Sticky Fingers

Patchouli is such a great, versatile note in perfumery. It can be dry, earthy, dirty, smooth, herbal or chocolate-like - the list goes on. A key component of modern, post-oakmoss chypres, its earthiness makes it a good alternative to oakmoss in gems such as Amouage Jubilation 25. Smooth yet paper-y, Le Labo Patchouli 24 blew me away - it was the first balsamic patchouli scent I tried, and felt genuinely groundbreaking to me. I've since come across other such scents. Perris Patchouli Nosy Be is a chocolate-y take that I loved. Sticky Fingers (great name) is also a balsamic patchouli scent, more amber-y than paper-y or chocolate-y. For me, it conjures up the image of a nonchalant, leather-clad girl in the smoking area of a nightclub, complete with smudged eyeliner. I have been very impressed with Francesca Bianchi in the past, so I bought a discovery set. This scent is no exception, cementing me as a fan of this house. SF is patchouli-heavy from initial spray. Earthy, smoky and very smooth, it is a great balsamic take on patchouli. Smooth tonka bean follows, slightly sweet and adding to the balsamic texture. It becomes increasingly dry as it develops, with dry woods emerging, complementing the patchouli nicely. The smoky component is the perfect counterpoint to the soft sweet undertone, melding nicely with the patchouli and woods while adding interest and darkness. There are some soft spices here too. As it develops, the combination of the aforementioned balsamic notes make for a leather effect in the base. Powdery florals add body, as well as acting as a counterpoint to the smoky-leather toughness. There is a chocolate effect as it progresses, thanks to the patchouli. The sweet, smooth, smoky leather becomes increasingly musky as it fades, becoming slightly animalic in the later stages. It fades to a musky-woody skin scent, leathery until final fade. Sillage is strong and longevity is long-lasting. It is a unisex, autumn/winter evening scent. While not a crowdpleaser, SF is a great, compelling composition that is undeniably cool. Dark, smoky sweetness with a tough leather twist. 4.5/5.

I am trying this perfume today and the truth has not been any luck with me. In general, I like almost all bianchi perfumes because they seem very special and different to me ... but this does not hurt Francesca. It's also true that patchouli and I don't usually get along. I really like how it is based and in discreet quantities, but when it is the protagonist it ends up getting tired. And in this case sticky fibgers has such an amount of patchouli that it is difficult for me to differentiate it from other patchouli perfumes on the market, such as perris Montecarlo. Even so, and although my personal tastes prevent me from loving this fragrance, I have to admit that a high quality of ingredients is recognized and that as it dries, it does have something that is very Francesca, and that is that although when I bring my nose closer, it still smells of patchouli and leather, from time to time floral bursts like iris come to me that I do like. I would like to be able to smell it on another person to know how it is perceived as it may be a deceiving perfume given its high concentration. It seems to me a more nocturnal, intense and chocolatey fragrance, with a good yield. So, oh, patchouli did not convince me if you like it, do not hesitate to try it because you will surely be passionate about it. Scent: 8 Longevity: 9 Projection: 7 Quality / price: 5 Versatility: 6 Originality: 6 Global: 8

I like this one. It ultimately dries down to a lovely leather/orris/tobacco/sandalwood skin scent, very cozy and never overly sweet with just a hint of patchouli remaining on the outer edges. It opens with a stearn, dry, patchouli and leather that reminds me of scents like Profumum Roma Fumidus and Parfums D’Marly Hamdani, only it gets a spicy depth from cinnamon making it friendlier than those two. Major points for that impressive kaliedoscopic array of twists and turns it takes along the way. The vibe and smell of each stage of development varies a lot. Cooler temps really bring out the creamy sweet sandalwood/tonka from underneath. I would wear this because it drys down to something in the same family as Chanel Cuir d’Russie and Cire Trudon Ernesto candles, only with that outer edge of patchouli. Definitely considering buying a full bottle. EDIT: I should’ve waited until I wore a few more times before reviewing. Take everything I said above but multiply the patchouli by 100. I don’t know why these things happen but over time, I became more and more aware of the strength of the patchouli in this until it became, for me, a pretty straightforward patchouli-dominant scent. Yes, the rest is there too, but upon re-reading this review I realized one would have to be anosmic to patchouli to not mention its’ powerful presence in every phase of this perfume’s development. 3 out of 5.

The greatest fragrances have the power to transport you to another place and time. One sniff of Sticky Fingers and I was immediately taken back to my early 20's. That brief period of youth and freedom when you are too old for a curfew, but too young to be a "Responsible Adult". Suddenly, I was back in the dark little bookstore on campus that sold incense, crystals, tarot cards, and Aleister Crowley books. In my mind, I was a Pagan Princess that every man and woman desired. My evenings were spent in dark, smokey biker bars where, for 90 minutes, my boyfriend was a Rock God singing with his band and I was the hot groupie chick who got to go home with him. At the end of the evening, I would steal his leather jacket and snuggle up behind him on his motorcycle for the chilly ride home. This scent is a glorious blend of incense, leather and patchouli- but not the Dirty, Hippy patchouli. This is a sexy, primal, wild scent, that mellows out to a beautiful, warm embrace in a borrowed leather jacket that is 2 sizes too big. Sticky Fingers makes me want to go back and relive some of those wild days of my mis-spent youth. It is near perfection. I am in love.

It took me a little while to warm up to Sticky Fingers. The first time I sampled it, I fell head over heels in love with the punchy, leathery-patchouli opening, and was eventually disappointed with the softened, sweetened dry-down which can feel cinnamon-heavy. I found what I wanted in The Black Knight instead, which is not only my favorite FB fragrance, but one of my favorite fragrances in general. Nevertheless, I gave this sample multiple tries, and then suddenly one night, it clicked- I got these amazing wafts of this warm, embracing scent coming towards me - and I wore my sample for four days straight, something I rarely do. So I now have my own bottle of Sticky Fingers. It is wonderfully comforting and surprsingly easy to wear. The opening is still my very favorite bit, but I now enjoy that something magically airy underneath all the heavy notes, which may be the heliotrope and the musk. This softens the fragrance punch, and makes it less dense than some other FB fragrances, but it still feels subtly lived-in, warm and personal, sensual. Can't wait to wear this to a dark, crowded cafe on a cold winter evening.

I had an interesting journey with this one. The first two times I sampled, I despised it for the first hour. I thought it smelled like a dusty attic on me. But then it evolved into a beautiful, soft, creamy, sweet leather scent that I loved and could not stop sniffing. I could not decide whether I wanted a full bottle because I couldn't decide whether that first hour was worth it. So I got another sample, and this time, rather than simply spray on my wrists, I sprayed on my neck and shirt. There was no dusty scent! It enveloped me in all my favorite parts of the perfume instantly, just stronger. Then it settled into that softness a few hours later. I became obsessed and bought a large bottle. Totally worth it. I love it now, and believe it is suitable for any occasion and in any weather. Lesson learned--don't just try a perfume on your wrists, and not at the same time you are trying other scents. (That's what I was doing the first two times I sampled.) To really know, you need at least a few hours with it as a solo wear as you would typically wear a scent. I have yet to a find a Francesca Bianchi I don't like!

Bought this and 3 other BF fragrances blind from a discount seller online. Having never smelled her creations before, but being a patchouli/amber/wood/tobacco and vintage fragrance lover and reading others’ reviews, I felt like these were going to be right up my alley. Upon first sniff: Fuck yeah. This feels like Saturday night in the VIP room at a rock club, wearing sooty eyeliner, leather pants, and a velvet shirt suffused with cigarette smoke. You’re sipping a bourbon smash with mint garnish in the dim amber candle light. While the mood is a bit grungy, with a nod to vintages, the fragrance is luxe and modern. The patchouli is the menthol kind, and I think that really helps keep this from being too dense and grimy. As with most perfumes, I’ve sadly become mostly anosmic to the scent unless I press my nose to my wrist, but my coworker says she smells a sweet dark scent and she’s sitting 8 feet from me. This being an extrait, I was careful not to overdo it for a day in the office, but I’ll be dousing myself in a few more sprays for my personal enjoyment tonight.

Sticky Fingers is the powerful internal rumination of temptation and desire, a feeling so intense that logic and reason are all but abandoned. The chocolatey facets of patchouli hint at what could be a more innocent interpretation of ‘Sticky Fingers’, but this is soon disregarded for a more enticing, metaphorical meaning. Patchouli is the star here, it’s courageously thick, earthy and really delves into the chocolatey theme that this incredible material holds. Tobacco drives this into a much drier direction, whilst simultaneously battling a powerful thickness from leather and orris. Just as you think things might be sweetening up from an introduction of tonka and cinnamon, musk and castoreum shake the stage and challenge what you think you know about this composition. I absolutely love it. I’m not even the biggest lover of patchouli but this is a holy grail patchouli fragrance right here. It’s got all the lustrous enticement of a Francesca Bianchi creation, whilst soaring into a new realm with such a brave overdose of patchouli.

Ms. Bianchi does it again, she has created here something complex but airy. There's a blast of patchouli right out of the gate that settles in after a few minutes to the background bringing forth her signature DNA and the glorious iris butter. Its powdery smooth nodding to a soft smokey tobacco and leather that's barely discernable. This is kinda lipsticky soft patch in a red suede jacket. Definitely a rock chick lookin for a good time and it don't get better than this kinda vibe. Classic Francesca Bianchi. Sillage and longevity are phenomenal, way beyond mainstream offerings! Addendum: When wearing this it's one of the few scents my Pops always compliments on how good I smell when he hugs me. He was the original Rocker....I'm just a chip off the Rocker's block💗 11/21 update: I rarely buy backup bottles.... 1 backup bottle bought. I don't ever want to live without this scent.

Wow!!! I’m always excited to try another fragrance from Francesca. This is espectacular, beautiful patchouli, spicy, woody, creamy, there is a subtle nut like aspect and that’s the heliotrope, on the air the chocolate like aroma is more easy to pick it up. It is so beautiful and with this fragrance the musk or Castoreum base it is the same along here formulas because the musk here it gives me reminiscences from Sex and The Sea, it is her DNA for sure. This is fall in a bottle, natural patchouli, earthy but chocolate like, woody and musky with a subtle star anis smell. It is not a note listed but I guess the orris, tonka and the spice from the cinnamon gives the aroma similar to star anis. It does reminds me of something I have smelled before, and it gives a little vibe of that vintage like gentleman fragrance.

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. I have paid 99 bucks for 30 ml of this delicious syrup. But it is addictive. Smells like sin itself. I cannot stop smelling myself. I got a compliment 10 minutes after first spraying it. "What perfume is this? smells vintage and new in the same time." It was a male friend I had no idea he has the sense of smell. There is patchouli, but well covered in expensive leather, dark red wine and tobacco. There is a bit of cinnamon and star anise, but is not mulled wine. It smells of autumn leaves and dry sand, rich cocoa and a bit of saltiness. There is sugar, there is spice, and everything is oh so nice. It is rich, dark and sensual. It is an unforgettable, slightly animalic, sensual aroma that make you feel a flutter in the groin. Forgive me Father, for my heart longed for it.

I adore this thick, gooey, chocolate-cakey patchouli bomb! I love how distinctive Francesca Bianchi's creations are: you KNOW it's a Bianchi when you're wearing it! I agree Sticky Fingers definitely has this bad-ass, rock star vibe (Courtney Love is a huge F.B. fan and that 100% fits!) but this is also super cozy and comforting to wear because of the deep, resinous notes mixed with that trademark buttery iris and musk with just a hint of dustiness - which I personally love. It's gorgeous! I am testing from a sample and for whatever reason it does not project much on me - contrary to other's experience - but I'm wondering if it might be a different experience with the bottle, which might be next on my purchase list! Beautiful, unique, artful creation from a incredibly skilled perfumer!

Was inspired by the image on the cover of the Rolling Stones ninth album to create this work. An image that without showing anything is extremely sensual, attractive and sexy. The originality of this fragrance is that it accurately represents what your brain perceives when you see the photo on the cover. That mixture of patchouli and leather with a background of tobacco and castoreum that makes it almost wild, is softened with spices and that delicious orris. The genius of this work is that with the forcefulness of its ingredients it could have remained on a wild side and on the contrary, it is softened just enough to make it totally sensual. In short, a wonder that has me totally in love. Uniqueness: high Scent: 8,5/10 Sillage: medium-high Longevity: 8h

To my nose, Sticky Fingers is not a literal gourmand as the name suggests, but it does have a delicious quality to it. The patchouli leans on the sweet cacao side, with supporting notes to add spice and powdery-ness. However there is definitely leather and depth to it. Without looking at the notes, I thought I had picked up incense or some sort of resin. In the dry down, I pick up a little smokiness. It is a beautiful fragrance with just a bit of dirtiness to it that makes it interesting and addictive. Strong sillage and longevity, going strong after 9 hrs of wear with light application. I can see how this can easily leave a strong trail with regular 4-5 spritzes. This sits firmly on the unisex scale for me.

I think the blog Take One Thing Off got it right. Sticky Fingers is to Francesca Bianchi what Bengale Rouge is to Papillon, the easy, comfortable one of the line. Still fantastic, but less complicated and reminiscent of scents you love. Sticky Fingers is more sheer in projection. It takes the pretty aspects from Francesca Bianchi's other perfumes and none of the complicated bits, and pairs them with a solid pachouli note. Very nice, easy to wear, but I've grown addicted to her more complicated creations. Under My Skin is still number 1 for me from this line, in time this might find its way into my collection. If you love the Coromandel style of pachouli, like I do, you will like this.

First Impression: It has a very spicy opening that smells a bit like rootbeer, but settles down quickly. Really nice chocolatey patchouli, but it has this waxy texture that makes it slightly stale up close. However, I must say, it smells AMAZING in the air. It also smells much nicer on the skin than on paper. I just got my bottle yesterday and decided to wear it for a few hours before going to bed last night. I can still smell it this morning. I’ll probably let it sit for a couple of weeks. Update 11/6/2024: Fallen in love with it completely. It's sexy and alluring. This reminds me of Giardino Benessere’s CEO and J-Scent's Sumo Wrestler. Scent: 9/10 Projection: 8.5/10 Longevity: 9/10

This is beyond addicting. I've had a Francesca Bianchi discovery set for months but barely wore my first fragrance from the set today and holy shit. The way the tobacco blends with the orris and patchouli is amazing, and the balance between the light powderiness and animalics is simply perfect. The dried down skin scent is a beautiful sweet and powdery tobacco, I could keep smelling my arm all night. Unbelievable fragrance, I'm buying a bottle of this as soon as possible. Performance is good but my sample's atomizer was really wonky so I couldn't spray this on adequately. Moderate projection with a light but persistent sillage. Longevity is great, easy 8+ hours.

Patchouli and tonka, some blond tobacco with a vintage musk base. The musk is noticeable and gives it an immediate connection to a more classic musk based profile, but it’s not heavy handed and has a modern touch. I smell something like artemisia, but I think it’s the tonka and tobacco combo. Leather is ranking high in the notes, but I don’t really get any (aside from maybe an accord made from the other notes combined). Dry down is a super pleasing white chocolate tobacco musk that reminds me of Coromandel. Overall this a great blend of modern and classic elements taking aspects I like from both. So far impressed by the offerings from this house.

I should preface this review by sharing that one of my all time favorite perfumes is Angel by Mugler so patchouli is a huge love for me. For me this is one of the best new scents I have added to my collection in quite a while! I sprayed it after I first opened it and was pleasantly surprised at how smooth and beautifully created it is. I know it has iris in it but on my skin Sticky Fingers smells like butterscotch pudding with sweet patchouli sprinkled on top. Its long lasting yet smooth. I love perfumes which are unusual, complex and take you on a journey. This is for those who adore patchouli and for those people this is a joy to wear.

This is so beautiful I can’t even describe it. It starts out earthy, slightly bitter, dark chocolate patchouli but evolves in a way I haven’t smelled before. The dry down brought me to literal tears, I don’t even know what triggered that reaction, something so familiar and nostalgic and yet, unfamiliar. It gets sweeter, more floral (almost jammy rosy? Violet? it has to be orris), rounder and more velvety and powdary in texture, but the bitter chocolate-patchouli, a little spice lingers on in the background. Unisex but leans more feminine (in my opinion), but a man could easily pull this off. It is plain simple, just beautiful.