Let the wave of new spring fragrances begin! Here’s one from Anna Sui, and it’s fit to be part of this seasonal “wave” (hah) for more than one reason: it’s a flanker to 2017’s Fantasia, named Fantasia Mermaid.

Have any of you tried the original Fantasia? I spritzed and sniffed it during a visit to Anna Sui’s Manhattan boutique, and it wasn’t my thing; too dessert-sweet, heavy on its “raspberry praline” accord. (I’ve heard that it’s selling very well, so you should never take my taste as any indicator of commercial success.) But I took a chance on Fantasia Mermaid, just to have the opportunity to play with the fun, mermaid-topped bottle, and I realized that it’s fairly dissimilar…

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