Nanadebary launched their eponymous fragrance in 2001; it is now known as Classic Pink to distinguish it from the Nanadebary fragrances that followed: Bronze and Green. It was created by Santa Maria Novella, and has notes of nutmeg, coriander, sicilian tangerine, bergamot, lily, jasmine, sandalwood, cedar, musk, amber and bourbon vanilla.
Classic Pink starts with light citrus and heavy spices, and settles to a smooth, spicy blend of sandalwood and vanilla with a touch of amber. The nutmeg is quite pronounced. The floral notes are indistinct — I would not have guessed either lily or jasmine — and they are pretty much gone after 45 minutes on me. It is a sweet fragrance, but I don't find it overly foody.
It is a soft, cozy fragrance, and very nearly qualifies as a comfort scent; still, it is considerably more sheer than the notes would suggest. I like Nanadebary, but this is the third time I have tried it and I just don't love it. It is sexy in a girly kind of way that doesn't suit me personally. It is said to be one of Madonna's favorite perfumes, if that is any help.
It is an Eau de Toilette, and the lasting power is good. Nanadebary retails for $70 for 50 ml; $130 for 100 ml; for buying information, see the listing for Nanadebary under Perfume Houses.
I should try this again. I love nutmeg. I look forward to hearing about the green one tomorrow. Thanks for that sweet comment yesterday, btw. I wish I could come up there and paint your white irises ;D.
R, thanks for your lovely review. I've never smelled Nanadebary (any colour). Classic Pink sounds – on paper – a bit like Allure, apart from the nutmeg. But I know that notes often combine quite differently from how they sound, so it may not be like Allure at all. Is it a floriental?
Morning L! I love nutmeg too. Still haven't found the right nutmeg perfume though.
Today my fringe tree is in full swing as well. It would make a beautiful drawing. It is just gorgeous, one of my favorite trees in the world, although mine is young & not much larger than a bush. Tempted? 😉
I'm going to have to test Pink again because the first and only time I tried it, it was gone in 60 seconds. The notes sound so tempting, though!
Have you tried Bronze? I adore it. To my nose it smells a bit like Halston, which was one of my first fragrance loves.
I'm trying Green tomorrow as well! I'll look forward to reading your review!
N, This is a much calmer, lighter perfume than Allure, which is sweeter, heavier, fruitier, and has considerably more pronounced floral notes. Nanadebary is much softer, has less sillage, and smells “younger” to me.
I guess you would call it a floriental, but it is not as heavy or warm as your average floriental. I tend to think of florientals as having either amber, patchouli, or both, but maybe that is just me. Hope someone else will step in with an opinion here 🙂
I absolutely agree with your review–that is exactly how it struck me. It is much thinner than what I would have liked, especially given the notes. I would never have guessed that it would turn out as light as it did. On the other hand, given the sheerness of most of SMN fragrances, perhaps it is not all that surprising. I wanted to love the fragrance, because the bottle is adorable. I saw beautiful atomizer pump bottles at the Caron boutique, however they started at about 250 euros.
I seem to be the only one who thought Nanadebary was a heavy fragrance! It is really heavy, vanilla sweet, and unbearably foody on me. It could be just me, since I seem to be one of the few people in the universe who aren't members of the Nanadebary fan club.
The floral notes in Pink did not last long on me, but the sandalwood & vanilla part lasted for at least 5 hours.
Haven't tried Bronze though! I used to wear Halston “back in the day”, and I know I loved it but at the moment I can hardly remember what it smelled like. I should pick up a bottle next time it is floating around TJ Maxx.
Agree, it is in the SMN style. It does last longer than most of the SMNs I've tried though.
The Nanadebary atomizer bottle is lovely but I have heard very bad things about leakage, and I don't know if they've solved that problem. And yes…the bottles at Caron are absolutely drool-worthy!
It is very sweet. Still doesn't strike me as heavy once the top notes fade, but if you really hate it, it might not be worth waiting that long. Don't know if “like it don't love it” qualifies me for the fan club or not 😉
I gave Poupee a quick spray on a test strip in Barneys and didn't pick up on that connection at all. I'll have to get a sample and try it on skin.
I never know what to think when a celebrity publicly says they like a fragrance. It might mean she was just wearing it one day when an interviewer asked her, right? I've certainly seen her name connected with other fragrances too.
As much as I liked SMN products (especially hand creams, the one that looks brown and smells like medicine makes hands soft and skin radiant), I am not a big fan of perfumes from the range. Still, a Florence trip is incomplete without stopping by the SMN store/monastery–it is simply gorgeous. You can even see 15-16th c frescos inside the atrium.
So far, I have a pink powder puff and face powder from Caron. The puff really does make the application of powder more even. Plus, it is such a pleasure to take it out as I make myself presentable in the morning. Makes me feel like a Hollywood starlet. Bottle may have to wait…
Living in the UK, I've only ever seen Nanadebary on US websites. Does anyone know if there's a store / boutique source in the UK, so that I could go and have a sniff?
Browns used to have it, and if you do a google search on their website you can see the page….but there is no link to it from their main fragrance page any more. Might be worth a telephone call.
Oooh, I am jealous of your powder puff! Caron is such a wonderful store.
I have the almond cream from SMN, and it is lovely, but doubt I'll replace it at US prices 🙂
Robin:
I don't love Nanadebary as much as I used to. I'm posting this so you and I can share a possible fragrance “meh” together.
Mahgwet
M, It is rare that we agree, so I am proud to say “meh” with you…
*singing softly* I'm so glad we had this time together, just to have a laugh and sing a song…
Thanks, R. I'll have a look on my next trip into town.
I was a perfume novice when I discovered MUA's fragrance board, and Nanadebary was one of my early purchases. It was the first sandalwood scent I had ever sniffed, and I fell head over heels. Happily, I still love it. To me it's not young and girly. I find the spicy powdery-ness sophisticated. I like Nanadebary best in cooler weather when I'm wearing cozy sweaters.
Iris, I'm glad to see a member of the Nanadebary fan club show up! I am curious to know if you have the atomizer bottle and if you've had any problems with it? There were lots of complaints about leakage at one time on MUA.
I'm very surprised I didn't love this one. It has all the notes I love. But I found it just “ok”.
Hello, there! I know I am very late to this party, but for what it's worth, this is one of those fragrances that I hated…then, I tried it again this past fall and liked it so much I swapped for a bottle!
No, it's not one of my fragrance “loves.” I doubt that I would ever actually pay the high price for a bottle. But from time to time, especially in the colder months, it smells just cozy and warm and delightful. :):) I don't like the newer ones, but the original pink is a keeper.
Another “meh” vote! Thanks V.
R, Now I am trying to remember what season it was the other 2 times I tried Nanadebary. I'm afraid my memory banks are too overloaded to recall. It certainly is a cozy scent, and maybe I need to put my sample aside for a fourth try when it gets colder. I am sure I didn't care a thing about La Chasse until I had tried it that many times.
T, several of the reviews on MUA mention plastic, so you are not alone. I don't get that so far, luckily.
Hello R! Phew I had to register again to get in as I forgot all those security details like password as I always was logged in till I went to blooming London. Thanks for this review – fascinating as usual! You are my guru!
Oh no, dear, you live in Paris and give perfume tours, so you are *my* guru!!!
Sorry you had to register twice though 🙁
I decant all my perfumes into purse-size roll-on or atomizer bottles. The original bottles are kept in a cool cabinet in the basement. So I couldn't say if the Nanadebary detachable sprayer is a problem. I've never put it on and used it.
Wow, you are good! I keep everything in cupboards, and I do decant splash bottles, but that is it.
I'm really late to this review, but I just had to add my 2cents here. Nana is one of my favorite, comfy, cozy, cold-weather fragrances. I bought it a few winters ago from beautyhabit with a nice discount code. I don't wear it at all during the spring or summer. But it's one of my “old stand-by's” when I don' t want to be bothered by anything more complex.
K, Glad to get another vote from a fan, LOL, it is never too late! You are giving me more reason to put this away until the fall, although the weather here is downright cold for late May.
I've been searching for a perfect nutmeg, too…alas, no such luck–yet. Most of the time, the note ends up smelling like a slightly less antiseptic melaleauca/tea-tree oil…or is so intensely dense, it smells like tar pitch (although, having worked at a historical seaport in my early 20's, I fashioned a soft spot for the scent of teak and tar). How does the nutmeg fare in “Nanadebary Pink”? Is there another I'd better appreciate it in?
I've found that sandal essence can smell “plastic-y” on occasion–in certain concentrations.
It is certainly worth a try — and offhand, can't think of anything else. Cardamom is much easier found in perfume.
I layer nanadebary bronze with the pink. deliciousness
Sounds nice 🙂