Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme (new) by Dolce & Gabbana, 2012

My girlfriend liked the original Dolce & Gabbana fragrance ever since it was released back in 1992, and so did I. We received a sample of the new Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme today so had to try it instantly. She had tried Flowerbomb (which I just can't stand) only a couple of hours before, so the sweet sting which almost all contemporary fragrances seem to be obliged to bear instantly hit me, and I turned away disgusted - only to return a few minutes later, and with growing interest: I get a strong neroli note with light raspberry, rounded off with a quite sour yet interesting greenish tangerine accent, yet this quickly opens to the heart of orange blossom and jasmine, to quite equal parts I'd say, while the sour-frouty opening note is still there. Add to this only another minute later the emergence of a prominent yet not distracting presence of vanilla and marshmallow (yes indeed, I can spot this clearly and easily!), which in the drydown is complemented and rounded by a smooth and warm sandalwood base. This could easily be as horrible as the single ingredients sound, sweet and artificial and just another contemporary vanilla-powder-syrup - yet I'm really amazed that at least to me this truly works. I do not at all have the impression of another cheap pink perfume that I feard, but instead of a refined, very well balanced, very well crafted delicate piece of delicate, sweet art of perfumery. Not a substitute for the beloved 1992 vintage of course, but a highly recommended complement. I look forward to getting to know it further in the coming weeks.