Nina Fantasy by Nina Ricci

It’s a super citrusy and fruity perfume, very typical of the Nina house. It has a background of sugarcane and soft vanilla; it’s sweet but fresh with a floral touch. It doesn’t turn heads for me, but I love it—it’s pretty. Very feminine and versatile, ideal for spring and daytime. It makes you feel like a sweet lemonade walking around.

Before trying it: like in the Nina line, this came out in 2012 as an annual edition. Before, they tried winter things with Snow Princess, but this one is inspired by dreamy springs and urban fairytale princesses. They say it’s limited but it keeps coming out, though it’s hard to find. The concept isn’t as complex as the brand usually does, but it stands out for being simple. It’s very gourmand; the florals are subtle. It starts juicy and acidic, with the pear taking the lead for a while alongside bergamot and a touch of mandarin (remember the original Nina from 2006; if you didn’t like that opening, you probably won’t like this one either). Then comes a crunchy, starchy heart with sugar and cherry blossom; it’s sweet and floral with a green, astringent base. Afterward, the crunchy mixes with the creamy, gourmand vanilla and powdery heliotrope. At the end, there’s an earthy touch that covers the residual vanilla and fruits. It’s warm, cheerful, positive, innocent, and fun. It’s not innovative or original, but I like it—it’s enthusiastic and organic. It has the typical synthetic citrus of the house (Olivier Cresp doesn’t change much); it doesn’t take your breath away with originality, but it’s pretty, comforting, and reassuring. Some say it smells like glazed feet; I agree (though here the floral is more marked). It’s a safe Eau de Toilette with moderate sillage and longevity. It’s pretty, spring-like, and handles textures well, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for something original.

What can I say about this perfume? It was so hard for me to get one; in fact, a friend from Europe brought it for me. It was on my wishlist, and I knew I wanted it for the bottle with the kawaii drawings, the illustrated box, and the included booklet. As a colleague put it: ‘the bottle is a total hit because it better represents the innocence and sweetness it wants to convey.’ It evokes purity, delicacy, and sweetness. The scent: too much tangerine for my taste. But considering it had been in the bottle for 4 years, it was expected that I wouldn’t like it as much; on my skin, it stayed very strong. I liked that it broke away from the classic Nina style. Why buy a perfume if you know it will always smell the same and take you to the same places? It reminds me of the song from its commercial, with the Lilidoll baby popping out of the bottle and a shower of flowers. ‘She always gets what she wants, in the end If you hold out your hand She might let, let you pretend’.

Sweet from the start, unlike other Ninas that start citrusy, perhaps because of the pear. I notice a lot of sugar, and at the bottom, a caramelized hint that integrates it well with its Nina sisters. Overall, it’s very sweet and exudes the innocence of the whole range. The bottle is a total hit; it represents innocence and sweetness perfectly. The bad thing is that, like the whole line, the longevity is short, about four hours on my skin.

It smells delicious, like glazed feet with a subtle and pleasant floral touch. “It connects with my inner child” could be its slogan. On my skin, it smells amazing; in the end, it’s like my favorite gummies (strawberry cream) with marshmallows and powdered sugar, all without being cloying, which is great. I see it on women who wrap themselves in tender thoughts and feminine environments, without necessarily being immature. I agree with Aquaura: “it inspires purity, delicacy, and sweetness.” It reminds me of characters from Korean dramas due to the scent and bottle. It’s an interesting piece for collectors. If I decided to buy a full basket of these so cute Nina Ricci apples, this would be one of my most coveted. Does anyone have one to gift?