Shanghai Butterfly

This scent is hard for me to describe because it has so many layers, and I smell something smoky, even though it is not listed in the notes- maybe it could be the musk mixed with woodsy, powdery and spicy notes? My Signature scent is D&G Light Blue and I Love Love since they smell exactly the same to me, I smell these same notes in the middle notes of Shanghai Butterfly, but this fragrance has a more mysterious quality to me. To me it is a perfect multi-layered blend of scents. At first spray it is strong but in a few minutes it calms down into an intoxicating seductive scent with an alluring smoky pipe tobacco undertone-but pleasant, not overpowering-reminiscent of a classy, sophisticated old-world gentleman's club wrapped in cedar hardwoods from centuries past. I actually quite like this since it is so unique to anything I have ever smelt before. No mistaking, it is not anything like the "gentleman's" clubs of today, but rather beautifully antique, but NOT old by any means, it is definitely not your Grandmother's perfume, but instead rather young, but not at all Juvenile. When wearing it I almost feel as though I could be the lady in the Grace Kelly's L'Instant Taittinger poster wearing a sleek curve-hugging sexy but classy black dress with a glass of Champagne in one gloved hand and in the other a long bakelite cigarette holder- vintage, sophisticated, beautiful, but young. Wonderful, almost fantasy-like :) As time passes I still smell the smoky woody undertone, but it is lighter. A different feeling of time and place, but oddly one in the same- if that is possible. At this point I start to smell the clean citrusy notes which remind me of a beautiful sunny day with a light breeze filled with butterflies, carrying with it scents of fresh citrus fruits and clean summer air. It seems that most people open with the citrusy notes, but I don't smell these until later on. I would highly recommend this fragrance to anyone who looks for that "dream-like" quality in a fragrance.

I agree this heads down the light blue lane. If you like light blue and want something similar yet different (this is much more floral and less synthetic musky), you should probably be checking this out. This is a great anytime perfume. Has a very bright citrus opening of lemon, orange, and the green apple is tart with the skin still on. In the dry down I get mostly cedar, carnation, and rose. The carnation and rose kind of wind in and out from each other giving me sniffs of dry/spicy floral and sweet floral. I also do get a hint of LOTV. Side note when I first smelt this blind I swore there was green tea in here. I do prefer this over light blue, I actually don't understand the appeal of light blue when there are so many similar scents that smell less synthetic.

Shanghai Butterfly is the most truly feminine citrus perfume ever ! Unlike most other citrus scents, the top notes do NOT fade away. Pretty sour lemon tempered by apple, mixes with soft florals for a sweet beautiful perfume. No sweet sugared lemonade here, just gorgeous true lemon that remains throughout the dry down. A touch of sweet mandarin floats behind the lemon. Cedar is very light, not scratchy, softened by gentle white woods and soft sandalwood. The flowers are so well blended that it's hard to detect them individually. This perfume is smooth, with moderate but soft projection and lasts over 8 hours on my skin. Great for office, as it is non offensive. Absolutely gorgeous !

Just a short report: I had to get rid of Shanghai Butterfly due to mechanical error. I could hear a lot of liquid still inside (approx half full)but the sprayer for the life of me would not work. I'm not sure how common this is, and I did have a second hand bottle I found at a Salvation Army. Hope this doesn't happen to anyone else. I had Shanghai Butterfly 2-3 years before this happened. It seemed very random.

I regret not buying this one because now I can't find it anywhere. It's light but complex. Sweet citrus and pineapple on a sandalwood and musk base. In a way it reminds me of Light Blue, but it's somehow richer and has more depth. It's great for casual days.

This is a clean fruity a bit spicy fragrance.Its so easy to wear and I just adore the bottle.This is an every day fragrance that just seems best in Spring and Summer.It was a gift to me and I love it so much.

The first spray of Nanette Lepore- Shanghai Butterfly was a true blast of fresh air and happiness to my senses putting an instant smile on my face. :) This is my idea of the scent of "sunshine" and joyous emotions, good times and positivity. Cute little butterfly kisses! This is a smell for a girl or woman who wants to smell clean, sweet and inviting. Much like the yellow butterflies I've been seeing the past few days Shanghai Butterfly is light and fluttery YET bright and loud all at the same time. It starts out smelling of sweet lemony citruses, musk and green snow apple. Yes, its yells happy! The top notes dance around waving its wing right on past the flowery heart notes. If anything the flowers are the balancing act to create a beautiful femininity to the three powerful woodsy bottom notes (cedar, sandalwood and white woods). I can see Shanghai Butterfly getting loads of compliments from all sorts of people big and small! It has a captivating aura that will make people want to get closer to catch a whiff of this curiously cute fragrance. I guarantee it will put a smile on everyone's faces! I think lovers of D&G Light Blue or Moschino I Love Love would enjoy this fragrance but unique enough to appeal to all! AND the bottle is to die for!!

It's been a while, but I used to love this. Now it's very much tied to the past and I'm curious to see what I'd think of it now. It was spicy, green and woody. Worn year round, but my fondest memories were in late Summer into Fall. I was testing Oribe Côte d'Azur perfume (I don't use the rest of the product line), and that reminded me of SB. I'd say Côte d'Azur is more beachy and refined, there's something contemplative with Cd'A for me. Shanghai Butterfly is more fun in personality and strange (Cd'A more natural). When Shanghai Butterfly first came out, it was pretty strong--lasted long and fairly linear. I think when it was bought by another company (I'll update that info later!) it was the same scent but not as full-bodied and long lasting.

I bought this because I adore the bottle, so fortunately I like the fragrance enough to wear it from time to time. Light, citrusy woody, but acts strange on my skin: once the top notes begin to fade, I detect a rather sharp smell on me that I can compare to celery. Not a very pleasant phase, thankfully when this is gone it's the usual musky woody drydown common with fragrances like this. Not bad, but I still think the bottle is better than the juice, and there are many similar ones (seems like it's trying to be in the D&G Light Blue camp) that are much better.

Nov. 2019. I’ve worn this since it’s launch, off and on. Found it for sale a few years ago at TJ Maxx and snatched up 2 bottles. It has been a great go-to this fall. Still current. Living in Southern California, the blend of citrus, woods and musk is perfect in this area. It smells like things in the air this time of year. The citrus brightens it and the wood and musk give it that cozy, snuggly, feel. I’m liking it for casual wear; skinny jeans, baggy sweater, and Chelsea boots.

Doesn't smell anything like Sunflowers, Not A Perfume or Light Blue. It's a unisex-to-masculine leaning lemon cedar scent. As time passes it does start to smell more balanced and less like a cheap men's cologne. It becomes softer and the sandalwood and orange come in more and it almost becomes more minty. I like it and I will keep it because it's cheap and the bottle is cute. But it's definitely a bit more masculine than Light Blue, at least in its opening.

I've had this since its launch. It's been sitting for years, unused. Revisited it today. It's light, bright, crisp and clean. Wearing it today just for myself. Its wearing well on this fall day. It is long lasting on me. I won't have to respritz. This fragrance is suitable from spring through fall, dresses to jeans. Very versatile. A keeper, even all these years later. Still relevant.

it is not oriental.very fresh and lovely,smells like a plate full of mandarins and green apples.carnation comes lately and it gives a bit sharp smell.but i think perfect for summer,it is not sticky or sugary.

This scent came off as less citrus and more floral, with a pronounced 'nutty' note. Strange but somewhat likeable.

I think this is a Very Earthy Green smell with a bit of citrus it is nice and last quite a while!!

This is veeery woody. Starts of citrusy with a blast of lemon, but soon turns into a sandalwood-driven, quite masculine scent. Not my thing, but works when I want to use it to layer overly sweet scents.

The most beautiful packaging (lead to my blind buy of gift set at TJ Maxx) but all I smell is tons of musk that I don't like, and a little lemon. Or maybe its not the musk but the musk-cedar combination that bothers me? I smell a similar strong note in the heart and drydown of ET Violet Eyes, another perfume that doesn't work for me at all. This kind of perfume definitely works on some (many women smell fine in Lt Blue, for instance, which gives me the same vibe as Shanghai Butterfly in much gentler form, but I smell very masculine and over-musked in this type). Ever get so disappointed with a blind buy that you get mad and throw out the perfume and feel better when it is in the trash? That's what I did.

I ordered a sample vial of this from eBay. I didn't get Oriental from this at all. It was kinda grassy, and really reminded me of Lovely from Sarah Jessica Parker. A clean scent, but not one I'm going to purchase in the bottle.

Oh why does it smell like cheap eraser rubber to me?

smells horrible on me..i wasted my money!