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.

This smells like a sunscreen lotion mixed with coconut oil has been sitting in the skin in the sun for a day and now what you're smelling is that coconut sunscreen with sweat. I honestly love it , its so raw and sexy and animalic, very much sex , not a lot of sea though. Im not getting much of the ambergris and honestly i dont get neroli. I didn't smell it in Libertine Neroli and im not smelling it here either. But its a gorgeous scent. I dont get any sweetness either. I was scared of the honey note since I hate it but its def very mature and subdued in here. I do get a creaminess coming in after 2 hours that is also very floral. It must be the coconut and mimosa/iris but i smell it more like tuberose lol . Defintely not a safe blind buy but so far I've always blind bought my Francesca Bianchis and she never dissapoints. Longevity is great , sillage is moderate though but i prefer it since its so so sexy and animalic if you dont want undesired attention 😜 PS: ITS VERY CONCENTRATED EXTRAIT SO IT STAINS ON SKIN AND CLOTHES !!

People fuss about “flankers” but sometimes a flanker can not only bring a new angle to a fragrance, it can alter it just enough to turn a like into a love. This is exactly what happened for me with Sex and the Sea with Neroli. The neroli breathes some romance and sunlight into this beachside tryst, it’s more than the warm skin and sweat, it feels brighter, more energetic. The difference is subtle, yet noticeable, and for me it perfects the scent. The neroli that Francesca uses in this is absolutely gorgeous. Minus the pineapple of the original, this one has less of a suntan lotion tropical feel (a plus for me), and with the added layer of neroli it feels more complex. Fans of the original will appreciate this “part two”, but this version could bring some news fans to Sex and the Sea. After smelling Neroli, I now want to revisit the original, because I feel I now may better understand it. It took a little beam of neroli to help me see the light.

I had hard times getting to interpret this creation, and this is what makes me a huge fan of Fransesca Bianchi, there's always an adventure included with every bottle of her collection that will eventually ends to be love affair. (yeah! I LOVE all of her creations). Honestly; I think if the original Sex and The Sea is assumed to be the edT, then this said Neroli is just the extrait version of it. My nose is having really hard times picking up any Neroli, it's blended very well with other drops of gold to come off as a whole bodied scent. Both of these are a biggest deviation of Francesca's DNA, don't expect the buttery orris signature here. Expect something you have never smelled before. I can't stop using it, this one -along with its younger sibling- are both of a very few perfumes I happened to use more than 5 days on a row which hardly ever happens or even hit the "two days of using the same scent" margin. Pure Addiction!

Its a fab scent. Particularly perfect for warm weather wear. I like this even more than the original. It's a wonderful creamy, powdery neroli and immortelle scent with the petit grain as an accent note. I don't get much coconut at all. It's fresh yet curiously creamy. It doesn't so much sparkle but caresses. There is a little sweetness from honey and immortelle but very low key. Who knew neroli focused scent could be so sensual and also velvety. It doesn't develop that much but the neroli and petit grain become a little more evident. I don't get much ambre gris. The sex and the sea of the original can be detected more after an hour but essentially neroli is the star here. Perfectly unisex. Good longevity and below average sillage in this cool room. I must test again in a warm environment.

Not always a fan of Francesca's creations, but this one genuinely speaks to me. It's a summer scent of salty skin, neroli, and soft vetiver that reminds me of sand on a beach. It opens with a sharp burst of neroli citrus, then quickly settles into a salty, floral, slightly boozy vetiver. Strangely addictive. If a man wore this, I'd probably spend the entire day buried in his neck. Try layering it with Neroli Outrenoir by Guerlain to give it a little extra sweetness. Even more successful for me was pairing it with A Cœur Perdu by d'Orsay. While I'm not keen on that fragrance at all on its own, it works wonderfully here, adding a soft, velvety texture and enhancing the depth of the neroli.

So much sensuality and eroticism in this bottle. It's beachy, yet a bit raunchy in a sexy grownup summer kind a way. I think Francesca totally understands what seduction is all about. For me this is year round perfume, but warm weather makes it blossom even more. I wear it sparingly because I don't want ppl coming up to me to ask me about the perfume. Tip for those who are a bit overwhelmed by animalics like this one. Less is more, and one spray is even too much. Decant small amount into a small dabber bottle and dab it behind your ears and pulse points. That way you'll get whaffs of it and you won't be overwhelmed.

Wonderful, unique, intoxicating scent. I’m pretty new into niche perfumery and this has some firsts for me. I never understood the references to “salty” notes, how could anything smell like salt? Ambergris, ambergris smells like salt, or more accurately salt water, the ocean. This combined with the tart neroli, the civet, the vanilla, the coconut, and the powder are heavenly and unique! It really smells like a hot, fun, long day at the beach. Late afternoon, sun kissed, hot, sweaty, a little buzzed from the boat drinks. If you like the sound of the notes, you’re going to love this perfume. Absolutely unisex.

I am a massive Francesca Bianchi fan. I adore so many of her fragrances, but this one really stands out as a favorite among her incredible perfumes. It is absolute perfection to me. It immediately brightens my mood and makes me feel confident and happy. I get an insane amount of compliments wearing this one. When I first sampled this, my husband, who had been telling me to slow down on my perfume purchases since I really didn't need any more, immediately told me I have to buy a full bottle of this one. It's true summer perfection. It is not at all harsh. Just the right combo of happy, beachy, and sexy.

Such a happy perfume! I can't stand the original Sex and the Sea, where the coconut smells faintly rancid (to me) and the sweet pineapple-ish fruit of the pina colada unpleasantly metallic and charred, but this version is a revelation. The neroli somehow cancels out the 'stale oil' note and perfectly complements the sweet animalic base, giving it much-needed lift and airiness, and turning it into a tropical twist on a fresh-fruity chypre, a bit like the older Patous, eg Colony. Beautiful. Edit: just pipped at the post by Luxe Calme Volupte in my ranking of FB perfumes. But only just.

Stunning juice, something I spray when I want sweaty sex, as the name goes. The neroli version was at the beginning difficult to cope with, if only because the mix of concentrated neroli with the usual sex&the sea did not seem conventional nor palatable. Wrong impression, just give it half an hour to develop. The composition is alien, as if it was designed by Von Daniken in a rare moment of inspiration (haha): coco, civet, honey, mimosa, iris, labdanum, vetiver and some noticeable sandal after all. If you are mildly adventurous at least in perfumes you should give it a try.

a marvel. modern, sexy, fun. quality ingredients, refined alchemy, joy and pleasure in each stage, opens sweet, fresh and floral, velvety middle notes, the coconut appears every so often, to remind you that you are also on the beach, and the ecstasy lasts until the next day and it gently wakes you up with extraordinary base notes. It is the perfume with the longest and most beautiful lasting that I know. Excellent projection, it is so great that all the other perfumes in comparison seem boring to me. It is a story in a perfume. Impossible to tire of its fragrance

Mood enhancing elixir. Neroli with honeyed Immortelle, bright Mimosa, a sharp petitgrain for freshness, creamy coconut and some salty ambergris. That description doesn't read as delicious - sharp, salty, creamy?! - but it is. I have a large bottle of Patricia de Nicolai's Neroli Intense and if not for that I would buy this immediately. It's a deeper, more pungent perfume than Nicolai's but just as joyful. One more Francesca Bianchi to add to my list of wants... Distillation: gorgeous Neroli as bright and fresh as the sea a honeyed deep-dive

very sensual and elegant. opens with white florals, not as sweet as the original vertion. still creamy and delicious, but neroli cuts through with that beautiful freshness and bitterness. it also has some of the most pleasant animalics I’ve ever smelled, like they blend in just perfectly. the perfume changes drastically throughout the day and i loved it at every single stage. longevity is great, also i personaly dont mind wearing it as an everyday fragrance. what a masterpiece

I love this fragrance despite the fact that for a big part of its life (especially the middle) it is like a modern version of Carnal Flower by Dominique Ropion. Tuberose is not mentioned among the fragrance's notes but is there. Longevity and sillage are excellent, be careful with the trigger. Francesca Bianchi is a rising star for the past few years, I'm very impressed by his creations (owns 4 of them). Bravissimo, Francesca!

Sun-soaked post-coital skin; you and your lover slathered on coconut and neroli body oil, then went 'frolicking' on a sunny bright beach. The scent is quite 'on the nose' but it works because its executed well. Spring, summer, and early autumn days. Projects loudly and strongly like all of Bianchi's fragrances. Definitely will get a bottle once I finish up my sample.