Si Lolita Eau de Minuit

2 Reviews

1. 

   cautiousWasp9

   Reply

   From Fragrantica (notes, etc): Illusions Noires Si Lolita Eau de Minuit is the extreme version of the original with the oriental – floral – ambery character. It includes accords of sweet pea, patchouli, amber and vanilla absolute.

   This is warm, spicy, and could be considered unisex thanks to the prominent patchouli and pink pepper. Definitely related to original Si Lolita, but with more oomph to it. This is a sweet pea tinged patchouli and amber fragrance with bursts of pink pepper and smooth vanilla. I don’t get any orange in it at all, but a tiny hint of heliotrope adds a light powdery accord (not too powdery, don’t let that scare you) and overall makes this smell more expensive than it was. Very well blended from start to finish, and it lasts quite a long time on my skin. The bottle itself is a gorgeous rich deep purple with gold accents. I believe this was an LE flanker in 2012, but it can still be found for relatively cheap all over.

2. 

   outlyingSmelt2

   Reply

   Si Lolita Eau de Minuit is really pretty and not a huge leap from the original Si, but different enough for a Lempicka fan to buy. I’m not into gourmands these days, but still enjoy and wear my Si — which is sweet, spicy, milky, hazy goodness! I don’t find the Minuit version overbearing or too sugary, even after spraying generously.

   Lempicka have done with the Si flanker what they did with Premier Parfum Flanker: highlight bits that make it slightly richer, headier and more (I’m gonna say it) sexy. With the various LL Minuits (I’ve smelled too many to keep them sorted in my head) they generally emphasize or alter the patchouli or liquorice notes, and once added an incense — myrhh, I think — or tweak the top with a slightly sharper note — or some combination of the above (yes, vague).

   The original Si Lolita is a soft, gourmand oriental with a gentle, peppery top that lasts throughout the longevity of the fragrance (doesn’t fade much, as top notes can). There’s a milky cardamom-spicy note, reminiscent of chai tea — or even a milky, spiced tea, sweetened with honey. Not that there’s a strong tea note, but the spices remind me a lot of the ones used in tea infusions, rather than the ‘christmas candle’ variety. There’s also some nutmeg, clove, tonka and a citrus note that’s possibly a really subtle orange. I don’t get much patchouli in the original, and there’s a lovely ‘floaty’, see-through gourmand quality, which is nice if you want a break from the heft of the Premier Parfum.

   Now the Minuit: it’s the same idea, except the patchouli is stronger, which helps me cope with the ever-so-slightly heightened gourmand aspects. The spice notes (nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom) are also bigger players. It’s less milky, more woodsy and ambery and possibly closer to ‘christmas candle’ territory, without actually getting there and boring me — it’s not an orange pomander, but the note is stronger. Minuit’s less diaphanous but definitely a ‘noir-ish’ scent — a more dense-dark version of Si. It’d also smell great on a man who wears gourmands.

   I never thought the original Si Lolita was all that much like Poivre Piquant (except in the way that the pepper isn’t overkill and synthetic) or as rich / voluptuous as Theorema, but the Minuit version bears some resemblance to the Fendi, but is (perhaps) nicer. Both the original and the flanker are very smooth and low-key for gourmand orientals: not too gourmand and not huge, extravagant, femme fatale scents — well, maybe the Minuit’s femme fatale, but in a saucy-sexy rather than serious-anti-heroine way.

   I’ll probably purchase at some point (so I rated it repurchase-worthy). Here’s hoping they put as much effort into any subsequent Si Lolita follow-ups. The bottle is black, girly and glossy — essentially the same quirky design as the original Si.

   If the original Si is clingy, pink silk lingerie and peachy coral lipstick, Si Minuit is pure vintage: a black satin baroque corset, peep-toe patent stilettos, retro matte red lipstick and a wink! Love it.