATSN is neroli-dominant throughout, fresh yet tropically sweet, evocative of a sun-drenched beach. The amber undertone is musky and animalic, bringing the carnal component to life early on. Green, woody petitgrain enhances the greenness of the neroli while adding some freshness. Lactonic coconut rounds out the tropical component, more muted here than in SATS, but adds a nice creamy edge to the florals. The powdery florals follow closely, with the shimmering mimosa and herbal immortelle evident, as in the original. I am partial to yellow florals, and here they are beautiful and unusually placed - utterly satisfying. The amber base is sweet and honeyed, punctuated by the animalic musk. Soft woods temper it nicely, while melding beautifully with the yellow florals. Some dry vanilla adds to the powdery sweetness. It fades to a musky-sweet skin scent, with creamy florals lingering until final fade. Sillage is strong and longevity is long-lasting. It is feminine-leaning in my opinion, and is a summer scent. Featuring neroli-led tropical florals on an animalic base, SATSN is very on-theme, and is more wearable and less unusual than SATS, while still being a clever riff on a tired genre. I prefer this to SATS. Subversive suntan lotion. 4/5.

Admittedly, I didn't really start becoming a neroli fan until I had received a few compliments while wearing the note. I keep my scents very subtle; I generally prefer not to have it commented on. Why I started paying attention is because neroli seems to be a major match for my skin chemistry. I think that's exactly going on for me here. The opening is a major neroli blast for about five minutes. It isn't urinous or anything, but gives you the feeling that any stronger and it could be. The sharpness calms down, before near totally fading after an hour or so. Quickly coconut emerges, what I suspect is coconut C02, and is absolutely nothing like the cheap typical version. It reminds me of coconut oil, or maybe sticking your head in a bag of the freshest, sugar free bag of it. I don't always have the best luck with the pulp depending on what it's blended with, but this is really nice. Beachy in an organic sort of way. The animalic skin type scent this eventually turns into is actually my favorite part. It still feels bright, but almost golden and ambery; both fresh and dirty at the same time. I completely get the skin after being outside at the beach all day connotations, and I'm not gonna lie, I get where some of the worn bikini bottom comments come from too. In a good way though. It isn't sweaty-stinky, it's like a healthy alive smell. The floral notes accompany this, particularly the iris, which adds a certain richness without weighing anything down. The overall affect is somehow bready and alluring. Longevity is quite good for something that smells as natural as this does, and sillage falls in that sweet spot for me between noticeable and annoying. No chemical headache quality here, though the sharpness in the beginning could make one a little woozy if they're not in the right mood. Overall, I'm a fan and find it different enough from anything I have, even as a fan of these summery type scents. It does remind me a bit of Golden Cattleya, but that one is significantly sweeter.

This is an absolutely lovely flower-power bomb. It actually reminds me most of Fracas, if Fracas and maybe Perfect Coconut Milk by Sarah Horowitz had a love child, with white flowers and sharp neroli and bergamot dominating. Those seeking coconut oil suntan lotion will be sadly disappointed. I'm embarrassed to say I just "discovered" FB and "Wow I'm impressed." A full bottle of Tyger Tyger arrived a few days ago and I'm hitting my credit card again. Her perfumes as others have said are all in the development. They are not linear. You get a whiff of this, a whiff of that, and they do seem to dry down to an identifiable musky animalic base. SASwN has a neroli-mimosa dominant top to middle note along with petigrain and bergamot, with the warmer coconut and sandalwood providing a gentle caress. The middle is more coconut but not Bath and Body Works--it's pleasantly tempered by the sandalwood which alternately enhances the woody warmth but also prevents any sweetness. Ditto for the Iris which adds a dry dustiness moving the perfume considerably away from the old-timey Bain de Soleil. It's altogether bracing, romantic, expansive, sexy--like seeing a white blouse blowing around a woman's figure on a sandy beach. If the notes seem like "you've been there"--try. FB is really a perfumer to follow. She creates complex pieces of scented art that keep you smelling and huffing yourself like crazy. You will get compliments too! I was leery of the title with "sex" in it. But I keep coming back to all of her perfumes in the sample set (and of which I've now gone FB on FB!)--and the word is: "Sexy." Her perfumes have a sexy something in them that is carnal yet lovely and beautiful, not exactly understated or formal, but classy. Finally--do not be afraid of the "echo" of Fracas (I know some of you like myself cringe at white flowers or find them too-too. I can only wear Fracas about twice a year in a certain mood). I could wear this every day!

the opening is a blast of neroli laying on a bed of creamy balsamic resinous green florals. it has this sort of grape candy tone to it. i’m kind of obsessed with this scent. i blind bought this and i am extremely happy about it. the neroli in here is definitely the star of the show but ive never smelled it done like this before. it’s less green than your typical nerolis, but it’s super floral and creamy mixed with the coconut and honey. the coconut is not overbearing at all and its mainly in here to add some buttery aspects to the benzoin and vanilla. i find the sweet creaminess in here isn’t lactonic, but more of like an ambery balsamic sweetness. it’s a very sticky textured scent. the ambergris adds this undertone that definitely gives this a more summery coastal vibe. i love the civet in here, it is not dirty or offensive at all, it really just rounds the whole fragrance out. i almost wish there was more civet in the fragrance, i wouldn’t mind a bit more skank in here. this is such a hot and humid fragrance, but it’s definitely not as fun wearing this in the winter as it is in the summer. this fragrance would smell even better on your skin when you have been sweating and the scent mixes with your natural skin aroma.

Sex and the Sea Neroli is currently the only ‘flanker’ from Francesca Bianchi, but it’s a glorious one at that. It’s very much got a similar scent profile to the original, with its sultry combination of tropical fruits, sweaty skin and a salty sea spray, but this time feels much brighter, sunnier and with a bit more innocence. In my mind, Sex on the Sea is very much what it describes in the name - a hot, sweaty sexual encounter on the beach. The Neroli rendition, to me, feels like the same encounter but in the moments leading up to it, when you’re still clothed, feeling fresh with the soft scent of clean linen and your white floral perfume filling the air around you - before things get dirty. It smells absolutely delightful, but I question whether it’s necessary to own both. Personally I much prefer the original as I love that sensual, dirty feel lingering in the background but this version is much easier to wear and far more palatable. I’ll probably end up buying both I imagine, this DNA is one of my favourites for the summer.