Ellenisia (2005)
by Penhaligon's

ELLENISIA is so pretty and happy, like a clear morning in spring still clinging to winter’s chill. (LOTR fans should get that reference.) Sometimes violet can make me sad, as in Apres L'Ondee, but not Ellenisia. It stays green and upbeat, all the way through. It's slightly green opening is surprisingly similar to AL'O but without the anise. Although I love AL’O, I think I would prefer Ellenisia as it must be the anise in the opening that seems to pull my mood down.

I can close my eyes and see the first green shoots poking through the gray cold earth - one of my most beloved harbingers of spring. The jasmine, gardenia and tuberose all play so nicely together that no one stands out in a harsh or headache-inducing way, making it a white floral that some white floral-haters might be able to wear. Dry down is a pretty violet and plum, although it could be a little woodier. Vanilla is around just to give a little depth, not noticeable as vanilla.

Moderate sillage and excellent longevity, going on 6 hours and it is still going strong. Perfect spring scent!!

11th February, 2011.

This reminds me of the (now discontinued, little-known) scent Trussardi Action for Women. It has taken florals in the same kind of somewhat sterilised, yet sweet direction with heavy emphasis on the green/powdery/violet accord.

I would like to note that I smelled this on a friend at the same time as I made the purchase and what was striking is how incredibly different our wrists smelled just after a couple of minutes. The perfume was rather green on her; almost unpleasant.

It goes sweet, soft, powdery and feminine on my skin. The best comparison besides Trussardi Action would be Fracas without the sex. It feels somewhere between a young girl's first romantic date and a mumsy, comfortably feminine floral.

The tuberose/gardenia accord smells almost entirely artificial (and they've certainly used some ionones on top of violet leaf, if any, in the scent).

I find the end result very pleasant and wearable. Thumbs up!

9th February, 2011.

This opens with the tuberose, & a fleeting herbal note from the violet leaf. Then, instead of the "tumble of scented petals" l was expecting, the plum note comes right to the fore on my skin, coming off as stale & overripe. There's a hint of vanilla, & jasmine hovering in the background, but l don't get any gardenia, & that stale note totally gets in the way of the florals for me. lt becomes richer & creamier around 40 minutes in, but then fades fast, with not much sillage. Not for me.

9th February, 2011.

*swoon* Im in love with this scent!

Iit has all the notes i love, and the biggest plus is that it has lastingpower! ,i can't stop raving about how good this perfume is,i would reccommand this for everyone who wants a fresh&loud ( summer) perfume, its a scent that never gets boring and always will bring a smile to your face

im glad i own a bottle of this beautifull scent..i will repurchase whenever im running low

8th August, 2010. (Last Edited: 22nd January, 2011.)

A very sweet, very floral fragrance, the sweetness being a-kin to a little cupcake with icing sugar on-top. The main thing I can smell is tuberose, although overall it is rather artificial. The packaging is nice, albeit more french than English. It can be cloying and the sweetness can be, like any sweet, too much sugar for one's liking! The floral notes are nicely done though, and they aren't transparent or fleeting like in a lot of other floral fragrances.

19th November, 2009.

This is perhaps my favorite. I love the gardenia which comes off surprisingly warm to me. I am unable to express everything that I smell with it, but what it reminds me of is strong femininity. I feel beautiful when I wear this and that is a powerful achievement for a small spritz. It is also long-lasting. I will sum it up as saying that this is a fragrance that makes me breathe a little deeper when I'm wearing it.

24th August, 2009.