Fantasia (1996)
by Fendi

Top Notes: Blackberry, Orange Blossom, Lychee
Heart Notes: Apricot, Lily, Strawberry
Base Notes: Musk, Vanilla, Oak Musk

Oh dear. It is hard to believe that castorpollux and I are writing about the same scent. Fendi Fantasia is clearly one of those ‘love / hate’ perfumes that morphs on the skin (regardless of listed notes). This is an exciting gamble if you win but a real bummer if you don't...

Luckily for me, in this case, I am a winner. In the bottle and on paper, Fantasia opens very similar to many other sweet fruity florals that dominate the mainstream perfume world. In fact, the first time I smelled it my first thought was: “Ah! A wearable, non cloying Angel…”

This initial similarity is quite deceptive and the perfume soon settles and blossoms into a sexy aura that tantalises and seduces others rather than the Angel (more direct) ‘club you over the head’ or ‘knocking you out with chloroform’ approach to seduction.

I think it is the fresh lily at the heart of this blend that distinguishes and separates this scent from the rest. The lily, along with the delicate orange blossom, adds a dreamy feminine sensuality to the other ‘summer fruit bowl’ notes providing elegant complexity to the otherwise generic blend.

The dry down is lovely and subtly sexy, at least on my skin. The classic amber, musk, vanilla and woods create a sexy skin-but-better scent that, along with traces of the opening fruits and florals creates a wonderful warm sun-kissed skin aroma that entices one to move closer. I am not sure what exactly ‘oak musk’ is but I am assuming it is a dry ‘woody musk’ note.

Fantasia is perfect for summer flirtation wear, although it works well at any time of year. It is a much underrated seductive Lolita scent in the same class as Chopard Mira Bai, Dior Miss Dior Cherie, and Badgely Mischka. My skin tends to mute the base notes so sadly it appears not to last on my skin, but I realise that it is still working it’s subtle magic due to the compliments and flirtations I receive long after I think it has worn off.

Feminine fruity florals are not my usual scent of choice. I tend to only reach for them in the warmth of summer. In fact to be honest they are usually anathema to me but occasionally, in the proverbial blue moon, there is one that slips through and actually registers on my radar. Fendi Fantasia is one such scent.

Fendi Fantasia was a blind buy that smells ok / mediocre in the bottle but which blooms on the skin. The bottle is adorable also. It has a wonderfully sensual, comforting weight and feel to it that makes you want to continue holding it – like a pet rock. Fendi Fantasia truly does remind you that it is fun to be alive, a woman, and desirable – with the salivating admirers to prove it.

Another fruity floral that has some soapy and “cleaning detergent” feel to it. It’s watery but it has more longevity than expected. It can recall EL’s Pleasures at some point. The flowers seem to be water flowers or at least water-related : lotus , litchy and narcissus. The scent has a very calming effect and to my surprise, it lacks any fendi-like note:the booze is gone, the aldehydes are non existent and the woody drydown is MIA, it’s almost as if it were made by another house. I think it’s rather pleasant but a bit boring as well. It’s not a very sweet scent but it has some melony note, the aqua effect is very refreshing. It didn’t rock my world, but at least it wasn’t a terrible scent.