First Impressions – Dolce & Gabbana

What a strange old year, huh? World in constant flux, but perfume releases continue unabated. Nothing seems to slow that down. But, as we approach the end of the year, I’m left scratching my head thinking of my favourite releases for the year. One brand that I didn’t think would make that list was Dolce and Gabbana. Yet here I am writing a blog post extolling the virtues of not one but two releases from the Italian brand: flankers, no less.

The perfumes in question are the two latest flankers to the “Light Blue” range, Light Blue Forever Pour Homme and Forever Pour Femme. I’m less surprised I’m a fan of the women’s, as I’ve always enjoyed the original Light Blue. The Olivier Cresp classic is a crisp apple and citrus elixir that always goes down a treat on a humid Aussie Summer’s day. The new women’s flanker is sweeter and perhaps more feminine than the original, but the mix of orange blossom, citrus fruit, and apple still gets the job done—harmless enough stuff.

The real revelation was Light Blue Forever Pour Homme. I’ve always hated this men’s line, the synthetic nature of the citrus notes like fingers down the blackboard. Flanker after flanker would go by without any olfactory respite until this latest one.

Grapefruit is the leading player, and for once, it works. It’s equal parts tart and sweet, but most certainly not as synthetic as the rest of the line. Not quite photorealistic, but not too far away. The violet leaf and ozonic notes are well-judged and enhance the freshness, never straying into metallic territory. Heck, even the vetiver, woods, and musks in the base hold things together for a reasonable amount of time. I enjoyed it, give it a go, and maybe you will too. Stranger things have happened.

Note: Both fragrances tested in store.