Mainstream Monday – Sniffing a Popular Perfume
I’ve loved the original Prada Candy since first sniff. In fact, I still wear that perfume frequently. It’s a sweet benzoin-iris that is more complex than it’s namesake. Like always, I avoid flankers out of fear of disappointment, especially when it’s of a perfume that I adore. One time at a duty-free shop, I sniffed Candy Florale and was majorly disappointed. I decided to revisit since that was during an abusive international flight and in all fairness, I was majorly grumpy. Anything that I would have tried at that moment, I would have hated.
Candy Florale opens with citrus and a floral honey¹. Candy Florale smells like honey but not that animalic honey that we sniff in niche perfumes that adds a dirtiness that a lot of us Perfume People adore. Candy Florale is squeaky clean. It’s a slightly sweeter version of designer “pink floral” perfumes. It’s mainly honey, peony and white musk; yet, it wears as an abstract honeyed floral. I think most people will smell it and describe it as “pleasant” vs. “oh, it’s peony and honey”. They dry-down sticks to that abstract floral theme. I do pick up on a honeyed rose, but once again most people will just say “nice”. The perfume is nice and that’s a good sufficient word to use to summarize it.
Candy Florale bears no resemblance to the original Candy at all. None. Stuff like this is why most of us are burnt out on flankers. Just create an entirely new name and bottle for this, right?! If you are expecting something Candy-esque, this will disappoint. If this was the same perfume with a different name and bottle, it would attract the “right” crowd for it. Personally, I’m never going to wear a perfume like this because I’m not attracted to perfumes like this. But, I see its commercial appeal. It’s fresh, light, pretty and inoffensive. It’s a “pretty pink floral” and I don’t see why they didn’t just call it “Prada Florale” and give the perfume it’s own bottle and campaign with some celeb’s daughter that is an icon known by people much younger than me.
Notes listed include limoncello sorbet, peony, benzoin, musk, caramel and honey. Launched in 2014. PERFUMER – Daniela Andrier
Give Prada Florale a try if you like clean, abstract florals. Or if you like perfumes like Elizabeth & James Nirvana White, Stella McCartney Stella Nude, Dior Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet, Gucci Flora, L’Occitane Eau de Miel and/or Lollia Always. Because of how it wears, I do think that Candy Florale is more appropriate for day wear. Or to give to someone that has a tendency to over-spray perfumes 😉
Projection and longevity are average since it’s an EDT.
Prada Florale comes in a few sizes with prices ranging from $74 to $94 at Nordstrom. It’s also available at discounters like Perfume.com.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Sheer, abstract pink floral that is absolutely nothing like the original Prada Candy. I’m disappointed because it doesn’t remind me of Candy and because it’s not the sort of perfume I’ll wear. With that off my chest, I can’t really say anything bad about it. It smells good. I’m just sick of how designer’s overuse flankers.
¹Without naming aromachemicals because I hate when non-perfumers or chemists do that in perfume reviews, I’m going to say this: There’s an inexpensive honey accord/aromachemical from a popular aromachemical supplier that smells almost identical to this opening when it’s diluted. This is not me being shady. I think this accord smells nice but it’s not really an innovative use of this material. If they were charging a niche price, I’d be really angry. But, for a perfume of this distribution, I don’t have delusions that they are using “expensive” substances.
Want more reviews? Try…
Fragrantica – Member reviews
Makeup Alley – Member reviews
I love these Mainstream Mondays.
I would love your opinions on Elizabeth and James’ new Nirvana Rose. Don’t know if samples are available yet but the notes intrigue me and reviews say it’s like a darker, gothic-y rose. I might just have to blind buy it because it sounds so interesting.
I can’t wait to try those new ones. I’ll try to get samples but I don’t know if they are in the stores yet. Honestly, I’m tempted to buy them too but I try not to blind-buy 🙂
[…] Nature Republic Real Nature Cream in Honey – The cream is so much better than the super sticky ampoule. It’s creamy but lightweight. It’s a good cheap, basic moisturizer that smells like Prada Candy Florale. […]
[…] Nature Republic Real Nature Honey Ampoule – I could really write a lengthy review of this stuff but nothing said would be very nice. It does moisturize. But, it’s sticky af. Like sooooo sticky. It leaves my skin impossibly shiny which I love but for real, lint will stick to your face. I’m certain putting actual honey on your face would be less sticky than this. It smells like the honey note in Prada Candy Florale. […]