WHAT I SMELL:  Pivoine Suzhou opens with a sweet, fresh, juicy and mouth-watering fruitiness, with just a tinge of pepper. The florals are front and center with the peony as the star and it’s bright and easy and gracefully light.  After a few minutes, a light ambery warmth brings a radiance to the mix.  A layer of musk also comes into play which unfortunately takes the pretty florals into a more artificial stage that feels as though the perfume has been created in a lab rather than in a garden.  It also adds a slight “bathtastic” edge to the perfume even though there is nothing soapy about it. In the end, Pivoine Suzhou doesn’t wow, but instead maintains a quiet beauty that is easy to wear and is perfect as a light spring breeze.

From the Armani website:

With Pivoine Suzhou, Giorgio Armani has reinterpreted the Eau de Toilette, combining elegance and freshness with soft, lingering sensuality.

It is the first Armani Privé fragrance to be inspired by the legendary gardens of Asia.

Pivoine Suzhou Eau de Toilette is also a celebration of China’s most beloved flower – the peony. The symbol of the ancient Chinese empire, the peony represents happiness, grace and prosperity.

Pivoine Suzhou is an ensemble of great beauty, balancing art and nature. For Giorgio Armani, creating a couture or fragrance collection requires this same harmony of elements.

From Fragrantica:

ARMANI PRIVE PIVOINE SUZHOU opens with notes of juicy mandarin, pink pepper and raspberry which when blended, ensures a spicy-fruity introduction. Floral notes of peony in the heart are enhanced with essences of rose and May rose absolute, followed by amber, musk and patchouli.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A beautiful Geisha

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE PIVOINE SUZHOU:  fruit-kissed, airy, delicate

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PIVOINE SUZHOU: Sandra’s Closet, AustralianPerfumeJunkies

BOTTOM LINE:  I don’t love this perfume, but I rather like it.  There’s a delicateness about it that is rather comforting and overall the light and pretty aspects are enticing.  But a little goes a long way and too much of a good thing will reveal a heavy sweetness so it’s best to apply with a light touch.

• Bone Rating:  3 out of possible 5 bones
• Scent:  Floral
• Nose:  Cecile Matton and Julie Masse
• Classification: Feminine
• Expense: $165 for 100 ml Eau de Toilette