Fan di Fendi Eau de Toilette review

         I'm always on the lookout for new color cues and fresh inspiration, whether it be from the fine arts or fashion. Recently, my mom and I compared notes in one of our unofficial style powwows and found that we were both taken with Fendi's spring line! I, like many, was entranced by the starburst of colors and textures on Lagerfeld's Spring 2013 runway (see Vogue slideshow here), particularly in the coat above. My mom has been eyeing a number of Fendi handbags --- notably the 2Jours totes in red studded neoprene (see here) and colorblock form (see here). Inspired by our mutual love for Fendi this season, I'm devoting this week's sniff and scribble to Fan di Fendi Eau de Toilette!

         Fan di Fendi Eau de Toilette (2011) is the newer, fresher version of the original Fan di Fendi Eau de Parfum (2010). The platinum toned double 'F' logo on the bottle is drawn from the buckle on Fendi's classic baguette bag. The sunny yellow liquid within is evocative of Fendi's signature color as well as the character of the scent within. While the packaging is nicely done, less can be said of the advertising campaign. The Fan di Fendi ads show black and white flashes of models swept up in the moment --- like what you might see under strobe lights at a club or music video. I honestly don't see how the personified nightlife vibe translates to the scent, which is actually quite tame and fit for daytime. If you ask me, a sunny Italian terrazzo with a model dripping in Fendi accessories would have a been a much more convincing sell.

Notes: Bergamot, Mandarin Orange, Pear, Green Tea, Broom Flower, Yellow Jasmine, Leather tones.
(This is the note list from the original press releases; a different modified version appears on retailer sites. From my experience, the former more accurately describes the scent.)

           Fan di Fendi Eau de Toilette smells of Italian summer --- sunshine, citrus, and, tanned leather. Fan di Fendi opens with us basking in the glow of a whole mandarin orange; it's too warm to have any zesty or bursting effect. The mandarin is quickly joined by bergamot, which contributes a bitter dimension to an otherwise simple citrus scent. After a short while, the citrus somehow fluidly transforms into a creamy pear and warm jasmine floral. It was a surprising, but delighful transition. The pear disappears and there is some silence. A tea scent pours out and crescendos in intensity; at this point it's the only thing I can smell. Then, as if evaporated by the hot sun, it retracts from whence it came.

            The last stage is all about leather. Leathers can sound intimidating or too animalistic, however the leather in Fan di Fendi is soft and approachable --- more like a stroke of suede than a heavy leather jacket. In this fragrance, leather goes through some transitions of its own. It starts out with the fresh pungency of new leather, then gains a honeyed quality, and finally softens to a very soft and smooth leather with a hint of sweetness from the opening pear and citrus. This final whisper of soft leather and fruits wears nicely for a few hours.

          Fan di Fendi Eau de Toilette is a light and sophisticated citrus scent. The two comparable scents that come to mind are Tocca Bianca Eau de Parfum and Dolce &Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Parfum. (You may notice that all three brands are Italian; though it was not intentional, I don't think it was coincidental!) I'm writing from memory here --- as I don't have these in my personal collection---, but I believe Tocca Bianca would be more similar to Fan di Fendi. Tocca Bianca shares a similar laid back feel, mandarin and bergamot opener, and contribution from tea; however it lacks leather and has a sugary lemon added to the mix. Dolce and Gabbana Light blue celebrates simple citrus and jasmine like Fan di Fendi, however it's stronger and brighter, with the added crispness of apple; the base is musk, not leather. Those who enjoy one of the above scents will likely enjoy the others as well.

         Fan di Fendi Eau de Toilette bottles the spirit of an Italian summer. (I feel relaxed just thinking about it!) The perfume smells of sunshine-ripened mandarins, lingering jasmine, and soft suede leather. It's a light and sophisticated take on citrus, that is definitely worth a sniff. Don't be apprehensive of the leather, it's easy on the nose and wears well. Overall, Fan di Fendi is a plus in my book. I love a good citrus and this was a nice foray into leathers. Grazie per la lettura! (Thanks for reading!) Have you tried Fendi perfumes? What are your favorite citrus or leather scents?

Love, Dovey.