A review of Emilio Pucci, Acqua 330

So, Emilio Pucci released this floral aquatic fragrance earlier this 2009. I heard about the hype, saw the bottle (which resembles a pop-art painted glass mushroom like something out of Alice in Wonderland) and I was definitely intrigued. Hence, I ventured to try it out. And was ultimately disappointed.

Although the scent was fresh, like smelling violets budding next to a cold spring, I was a bit turned off because it reminded me exactly of a cheap perfume I had in middle school -- something that was $15 or so, from Target. I think it was called "Pure Waters" or "Clean Water" or something like that. I used to wear that perfume but eventually quit because there was no real hint of feminine grace to it, and it smelled to chemical and "cold."

Ok, so Emilio Pucci's Acqua 330 isn't as chemical and cold-ish as that cheap perfume, but it certainly reminded me a bit of it. Basically, frozen flowers mixed with a strange scent of formaldehyde. I know that aldehydes are quite commonly used in fragrances, such as the infamous Chanel No. 5, but I am personally not such a huge fan.

If you're the kind of person who likes the squeaky clean unisex scent, with just a HINT of mild floral, or if you tend towards the aldehyde scents, then maybe you'll like this, but it just wasn't feminine enough for me.... even though it claims to have the scents of violet leaves, frangipani and jasmine. Now, if the jasmine was paired with a nice tuberose, then maybe I'd reconsider this, but they need to oomph up the florals just a tad, in my opinion. Too unisex for me. But as far as cute eyecandy, no doubt about the blue streaked mushroom bottle.