Lolita Lempicka Fleur Défendue / Forbidden Flower is the latest flanker to the original Lolita Lempicka fragrance. Like its parent, it was developed by perfumer Annick Menardo.
I said yesterday that Lolita Lempicka was a more floral take on the Thierry Mugler Angel theme; Forbidden Flower might be seen as a more floral take on Lolita Lempicka. The opening is similarly crisp, sharp and fruity (perhaps even crisper and sharper). It stays crisp long into the heart, which is less anise-y sweet than Lolita Lempicka's. The violet and iris are very soft — it feels more like a blended, indistinct floral with fruity accents. The warm, woody-earthy base from the original Lolita Lempicka is still there, but it is rendered lighter, cooler and paler, and as such, the link to Thierry Mugler's Angel is more tenuous. Despite the "almond musk" and "morello cherry musk" (other notes: absinth flower, strawberry leaf, mimosa, peony, violet, aniseed flower), Forbidden Flower has more of a fresh than a gourmand finish.
Forbidden Flower is pretty enough, and because it is lighter, softer and fresher, many people might find it a more wearable fragrance than the original Lolita Lempicka, especially in the heat of summer. To my mind, while I found nothing objectionable about it, it lacks the distinctiveness of the original — it doesn't really stand out from the gajillion other pale florals that have crowded the market over the past few years. That bottle, however, looks even better to me in green than it did in purple.
Lolita Lempicka Fleur Défendue / Forbidden Flower is available in 30 and 50 ml Eau de Parfum.
The original LL is my arch-enemy. I don't know if I will dare to try this one
I thought this smelled very similar to the original Lolita Lempicka!
I love the bottle in green.
I've worn the original about twice. Would give it away, but there's the bottle . . .
I love the original but there's something in this that induces pain
:-(. I'm glad I only stalked a mini bottle.
Beautiful bottle yes, and I really want to love it, but I think this Lolita probably won't be joining her sisters in my fume box.
It is similar, but to me much lighter & paler — but then, I have not tried the EdT of the original. Perhaps they are even closer…
LOL!
It's really pretty, isn't it? I like the way they did the ads, too.
Wait, do you mean you got a mini of the original or a mini of Forbidden Flower?
The Midnight flanker is the best of the bunch.
Both, but I meant FF. I really must use more punctuation I just sorta splurge into the box.
Probably so.
LOL — I wasn't sure. A mini of the FF would be adorable, I've got to say!
I bought this yesterday. I absolutely LOVE the bottle and I like the ads, too. And I like the original LL. However, Forbidden Flower is just plain boring. It's a disappointing blah. It's not bad, it's not good, it's just nothing.
Hey, I thought FF's first defender was finally showing up, LOL…
But I'm so sorry! Can you return it?
So I'm confused now – I thought this was discontinued by LL. If Forbidden Flower wasn't discontinued, what LL was?
No, I can't return it. The bottle is so pretty I can live with it on my bureau or I can give it away to someone who likes it!
Yesterday I also bought Amargie 2007 Limited Harvest Edition. I would have been been inclined to call these Harvest Editions just marketing gimmicks, but whoa, when I smelt it my knees buckled. I was swooning all last night over it. So yesterday's purchases weren't all bad
I heard that as well, but then read that Sephora would have it back in stock. Sure enough, I saw it in the store, tried it, and was on the verge of buying it when I realized that I was driven more by the idea of scarcity than the scent itself. As others have said, it's like LL lite, and not that distinctive. I realized I didn't need it.
I don't see how it could be discontinued, it was just released. My Sephora got it in stock a few weeks back and they seem to have plenty of it.
I have a feeling that was just a rumor…Sephora puts things on their website before they get them, and they say “out of stock” when they've never even had them yet.
Sorry you can't return it, and so glad you love the Amarige! They've done a nice job w/ those Harvest scents, and I like that they don't double the price.
Abigail, I agree; I think Givenchy's done an incredible job on these Harvest Editions. The 2007 Damascena is amazing, as well, and the Jasmine version of Organza is quite shockingly indolic and intense. Anyone want to get rid of their 2006 Centifolia, let me know!!! One of the most amazing roses I've ever smelled, and I've sniffed some pretty good ones.
That Givenchy 2006 Rose Centifolia is one of the best roses I've ever smelled. The entire series of three that year were fabulous.
If you ever decide to part with the Forbidden Flower, I will promise it a very good and loving home!
I am awaiting a recent order of LL au Masculin, which I got curious about after reading of the Absinthe/Licorice notes. However, I'm one who didn't seem to love L'Artisan Fou d'Absinthe as much as everyone else, so we'll see. Any opinions?
Oops, meant to mention my order was just a mini — I'm not *that* insane with my unsniffed buys.
I like LL au Masculin — it has a stronger licorice note than the women's, also “fresher” and crisper. It's sweeter than the L'Artisan though.
I really like the Harvest Collection as well. I'll have to check in my stash to see if I have the Centifola.
I collect minis. I have an adorable mini of the original from Fragrance.net I might like this better…no vanilla. Frag. Net has a ton of cute minis.
-joy,Becca
I am in two minds about L de LL (the mermaidy one in the orange box. The others do nothing for me
Oh, I think it has vanilla. Less than the original, no doubt.
I love the packaging on L, but the scent does not suit me.
After purchasing the Lolita Lempicka Midnight and being soooooo disappointed in its staying power (was literally gone in 30 minutes on me) don't think I will venture into this one, but the bottle makes me feel cool, like I want to pick it up and hold it.
The green colour is very reminiscent of DKNY Be Delicious.
I can't remember the lasting power of the Midnight, but the regular LL lasts all day on me, and the lasting power of the FF seemed good enough.
Yep.
The green is wonderful! I'm obsessed with green!
Sorry if this is lengthy. It took me a few attempts to like this. And that's normally a good sign. For a bland scent I find it quite unusual, there's something elusive and inexplicable about it that keeps me sniffing it. Maybe there's a certain dischord to it that keeps me interested. (But I haven't ventured beyond mainstream brands.)
FF reminds both of Innocent and Innocent Secret. But I can't stand I., it's an Angel clone without the good bits. I.S. smells good but is forgetable on the skin. This is far more interesting that either of those.
I find this similarity surprising as I never detected the supposed similarity between LL and Angel.
Agree that Innocent is an Angel clone without the good bits — and found this one sort of a Lolita Lempicka clone without the good bits, I guess. But glad you're enjoying it, we all have different tastes
My Midnight is on the way. I hope it's darker than the original which was nice but too floral for me. But then I never did try it on the skin.
A good point for a “summer fragrance” (FF) is its EDP concentration.
And I think both the dark and the green bottle are nicer than the original.
Agree on the bottles, and it looks much classier in green.
Hahaha so many of us LOVE the bottles and ads and so WISH we loved the smell of the contents! I thought perhaps Forbidden Flower would be a sure bet, but alas I think this is a perfume I would only use to freshen the air in my bathroom… it is nice, but.
It is funny! So far, I haven't yet bought anything for the bottle, but never say never
I recently received a sample of this with a Sephora order and I tried it this morning. Not a fan. I’m beginning to think I’ll never find a floral fragrance to suit me [unless it’s a heavier gardenia or tuberose type of thing], which really surprises me and seems rather odd. I’m not gonna give up tho! I really am craving a light floral scent for Summer.
You should do a Monday Mail!
Oh, thanks Robin, I was considering that. I have a few more to sample on my own and now that that new EL PC Jasmine one is coming out [not to mention the WLP on it’s way to me], I have a few things to look forward to. If I don’t have any luck, I will definitely want to try the Monday Mail thing. I’m wearing Stella today – it’s certainly light and pretty – but I like a couple of rose scents and I’m hoping to find a light floral to love that’s NOT a rose. No matter what – I have a new fragrance to enjoy for Summer in the L’Artisan Premier Figuier Extreme so all is not lost for me. Happy May Day to you!
If you’re considering it, I’d apply now just to get a spot on the waiting list…there’s always a 4-8 week wait, and you can always drop out later if you change your mind!
Oh – in that case, I would appreciate a spot on the list then! Let me know what I need to do next. Thank you!
Click on “The Monday Mail” on the bottom menu — instructions there!
I actually like this one a lot! I think I like it better than the original – the anise note in the original bothers me a little bit. This is a lot more wearable, lighter and I don’t agree with it not being distinctive. I found it quite distinctive, but then again, maybe it’s how it mixes with my skin chemistry. Very good staying power too.
So glad it works so well for you!
I really like the green bottle
can’t wait to try it out at the airport or in Tenerife this year
On basenotes this classed as discontinued. Can that be true?
Sure, it was a flanker so doesn’t surprise me. Might have been a limited edition to begin with…
I like FF and just got a 3oz bottle from Beyond the Rack for under $50. I guess after reading all the posts here that I am in the minority about likeing this fragrance.. Oh Well.