Io

I got a sample of this and I love it. It's very rich smelling and completely different and I am at a total loss of words on how to describe it, other than Heavenly. Not Angels, but Heaven itself. I'm not much into floral fragrances, but on me, this just seems so feminine and wasp like. A very thin model who is ghostly white and messy hair with only lipstick on. A girl whom would catch Johnny Depp's eye. He goes for that type. This is how I would imagine her to smell. It's so different. Not uptown stuck up rich, not lawyer biotch, not old money rich. But young, not beautiful, too thin for comfort, long white legs and messy hair and big doe eyes. Gorgeous sexy fragrance! I'm going to buy a bottle!!! Edit.....wow, so many people dislike? Hum, more for me, hope she doesn't discontinue. Edit 2.....I did purchase myself a FB. I don't wear it often, but when I do I get compliments, but more important, I love it on me. It is perfect for a rainy day. Something about the moist in the atmosphere dances invisibly with the 8 hour going strong few sprays I squirted. It loves the heavy wet air. Do yourself a favor and find a sample. I'm in no way an expert of picking out notes, but this whole aura that surrounds me when I'm wearing this purely ethereal.

Io by Hilde Soliani starts out as a white floral coated in a generous dusting of crushed sweet-tarts. As the acidity of the tart candy calms down, a grape flavored tuberose takes center stage. The grape is candied and smells very little like a “natural” grape. Even though I’d classify this as a fruity floral, the whole composition retains a dryness not typical of the genera. The juxtaposition of simple florals with the sweet-tart candy results in youthful sophistication and an abstract twist. After a while, it becomes clear that some of the dryness is due to an old-fashioned powdery iris note that makes the fragrance quite lady-like, yet the pervasive pixi dust keeps it playful. As time passes, the warmth of the benzoin tames the candied tuberose and the composition becomes less interesting. Soon, only a trace of candy is left on the skin. Average performance; overall 3.5/5

Why the negative reviews? I don't understand. When I got samples from this house I was expecting very polarizing fragrances, but this is not polarizing. It's incredibly likable, mild, and a non-offensive classic powdery white floral. While it's not a fragrance for me (it's not my style or preference and I actually hate Iris usually) it's still really well blended and composed. This is perfectly wearable and for the ladies (or men) that love a dainty classical fragrance, look no further. 6.5/10

At first sniff, it reminded me a bit of Celeste by giardini di toscana but then I recognized the familiar hilde soliani dna which made it a slightly sweetened violet. It then turns into the familiar dry tuberose but the white floral is in the background. The dry down, however, is ultra powdery and reminds me of an expensive, vintage, iris soap that my great aunt used to use. It’s quite lovely, but not something that tailors to my taste. It’s also quite strong to my nose. If you love a great powdery iris, this one is for you!

This is high key giving those Choward’s violet candies. Classic and powdery but a bit sugary sweet for me. Smells like a fancy housewife’s bathroom from the 1900s.

I bought it yesterday from Hilde herself. It's a perfect balance of sweet, enwrapping, seductive tuberouse and powdery iris.