I don't get it. Based on the notes (musk, vanilla, benzoin and caramel) and the rich gourmand vibe I was supposed to love Candy by Prada. Robin of NST and Victoria of Bois de Jasmin wrote very positive reviews and I know many in my fragonerd circles liked it enough to spring for a bottle. But I've gone through several samples and, as I said above, I just don't get it.
Yes, it's sweet and musky. It has some of the sweet and fuzzy characteristics I enjoy in comfort scents such as Kate Walsh Boyfriend (many thanks to JoeyBunny for putting her finger on the similarities) and Kenzo Amour. I even get that dulce de leche whiff from the caramel that makes me see why Victoria mentioned Uncle Serge's Un Bois Vanille, which I love dearly. It's all there, yet it doesn't come as well together on my skin until the very late dry-down, where the caramel-benzoin composition really reminds me of Un Bois Vanille with a fruity gummy bear twist. Until Candy reaches that point there's just some cheap sugared nothing with a side of a plastic doll and and/or scented ink in bright colors. And maybe vintage Strawberry Shortcake stickers (yes, I was a fourth grader in 1979). None of the above is bad, but it's really not how I prefer to smell.
I could probably write a thing or two about the difference between the smoky animalic vanilla of Shalimar and how sexy it was considered once upon a time; obviously, it is now replaced by this Lolita stuff. But I'll refrain because you've heard it all before. The bottom line is that Prada Candy smells to me like an almost-perfume, and not necessarily a stellar one. On the right skin it can probably be the cutest guilty pleasure. I just don't do cute.
Prada Candy ($80, 1.7 oz EDP) is available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks 5th Avenue.
Strawberry Shortcake in all her cute glory from strawberryshortcakelane.com
I cannot smell anything sweet or caramel in that perfume. It's very weak. It's a smooth shy scent. I don't get why anyone would get excited about this one.
ReplyDeleteInteresting - I am firmly in the fans camp, and also love Denyse's description of Candy as "armour for the 40-something woman in a brutal world". (I may be paraphrasing slightly, but that was the gist.) It works a treat for the 50-something woman too, I'd venture to say! On me it is sweet, but not for long, and there is a darker edge that comes through which keeps this nicely on the cusp between fluffy and ever so slightly dangerous.
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it. Call me crazy, but I actually preferred Burberry Body to Prada Candy. I know, the notes are totally different, but the quality of the Prada didn't strike me as complex or interesting. Thanks for the thoughtful review
ReplyDeleteI was astonished that I loved Candy. I would never have tried it given it's name but there was a sample in my NM GWP. I do not like sweet scents. I don't care for vanilla scents or anything smelling like candy. Actually I'm wearing a very candy smelling scent right now that is making me CRAZY. Bleck! BUT all that said, for some inexplicable reason, I love Prada Candy. Who knew ;-) LOL
ReplyDeleteI tried this, expecting great gourmand goodness, and like you, I got nothing. It was an OK, light amber accord that went Phhsst after about 10 minutes and disappeared. What's the big deal??
ReplyDelete-Marla
I don't get anything sweet out of this, either. And I like sweet! It was just kind of musky with something else thrown in there, totally nondescript on my skin. I would have much preferred smelling like a Strawberry Shortcake *doll* compared to this. And the marketing for Candy doesn't seem to fit the scent in my opinion. I decided to try this or Bottega Veneta on and clearly I chose the wrong perfume for me!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this review, for saying you don't do cute, and for offering some more intriguing options.
ReplyDeleteI'm honored as always to be mentioned anywhere on The Non-Blonde! =)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Prada Candy, and was grateful for the lack of actual candy that I smelled in it. However, between the near-exactness of Candy to Boyfriend, and the ultra-tacky bottle, I don't think I'll be springing for a full bottle anytime soon. Maybe a decant! Ha.
Have you heard much of the talk about how similar Prada Candy smells to Infusion d'Iris? I would be curious to know if you agree. I don't - I love Infusion d'Iris - but there is that amber-musk accord present in most if not all of the Prada scents.
I am so relived to see this post. It does dry down lovely and musky on me. But initially it is this weak, awkward sweet smell. Doesn't work at all.
ReplyDelete