Spring is finally in the air – can you feel it? I can smell it, too. Lighter days and evenings can now call for a lighter fragrance and one that I love and had an opportunity to test this spring is Dolce by Dolce&Gabbana.  Not only does the bottle say “Spring”, but the fragrance is light and airy and carries just enough body and depth to it so it doesn’t become sweet and too light in its floral fragrance. I’m very particular about my fragrances, especially when it comes to florals and this one has won me over for the season!

It’s a gentle, feminine mix of white flowers with the freshness of Neroli leaves (Neroli is one of my favorite scents) and defined by the White Amaryllis which is a South African flower used for the first time ever in a scent.  The top notes are Neroli leaves and Papaya flower which lays down into a floral bouquet as the White Water Lily, White Daffodil and White Amaryllis emerge. In the background the warm Musky notes appear (another reason I like it as this prevents it from becoming too sweet) along with accents of Cashmeran – leaving behind a light wood and earthy tones and gentle spices.  It’s a lovely combination of floral and a touch of those typically more earthy scents I go for, but they aren’t so strong that they make it overpowering or a fall/winter scent.

What’s interesting is the White Amaryllis and how it is used in this fragrance – with modern technology they are able to capture the exact scent of the flower when it’s in full bloom without having to cut and grind the petals to extract the essential oils.  This particular species of White Amaryllis is only found in the Fynbos region of South Africa making it more special.

This new Dolce will most definitely become my spring and summer signature fragrance.

The design of the bottle reminds me of Spring as well with the pretty flower stopper that pays tribute to the Sicilian customs of marzipan sculptures by traditional Sicilian confectioners. The grosgrain ribbon in a bow that was a signature of white shirts and bow ties that are reminiscent of early Dolce&Gabbana catwalk shows. And the final special touch on the bottle is the Dolce signature that is a replica of Domenico Dolce’s father’s own signature.