On May 1st, they released their latest line: Eau de Parfums ("EdP"). These are their perfume oils diluted in 200 proof perfumer's alcohol.
For those new to perfumes, you are actually already familiar with EdPs. They are sold in beauty outlets like Sephora and Ulta; if you’ve tried Marc Jacobs’ Daisy or Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb, it’s likely you have tried it. EdPs are perfumes where the perfume oil has been diluted in perfumer’s alcohol. Typically a bottle contains only 10-15% perfume oil. This results with the fragrance being a lighter and not as intense. Compared to perfume oils, they have a tendency to remain the same scent on the skin over time. One thing to note with EdPs is that they can only be transported via ground due to the alcohol being a flammable substance. That means they cannot be shipped overseas.
With indie perfume oils, most perfumes consist of 20-85% perfume oil with the rest consisting of carrier oil. Depending on what perfume oils (including bouquet oils) are used, it's also possible to produce a product that’s 100% perfume oil. Compared to EdPs, perfume oils are usually a bit more complicated in fragrance and have a tendency to morph on the skin. What the perfume oil will smell like upon application compared to 3 hours later can be totally different!
The release of the EdP line is a rare occurrence in the indie community. As mentioned earlier, they cannot be shipped overseas due to the alcohol content. However, Sixteen92 provides an alternative for their international customers by substituting the perfumer’s alcohol with Isopropyl Myristate, a solvent that will dilute the perfume oil. The website does state that the perfume will appear thicker, but is still sprayable.
With the release of the new line, I decided to check it out. Since Sixteen92 is a US brand, I would be receiving the product with the perfumer’s alcohol. I placed an order for a 15ml bottle of Lolita EdP ($24) on May 1st. It was shipped on May 6th and delivered May 11th. It took only a little over a week for me to receive the order.
With the EdP, I also wanted to provide a comparison against the perfume oil, so I placed another order for a 2ml Lolita sample ($4.50) on May 19th and received it May 27th, a day less than how long it took with the first order.
Packaging
Packaging was very simple. The order was shipped in a bubble mailer and the order had brown cardboard to absorb any impact. A sample came with the purchase and was provided in a black Ziploc bag.
The EdP came in a rectangular glass bottle with spray pump. The design of the product is very clean with bold black letters on the label stating the name and the notes in the perfume. The sample came in a tall vial with a stopper.
Fragrance Review
Some perfume terminology to know:
- Throw: the ability of a fragrance to disperse in the air; the stronger the throw, the further away you can smell the fragrance
- Sillage: the trail of scent left behind by a fragrance wearer
Perfume Oil
Fruity apples and peaches with a tiny hint of floral. While wet, it’s really fruity, juicy, and sweet. You can smell it right away. As the perfume starts to dry down, the apples start taking a backseat and the peaches take center stage. The floral notes also seem to completely disappear leaving me a sweet fruity peach fragrance. However, there's sense of depth to the fragrance as the perfume settles into my skin. In fact, the fragrance reminds me of Kasugai peach gummies!
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| Kasugai peach gummy candy - Photo courtesy of ebay |
The perfume oil has medium throw and medium sillage. On my skin, after 2 hours of wear time, the perfume hugs closer to the skin and the sillage decreases. All that's left is the peach. After 5 hours of wear time, the perfume oil starts waning and it's time to reapply.
Eau de Parfum
The EdP has a stronger throw & sillage compared to the perfume oil. One can smell it even if they are 2-3 persons away. Throughout the day, the perfume smells the same as it did upon application. About 3-4 hours in, it finally settles down to the same amount of throw and sillage you first experience at the application of the perfume oil. It has now been over 8 hours since application and while it's starting to cling closer to the skin, you can still smell it clearly. It definitely has a longer staying power with the help of the perfumer's alcohol.
With the Lolita EdP, I personally find that it comes off more as a body spray rather than a perfume. Please note that this does not mean the other perfume EdPs will be the same!) It reminds me strongly of Victoria Secret's body sprays. If you like Victoria Secret's fragrances, this is probably be the fragrance for you. If you want to have an idea as to how the other fragrances might turn out with the dilution of the perfumer's alcohol, I will say that it's most likely like the perfume oil, but with a sharp bite.
Overview
Of the two, I prefer the perfume oil more despite the shorter lifespan. It's much more complicated and I find it fun when the fragrance changes over time. When purchasing, it really comes down to personal preference though. The EdP does stay pretty close to the perfume oil, so if you don't care for the fragrance morph, I would recommend purchasing it due to the longer staying power.
Lolita is Sixteen92's most popular fragrance and I can see why. It appeals to people's inner child - think of all those fruity body sprays and lip balms you went through as a kid! Remember Lip Smackers?
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| Photo courtesy of ebay |
That aside, the fragrance is a bit too fruity and "young" for my taste. This is definitely more suited for someone in high school or in their early twenties, or people who love fruity sweet scents in general! I will be adding it to my destash pile. Hopefully it'll be able to find a new home soon. :)
Thanks for reading!
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| Not sure who to credit, but HAPPY SHIBA! |
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