WHAT I SMELL:  Loretta opens with candied tart sweetness.  It’s bright with just a tinge of sour.  Quickly it moves into grape soda.  Really???  Then quickly again, the grape soda is met with a light powder.  Loretta is a tease.  Am I going to like this or not?  So far it’s different; not bad and not good.  Thankfully, the grape soda is met with a bit of warmth that helps to anchor the sweetness.  The plum (which to me smells like grape soda) completely dominates and therefore makes it hard for me to pick out additional notes even though I know they’re there as the fragrance starts to even out.  Finally, Loretta settles down some to reveal a lightly sweetened patchouli woodiness tinged with a bit of what seems to be some coriander.

From Fragrantica:

The fragrance is a composition of sensual white flowers, dominated by tuberose and accompanied by jasmine and orange blossom. Dark ripe fruit like plum give the composition additional sweetness with velvety rose also on top. The dark side of the character is captured by notes of patchouli, ambergris, leather, sweetened orris root and woody – resinous tones.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Surprise…grape soda!

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE LORETTA:  fruity, persistent, unique

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT LORETTA: The Muse in Wooden Shoes, Fine Fragrants, The Candy Perfume Boy

BOTTOM LINE:  Loretta confuses me.  I don’t hate her and I don’t love her and am struggling with when I would want to wear her.  I keep reading about the tuberose in this, but that is completely escaping me.  Finally, besides grape soda, Loretta reminds me of what the penny candy aisle at the Ben Franklin store used to smell like.  Not for me, but I could see someone else digging this for its uniqueness.  One thing I do love though is the bottle…it’s perfection!

• Bone Rating: 3 out of 5 possible bones
• Scent: Oriental Floral
• Nose: Andy Tauer
• Classification: Feminine
• Expense:  $160 for 50ml EdP