If you collect perfumes just for their bottles, and you loved the gold-and-pink floral design for Anna Sui Romantica, you're in luck: this month brings a new fragrance from the brand, called Romantica Exotica, and its bottle is a turquoise version of the same design (see below). Romantica Exotica was inspired by Sui's travels to Tahiti, and its composition (developed by Jérôme Epinette) includes notes of lemon, grapefruit, black currant, jasmine, lotus, neroli, sandalwood, gardenia and cottonwood.
Sui's Spring/Summer 2016 fashion collection was also an homage to island holidays, with a palette of aquas and yellows, garments inspired by sarongs and hula skirts, and fabrics patterned in seashells, palm trees and hibiscus blossoms. Romantica Exotica has a similar aesthetic — vivid, light-hearted, verging on kitschy. Its opening is a sweet, tangy citrus that feels more like yuzu than boring old lemons and oranges. I like this phase a lot, although I'm a little disappointed by the composition's heart, a blend of generic white flower petals and aquatic notes (i.e., Calone) that you've probably smelled before. (I'm starting to think of perfumes with this "sea breeze" theme as "grandchildren of L'Eau d'Issey").
Romantica Exotica's dry down wins me back, with a soft, salty note that complements the white florals and makes them a little more complex. It's joined by an extremely sheer woods-musk base. And, like the original Romantica, this one has surprisingly good endurance for something with so many bright and breezy notes.
Even though this fragrance is arriving just in time for fall in my part of the world, I'd personally wear Romantica Exotica more often in summertime, since it seems like a natural pairing with colorful sandals and a fruity cocktail. It could also be a suitable scent for younger women or a thoughtful gift for your friend who loves Bath & Body Works body sprays but is ready to take her "next step" into perfumery. I'm still hoping that Anna Sui's brand will release a richer, more glamorous perfume once in a while, but Romantica Exotica is a good fit for the current line.
Anna Sui Romantica Exotica is available as 30 ml ($46), 50 ml ($65) and 75 ($78) ml Eau de Toilette.
The only Sui scent I really like, is the first perfume from her, in the black bottle, that kinda looks like a mirror. But I haven’t smelled it in years…don’t even know if it’s still on the market
Littlecooling, yes!! That first fragrance is still available — I think it’s just named Anna Sui, but people sometimes call it “classic” or “the original.” I love that one — dusty sweet tea rose. I also wear Nuit de Boheme pretty regularly.
I love Anna Sui in general, I think her mini coffret sets are really good gifts for women any age! Is this any relation to the CK Reveal? I found reveal to be edible in a bad way unfortunately but I liked it just not for me.
I agree — those AS mini coffrets are adorable. I’ve given a few as gifts and they always get a smile.
Hm, the salty note here is subtle, and it’s part of the “blue”-feeling marine theme with the sheer musk and the white flowers — whereas I feel Reveal is warmer and sweeter all around. (I surprised myself by liking Reveal!) Romantica Exotica doesn’t have any edible quality…Anna Sui Dreams is a fun vanilla, though!
I really like your review. I will say, I agree with a lot of what you have said. It doesn’t make sense for this perfume to be released in August when it’s a summer time perfume. Also she already has a new one coming out soon L’ amour Rose. This is her fourth fragrance of 2016. I have all of her perfumes, besides Dolly Girl on the Beach, but I do have the body lotion, and mini. I also will be getting L’ amour Rose when it’s available.
Hi Lizzy! I just spotted a photo of L’Amour Rose a few days ago, and now I’m curious about that one, too!
I don’t really understand the timing — this would have been a perfect spring/summer launch, coming out at the same time as the clothing collection mentioned and pictured above.
I agree, sometimes I don’t understand when perfume launches at the end of the season it’s for, or like how Omnia Paraiba was released in fall last year, and is totally a summer time perfume. I realize that sometimes it’s always hot, or warm in certain parts of the country, but what I was surprised by it being released here in The USA in fall time, same goes for Escada’s yearly summer time perfumes released in winter.
Hey, maybe it’s launched now for those of us who celebrated Spring Day yesterday!
oops, see below!
I’m glad it fits someone’s season right now! Happy Spring Day, Ida!