Fancy Love by Jessica Simpson, 2009

This was the first female oriented fragrance I purchased. I kept getting the peel and sniff samples in the newspaper. I liked them quite a bit. I'd peel them and leave them sitting near the computer or on the nightstand. When the sample finally expired I was always a little disappointed. Then the light came on! What with this new-fangled internet thingy I could just order a bottle! Got checking around and, hey...what do ya know...it's pretty inexpensive! Received it and was very happy with the scent. I'd describe it like this: December afternoon, two feet of snow on the ground and more expected. It's 4:00 in the afternoon but nearly dark as another winter storm front moves in. You're in the laundry room, folding towels, hot from the dryer. The heating system is cranking and everything is toasty warm. Nearby a vanilla candle burns and in addition you can smell the cookies baking in the kitchen as your favorite mellow tunes play on the radio. The longevity is perplexing. Sometimes it disappears as soon as it hits my skin, some times it survives the shower and lingers for days on my clothes. I've pulled week old tee shirts from the bottom of the laundry basket and immediately identified the Fancy Love. It seems to stay close to the skin and as a hetero type male I feel comfortable wearing the remaining traces of the previous night's application to work the following day. The initial notes are my least favorite. Sometimes the first impression I get is of something intended to repel mosquitoes. That fades quickly.

I was initially disappointed with Fancy, Jessica Simpson's first international fragrance release, because although it was pleasant, I found it far too similar to Britney Spears Fantasy and Aquolina's Pink Sugar. Fancy Love on the otherhand is truly delightful and different. A fragrance that I'm enjoying wearing. Fancy Love opens with delicate notes of peach blossom and jasmine, highlighted by a rich, aromatic glass of sparkling champagne. I love this somewhat alcoholic opening, however for those not familiar with the aroma of champagne, they may find themselves a little sickened by the smell. Towards the heart, Fancy Love is quite creamy and lush. It's like an almost edible blend of floral accords and whipped cream without the sugar. This fragrance is lovely in all kinds of weather, however it suits Spring and Autumn the best. On cool skin, Fancy Love is mostly floral and creamy, however on warm skin, a deliciously fizzy peach and frangipani blend comes to the fore. On my skin, unfortunately Fancy Love is quite linear, however when I breathe hot air onto my wrist, the scent shows signs of complexity. The longevity is fantastic, really surprising when you consider how inexpensive this fragrance is. I'm really liking Fancy Love, and while I will use up the rest of the sample, it will take time to decide whether it's full bottle worthy.