Sipario (2008)
by Hilde Soliani Profumi

I was struck immediately by the familiarity of the scent reproduced by the opening of Hilde Soliani Profumi SIPARIO. I knew that it came from Tenneco, the convenience store located between my house and my junior high school, where I stopped on many, many afternoons to buy a variety of dextrose-rich candies, among my favorites of which were Sweetarts and Pixie Stix.

While I went back and forth in my mind trying to decide which precise candy SIPARIO was reminding me of, suddenly the perfume lurched in an entirely different direction, with coconut emerging louder and louder, until at last I found myself ensconced in a cloud of coconut-based suntan lotion aroma.

Who would have thought to combine two such distinct yet totally familiar stages into a single perfume? Yes, this composition is original. No, I would never wear it.

24th September, 2011.

I couldn't help but smile as I took my first whiff - SIPARIO's tart, mildly sweet opening reminded me of a certain purple cellophane-wrapped pineapple candy I enjoyed as a kid. As it developed further I found a distinct note of freshly grated coconut overtaking a shortlived rum accord, the pineapple remaining discernible but firmly in the background.

I must say this is a fun, surprisingly wearable take on the pina colada with just about average sillage and longevity. But thumbs up for the execution.

12nd May, 2010.