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.

Sex and the Sea Neroli is great, and to me, the addition of neroli is a game changer to my nose (I didn't like much the original Sex and the Sea). The neroli stays a long time and complements well the ambergris and coconut. Also by taking out pineapple, this feels very different to me from the original sans neroli. This is creamy, ambery and rich. Beautiful.

Oh my - a masterpiece - an actual piece of art in a bottle! I have nothing like this vivacious madame in my scent collection. She is very special - she is raunchy and she is ready for whatever life throws at her. A real statement fragrance that can be worn summer through to winter, day or night. I felt wonderful within in her cocoon.

This should have been Sex and the Sea Coconut, Neroli comes second. Definately my summer signature perfume. Strong longevity, low sillage. Perfect for warm days. This perfume has Animalic written all over. Also gives some Barbie (plastic doll) vibes - not lipstick, just fresh plastic out of the box.

The opening is an amazing heavy neroli on the background of the original sex and the sea which I love. But, unfortunately, the opening disappeared after about 15 min leaving the original SAS with pretty less projection & logivity, which means that it doesn't deserve the money. Buy the original one.

Francesca Bianchi is nothing short of a genius. I cannot stand “summer” “beach-y” scents. Neroli is one of my least favorite notes. And yet this perfume is intoxicating, mesmerizing, addictive. I cannot get enough of it. Just like I cannot get enough of most Francesca’s creations.

I seriously LOVE this. Love love love it. I’m not usually a coconut, sunscreen-y fragrance kind of girl but this is a revelation. I completely agree with the poster below who described this as buttery, glowing, rich. It’s just divine.

Beautiful, intoxicating fragrance. I sprayed my 2ml sample, and 5 minutes later bought the FB. I am in love with this sticky juicy neroli/coconut scent.

One of my favorites from Francesca Bianchi. The neroli adds what I think is some much needed botanicals to the scent profile of the original.

Wow... its perfect. Not a blind buy though. The naturals in this is amazing. A must experience. A very unique scent that I find so seductive.

This is a year round ambergris, coconut bomb. Ambery, milky and rich. In my opinion, the best representation of ambergris you can ever find.

Just when I thought my beloved Sex And The Sea couldn't get any better! This really is GORGEOUS!!! 🥰😍🥰

This stuff is so good I am sniffing it on paper and myself every 2 minutes like it's coke

Smells like standing in a flowing, white maxi dress by the river. Beautiful

Never smelled something like it, it bold and beautiful 😍

Blind buy / but i didn't regret . It's a masterpiece .

I’m in love; she’s a little naughty. Do NOT overspray.

Absolutely stunning heady powdery neroli - wow

It's only sex no sea just amazing

Comparison of Sex & The Sea, and Sex & The Sea Neroli This wasn’t as easy as I thought it was going to be. I had thought - perhaps unfairly - that the S&SN version was simply going to be S&S with a prominent neroli accord sitting over Bianchi’s favorite orris, musk, and wood morass-of-a-base. What I didn’t expect was how Bianchi would let the neroli accord shift all of the other accords off-kilter to alter the character of S&S in a big way. S&SN obviously has neroli, but in a much bigger way than you might expect. In the opening of the perfume this accord is quite powerful, and quite beautiful. Cleanly white floral, a bit orangey and citrusy, and very shiny and metallic smelling. The neroli material here is excellent. S&S doesn’t have this neroli accord, and instead opens with a bang of an excellent golden and honeyed mimosa. This is clue number one of the direction both perfumes are going to take; immediately, from the get go, they are on two different paths with S&SN going down a brighter, more white floral route, and S&S going down a dimmer, more classic floral route. For instance, both perfumes have pineapple in their pyramid and in S&SN the pineapple note is stronger and more noticeable than in S&S. It’s a juicy, ripe, and sweet pineapple note, not an astringent, sour, or sulfurous pineapple note, and it’s well behaved - sitting quietly just behind the neroli. In S&S I detect something fruity, but if I hadn’t looked at the pyramid and if I hadn’t also been smelling S&SN at the same time I doubt that I would’ve concluded pineapple. In S&S it is much more quiet than S&SN, and vaguely fruity as opposed to the distinction it’s given in S&SN. The same goes for the coconut note; it is more prominent and distinctive in S&SN - milkier, nuttier, sweeter, tropical - than the quietly milky and nutty character in S&S. By now you might be getting the picture. S&S is clearly setup from the beginning to steer very easily into Bianchi’s much loved low-light, thick-at-the-hips orris and musk base materials - and so it does quite well. The golden floral glow at the beginning has shifted to cream colored florals evoked by the buttery and starchy orris, and ample doses of thick and sticky, salty gray musks. S&SN is clearly setup from the beginning to steer into a brighter landscape where the orris is quite white-floral rather than creamy floral - I think I would say more jasmine and rose-like, actually (I don’t find myself disagreeing with that part of the pyramid) - and the musks are less thick and salty gray and pushed more towards the clean, white soapy side. Lastly, another confession and false assumption: I didn’t think I was going to particularly care for either one of these. I’m a bit worn out on the same-ness of most of the brand’s offerings, but I actually had quite a bit of fun wearing both perfumes, particularly being able to smell them side-by-side. The contrasts and differences between them were quite enjoyable to smell and pick apart. But, it’s time for the big questions: are either of them any good, and/or which one is better? They are both good, but I wouldn’t say great. Worn or tried separately would make for a less compelling experience than what I am able to do now with them side-by-side. With that said, S&S is the lesser of the two in my opinion simply because it is too familiar with what we’ve already experienced from the brand, and it’s personality is too content with simply being a wallflower. S&SN on the other hand is a bit different than what we’ve gotten from the brand so far, and that bright sunshine-y personality is smile inducing and infectious. Therefore, S&S is a thumbs-up but a very tentative one bordering on neutral. S&SN is definitely a thumbs-up, but I’m not certain about it being full bottle worthy for me. One thing is for certain: neither made me think of sex, the ocean, or sex in the ocean - and thank god for that - sex in the ocean is quite uncomfortable.

I have this as an oil instead of EDP, which likely effects the precise scent! I used this in my hair for a few days, instead of plain almond oil. I use about 5 drops, thoroughly combed through, with a dab behind either ear so I can smell it better in cleanroom gear. It behaves wonderfully in hair! First thoughts: powdery sweet, just over the line of being unpleasantly so to my nose. Reminds me of when I worked in an industrial bakery with bad ventilation - the airbourne powdered sugar would crystalize on the skin, and when I left, the way I smelled was very like this. Fortunately whatever contributes the very dry sweetness evaporates in about 20 minutes! It's followed by a heady floral, extremely slightly fruity tone, with a strong musk background. It has a very nostalgic quality to me, and smells like slightly shitty cheap perfume my mother would use when going out on the weekend when I was a kid, but like the rose-tinted glasses version of that smell from over 20 years ago. After about 2-4 hours (was different on different nights, could be from any number of factors) a lot of the heady floral and sweet shenanigans die down, and it's replaced by very much a similar scent to what Ms. Bianchi describes being her goal: the idea of warm skin, shiny with sea water and suntan oil. It seriously smells more like skin than skin does. I had some coworkers smell a wrist application and they agreed on the oiled skin vibe, with generally pretty positive reactions. I've never experienced synthetic ambergris before this, and it's a bizarre note that pulls a lot of weight to completing the image here. Overall, it stays much like this until it wears off on my skin - musky, dry, salty, subtly sweet. I work with machines that utilize lasers and it has a very slight dry bite in the back of the throat like ozone from the tools does, without smelling like bleach. Overall: this is my first fragrance purchase alongside some samples of FB fragrances, and I quite enjoy it. The oil quality is good and performs well as a non-scent cosmetic. I'm not wild for the opening salvo of Sex and the Sea Neroli, but have enjoyed it most days this past week at work without undue suffering, and the drydown is quite nice. I can't speak to the performance of the EDP, but the oil has insane staying power. I can smell it in my hair after a shower unless I shampoo twice. It easily lasts my 14 hour work day+commute. The sillage is pretty close to the skin, but remains quite potent. The oil is cheaper than the EDP, and while still pricey, I figured it was a safe buy since I also get other use from it than scent. I would probably prefer the original Sex and the Sea in oil form, based on my sample of the EDP, but it was sold out and I needed something to put in my hair that wasn't slightly acrid chamomile soliflore from a friend. EDIT: I forgot to add, when I first used it, I described the opening as like being in a funeral parlour, or the mental idea of gran's living room. It's dry and musty in a kind of overwhelming way.

Sex and the Sea Neroli by Francesca Bianchi is honestly a stunner. If you know the original, this one takes that same creamy, ambered, slightly animalic base but adds a bright shot of neroli that completely shifts the vibe. Instead of leaning too sweet or heavy, the neroli cuts through with a fresh, green bitterness that gives it air and lift. The white flowers, dry immortelle, amber, resins, and animalic touch are still here, but the balance feels less sweet, cleaner and more elegant. I always liked the original Sex and the Sea, but the pineapple wasn’t my favorite part. Here, there’s none of that, and it makes a big difference. Another clear difference is that this version gives me way less of that overt “beachy/tropical” vibe. It’s still creamy and sensual, but it feels more refined—like it works as well on a fancy evening out as it does on a humid summer day. Honestly, if you take Libertine Neroli and mix it with the original Sex and the Sea—minus the pineapple—you basically get Sex and the Sea Neroli. And in my opinion, that combo makes for one of Francesca Bianchi’s best creations

How can a scent trigger such an intense urge to chew gum? It’s wild. (And now, I actually popped a piece of mastic gum into my mouth) A burst of sweet powder and salt flakes, followed by a bubblegum accord that makes me want to chew like crazy. I did not expect this at all. I’m stunned. When I focus on what I’m actually getting: indolic florals, chalky orris, a honey or nectar-like sweet extract, light animalic facets, neroli with a lightly bitter citrus-fresh edge, and leathery feel. Coconut only shows up in the drydown, and even then it’s subtle. It is very creamy and soft. It’s a well-executed piece. I enjoy most FB fragrances.. Yes, many of them are bold and demanding in a way that can make everyday wear harder for me, but they’re consistently sensual and sophisticated. This one is the same. Don’t expect a summer scent just by looking at the listed notes. To me, this is much more autumn or winter appropriate, cocooning and warm. Tag(s): powdery, ambery, animalic, citrusy-fresh, indolic florals, dirty, warm, sensual, sophisticated

What, no TUBEROSE in the notes? I’m smelling heady Tuberose, a ton of Iris Butter and some very green coconut and green mango, surprisingly not sweet (in the beginning), and skanky in a good way, quite salty, buttery, and wow. That is some strong shit. I would never wear this in the heat, I’d probably suffocate. I smell swimming pool chlorine on Lycra bathing suit. Someone mentioned that in the OG S&TS reviews, and now I can’t unsmell that. And, maybe it’s an association, but I can smell titanium dioxide sunscreen, too. I also smell female sex parts, and I’ve never smelled anything remotely like sex or body odor in a perfume before, so it’s a surprise, to me. I love this. This is weird and awesome and gutsy. The drydown is where the problems start, because it gets sweeter and sweeter, and seemingly more milky, and it starts to feel too sickening. I wish the sweetness did not enter into the picture and it stayed green. If that were the case, I might be seeking out a bottle.

Not your typical coconutty beachy scent. There is a noticeable amount of floral freshness from the neroli, intense ambergris for that salty, slightly sweaty skin you get on a hot day at the beach, and -at least on me - a very distinct green note from the immortelle. The coconut barely exists in the background, just to add a bit of creaminess. I would like to sense it more, but maybe in hot weather it becomes more detectable. It evokes memories from childhood summers, not only at the beach, but running through fields and neighbourhoods full of dried from the heat plants. And one more thing: it reminds me of reading comic books, the ones that used to have that old paper smell. It is quite addictive, as many of Bianchi's creations. I will have to give it a try next summer, can't wait to see how it evolves in the heat. But even now, in the crisp autumn weather, it has offered an extremely pleasant olfactory experience, evocative of past summers.

Initially, I was planning to blind buy Sex and the sea, as I was intrigued by the concept. My shelf was full of heavy oriental fragrances so I ordered Sex and the Sea Neroli. The opening of SSN smells like the orange trees in our neighbourhood. It starts with a blast of neroli and then petitgrain takes over. The heart is very addictive and multi-faceted with the coconutty and salty vibe (probably due to ambegris). It is accentuated by ambers and other flowers. Unfortunately the dry down isn't as interesting. I got a dull powdery smell as @autoperk mentioned. Overall, I think Sex and the sea captures Francesca's concept better although the opening is not as good as that of SSN. It is saltier, more carnal and richer at the dry down. Also more lotion-like in a pleasant way. For me the dry down is very important because lingers the most. Definitely both are interesting creations as all Francesca's perfumes.

Like many of the reviews here I found the opening of Sex And The Sea Neroli to be quite sharp and confronting; peppery and heady with bitter-greens. Initially my nose mainly picked up on the neroli, petitgrain, sandlewood and benzoin and though I enjoyed it (and found the frag to be very interesting and unique) I made the assumption that it might just be a little too biting for my nose. But then magic happened in the dry down. After forty minutes or so this perfume turned into a delectable salty white chocolate Michelin Star dessert on my skin - and yet there were still wafts of the greener more flowery notes to keep it interesting and well away from some basic, predictable gourmand. I was incredibly impressed when I sampled this perfume. And I will always have fond memories wearing it, lounging around with my partner on a beach under the hot summer sun. I think he’ll have fond memories of it too.

Most of my perfumes are commercial and being fed up of smelling like everybody else I decided to start experimenting with niche perfumes. I don’t consider myself a profesional and my opinion is probably not the most accurate, so bear with me. Sprayed three times, perhaps too much. Immediately realised this perfume is a potent one as it is perfume extract and a little goes a long way, so thinking about this I think that the price is amazing, as a bottle will last you forever. I have had it in my skin for 6 hours still going really strong. Every hour smell something different. It is a complex evolving perfume. It went from a neroli smell to a more creamy and warm flowery smell to more animalistic dirty smell. I am not yet sure if it is for me, will need to try it again, but I can appreciate that is an amazing complex sexy perfume.

This opens with a blast of neroli, but that quickly goes away. For me, what come after are mainly powdery florals. The honey gives it sweetness, the bergamot gives it a sour smell, and the others give it an earthy smell. But mainly it's sweet and powdery. This is my second Francesca Bianchi, and I love it even more than the first, which was Angel's Dust. These two are an acquired taste. How I acquired that taste started when I was about 9 years old. I liked wearing my mother's CK Obsession. Then in my 20s I loved Amouage Jubilation 25 Woman, and Lancome Magie Noire. Loving Francesca Bianchi is just a natural progression. I might end up getting every thing from the brand. But I have a feeling I'll only be wearing them in winter.

Fruity-sweet, salty and slightly animalic scent. This is not a clean and posh sunscreen-like coconut scent but more abstract and definitely has a lot of saltiness to it (sea salt and sweaty skin) but also quite a lot of sweetness from the fruit, very prominent neroli and the balsamic base gives it a resinous touch. Personally I love it - it evokes very strong summer memories in me, sea breeze, a sweet tropical cocktail, enjoyed in the sun, sweaty, salty skin mixed with some sunscreen. Please sample before buying - this perfume is definitely not blind buy safe

I’ve got a “Sex and the Sea Neroli “ perfume over the week now, still ....can’t put my thoughts around it...Yes, I like it, not sure if I love it. Complex scent, I’m trying to find the resemblance with some other perfumes that I have owned. I love old-school perfumes and neroli, this perfume gives me the feeling - I have smelled these notes before. Nostalgia in the bottle. Couple days ago, it clicked... I’ve recognised a slight similarity with Cacharel “Lou Lou”, Joop “Le Bain” and my all time favourite 80’s beauty Givenchy “Ysatis”.