Si Passione Red Musk

This branch of the GA Si range is my absolute favourite. In fact, it has become my signature fragrance at the moment. I was in the perfume shop near me and tood the sales assistant I like sweet, fruity with notes of floral. A little gourmand was optional. I tried the new miutine and loved the strawberry in it, but found it did not stick around for very long (likely as I was nose blind after being in that shop for so long already ahahha!). I then tried Miss Dior, So Scandalous, Angel’s share, and other fragrances along similar notes. None of them hit me the way I was looking for. She then sprayed the Si Passione Red Musk on the card, and it was lovely, sweet with underlying notes of something I could only distinctly call ‘amber’. I asked her to spray my wrist and that’s where the fragrance shined brightest. The strawberry became instantly the star of the show with an underlying gourmand vibe to it. I told her I’ll leave it to linger on my wrist for a little while before I cane back. And so I did. The whole time I was shopping, I had my wrist pinned to my nose. The way this developed was absolutely magical, the strawberry stays but it becomes a whisper rather than the attention. The vanilla brings out a warm creamy sweetness and the rose adds to the overall creaminess. The musk gives a nice background to both the floral and sweet scents and I find it overall to be very rounded. So, I went in and bought a whole bottle. I am in love three weeks later. A colleague at work said I smelled incredible “like strawberries” and this was six hours after spraying it. She is even buying her own bottle next week. Honestly, if you like sweet and fruity fragrances that do a little more than what they say on the tin, this is for you. I layer it with the miutine to give more sweetness (as it is now my goal to smell like a strawberry) and the two complement each other so well. It lasts nicely, I do apply two more sprays during the day as I find it doesn’t project as much as I would like later on (which is only normal as I am usually at university or work for over ten hours, I would spray at the 6 or 7 hour mark). So, for this fragrance, please give it some heat. Don’t judge it solely based off the paper. Try it on your wrist. I am utterly obsessed and will be buying three more bottles. There is nothing on the market (at least the mainstream one) that I find gives the same delicate strawberry note without the greenery and overpowering floral. It is simply gorgeous.

It caught my attention in Douglas or Sephora and revealed itself as my favourite of the Si Passione line. I liked also Eclat, the rest left me cold. Eclat I resisted but this is so plush and feminine, mmm. The bottle is gorgeous too, the best one when the new editions are together. I had to buy it. Now my sample states mandarine essence in top notes, apart from strawberry, so we have an error here. Also rose absolute in the heart with milk accord and vanilla bourbon absolute in the base with musks. In the soft and silky opening I get red fruits scent. Initially clearly strawberries. It is fruity, sweet, gentle, caressing and exciting. Very likeable. Modern. There is nothing mature about it yet it is timeless. The strawberries are mixed with mandarine, rose, milk, vanilla and musk. And that is how the blend smells from the start till the end. I get bubble gummy-milky effect, too and it reminds me of Cassili by Parfums de Marly. It is ultra-feminine and a bit magical. I consider it universal with regards to weather and occasion-wise. It will fit a sweet bride and a classy businesswoman. It is lovely in summer and does not overwhelm. The strawberry note is milky and playful. The mandarine is barely detectable just works on fruity freshness with the strawberry. The milky accord loves the rose, loves the strawberry and loves the musk. Plays a passionate song with them. It will make you feel spoiled with goodness. It is so warm and inviting like an embrace. As such it will be great for a date and for an evening. Yet it is playful and calm enough to be lovely during a day, as your day to day parfume. Finally a Si Passione that is passionate and seductive. Loving it. After 3 hours it gets closer to the skin. 4,5 hours in and it becomes a musky vanilla with redness inherited from strawberries that still colors the composition. At 9 hours mark it is shy, but I catch occasional wafts of its milky-bubblegummy-vanilla.

"How does it smell compared to the original?” you may wonder. My short answer: it smells warmer, softer, sweeter. The original one feels colder. Preface: the original is my top "go to" office scent, which I love ❤️ The new bottle caught my attention when I was browsing new fragrances at the LHR airport (£81.20 / 50 ml). I approached it with caution. I was afraid that this new release of my beloved scent might be a flop. However, after testing it, I must admit, I may like it better than the original! And I have a full bottle of the original, which says something because I rarely buy full bottles. Frankly, this was, hands down, my favorite scent from dozens new scents I tested that day. It brings a smile to my face every time I sniff it. How does it smell? It definitely still has very similar style to the original, but it seems a little bit more fun - a tad sweeter, fruitier and mellow - and I love it! This new version appears to be a more "approachable" version of the original. The strawberry here is not the heavy and cloying one. Overall, it's well blended and light scent. I would imagine that it would also appeal to younger population. I would happily own the two versions of this scent - it's not "either/or". While I would still wear the original one for professional settings, I would reach for this new version in many more occasions and seasons. It's easy to wear and non-offensive. Overall, it's a very pleasant and likable scent. I am planning to buy at least the travel spray as soon as it's available in the US. So far it's my favorite new scent that was released this year. If you like the scents from this collection, you probably won't be disappointed. It deserves a higher rating than it currently has.

Giorgio Armani Si Passione Red Musk is a sweet strawberry hard candy supported by white musk, a little ambroxan, and muddled rose with maybe peony also, quickly added after the initial spray. I'm not really fond of the musk on clothes as it can be a bit much, but on my skin it works perfectly highlighting the slightest cream base it's on, not so milky or powdery. The peony and musk with that subtle cream base brings to mind D&G My Devotion, but this is the "red" and more substantial version. I don't think Burberry Her edp is similar, maybe more Elixir in the opening which I like but sometimes it's too powdery. Not so much though because Red Musk dries down creamy but more perfumey due to the rose and musk. Therefore, Red Musk surpasses the seasons of just spring and summer for me. Some may disagree, but the true strawberry, rose, and musk combo done here make it more sensual instead of just playful. Perfect for dates. I will say Red Musk departs from others in the Si line that remind me of the original Valentino Donna Born in Roma, although the original Si came before. I kinda wish I got the 100 mL instead in duty-free, because I didn't realize Si Passione Red Musk wasn't sold in the US. However, ordering from UK sites will not be the move, because this does not last more than 4-5 hours to pay more for shipping, but I'll be looking out for it in airports in the future. Update: Found it in only one of the airport fragrance shops and bought it.

#firstimpression OMG what on earth I've just sniffed!!! The First spray? It's bright, juicy sweet strawberries instantly made me happy. Then came the smooth, clean musk wrapping around it. Just like a warm hug ❤️ Quickly the creamy milk note gets noticable and it mixes with a delicate, pretty rose. This combo in perfume is unique to my nose. It made me think of Thai Rose Milk Tea which I absolutely love! Overall it's floral, milky, lightly sweet but not sugary or overwhelming. As it settles, the strawberry gradually softens. Meanwhile the rose, milk, and musk stay strong along with a touch of vanilla. Vanilla adds the warmth and some seductiveness. The overall feeling is it's clean, creamy, and surprisingly sensual. It will be perfect for Warm spring and summer days. The vibe is effortlessly feminine. Softly romantic. Has a subtle, alluring pull to it. It's a modern flirty scent. Easy to love and easy to wear!