Si Lolita

Do you ever get tired of scents that smell the same? Si Lolita doesn't. The notes in the pyramid above say pink pepper, but I do not detect the rosey scent of pink...instead SL opens with a puckishly intense black pepper accord. Charmingly abrasive, refreshing, odd. SL is confounding at first. Why would anyone want to smell like black pepper? But...you keep sniffing yourself. Over time, the pepper remains, but drifts of sweet pea, heliotrope, and juicy mandarin catch your attention... Where are they coming from? You sniff your wrist, and it's still crisp, dark pepper. But that sweetness lingers around you, behind you, where ever you least expect it. Si Lolita sneaks up on the wearer. You'll fall in love with her, after you get to know her. Cinnamon, is not listed, but can be found, anise, clove, and fenugreek as well. Surprisingly bright, given the potential darkness of the accords...but that's the point,right? But on first acquaintance? She's really not what you expect. Particularly not from a brand known for sweet scents. And why would ANYONE create a perfume that smells like black pepper? Think Audrey Hepburn. Think flying monkeys. Think of the most gloriously unexpected sights you have ever encountered. An elegance comprised entirely of parts that should not harmonize. Si Lolita is the Pablo Picasso of perfume, the cubist blue, the scent that is too simple to be true. The unexpected, but much anticipated. the Cirque du Soleil of perfume. Addictive. Superlative. Intoxicating. Invigorating. Almost too good to be true.

Bought this without really smelling it before..RISKY but it paid off. I checked reviews at the time and it had 5 stars. So I bought it on offer. One word- Complex in its opening, linear, straightforwards and calming in the drydown. The pepper is quite strong for about 5 minutes and a bit 'fizzy' in the opening. I was a bit worried like 'oh no what have I bought?!' but the dry down is super unusual, and EXPERTLY balanced. The pink pepper although prominent at first is not sharp and cloying like a lot of modern fragrances. It drys down to a quiet woody floral. I think its great. Very unusual but not offputting. If you smelt this once, you would remember it for a long time. Very distinct. And the other ingredients do not 'fight for space'. They are complimentary, just sweet and borderline unisex that keeps you wondering what this fragrance wants to be. This fragrance is a bit of a dancer. It moves with time and you cant quite pin it down. I find it really nice to wear. Those who complain of a medicinal dry down- nonsense (for me anyway). Maybe it depends on skin chemistry. I tend to like fragrances with a bit of a mineral/balsamic base note as it keeps me from feeling sick by the end of the day. A little does go a long way. Wonderfully different from all the sickly sweet unoriginal garbage out there.

First spray I get alcohol and mouthwash. After a minute or so in comes a lemony cleaner scent, I'm guessing that's the Elemi though I've never smelt it so strongly before. Sugary flowers Si Lolita is not and definitely not my normal cup of tea, but I am not hating it, if anything I find it interesting so I will continue along to see where this party ends up. 15 minutes it's soapy. And smooth. But unlike other soapy frags I've smelt, this one is sort of nice. Getting a hint of spice, the pink pepper perhaps. It's not my normal type of perfume at all but so far I would consider wearing it. For me it would be for something like spending a day out back at the pool, having friends over for a BBQ in the evening and then going in to take a shower after everyone has gone. When you're exhausted from the day, but in a good way and it's still hot outside. Si Lolita would be something I would put on to help stay cool and relaxed before bed. I am really enjoying this perfume and may even have to keep a bottle in my collection. It is so out of the norm of what I usually wear yet I really like it a lot! I also feel that this could work quite well on a man as I don't get hardly any "sweet" with it, but again, that could just be my skin, YMMV. :)

I got my mini bottle in the mail today and I'm very happy. After trying a few of the Lolita line and having disappointing, meh, and pretty-good results with my chemistry(the original, Fleur de Corail and L de Lempicka, respectively), I've finally found the one for me. This one is peppery patchouli at first sniff - good start. There's something unusual going on, which I'm assuming is the elemi, which I don't have experience with. There's a slightly green, ginger-like pungency to it once it dries down a bit and the floral notes come forward and soften things up. But always pepper. I like pepper, and this has it in spades. It's tempered by the tonka bean and the amber and patchouli gives it some depth. It's an unusual scent, spicy and rather saucy. Cheeky, but classy. The bottle is a good visual representation of what you get. It makes me think of ladies in large round sunglasses, black summer dresses and polka dotted scarves driving around on Vespas in Spain. This, to me, is an any-time-of-day perfume but probably suited to the warmer weather of Spring.

This was the first perfume I bought as an adult with my own money. I don't remember how I found out about it or why I chose it, but I want to thank 22-year-old me. When I first tried it, I thought it was a bit "advanced" for me, as I was inexperienced and associated perfume with the pretty but slightly "corporate" smells from Burberry or Chanel that my aunt would wear. Regardless, I fell in love with it. The spicy-sweetness agreed with my skin which instantly eats up the majority of delicate notes from more dainty perfumes. I loved how it almost smelled masculine, like a fresh and spicy cologne a slightly older man would wear. Si Lolita is spunky, fresh in a spicy way like ginger, yet warm in an expansive way. Warm like a fire but not quite cozy like being wrapped up in a cashmere robe. There is movement to this perfume. This perfume is flirting by the fireplace with a ginger whiskey and sharing a perfect mandarin. This belongs in my trifecta of favorite spicy fresh perfumes with Lucky Number 6 and ELDO Like This.