Grandiflora is a floral boutique in Australia. This year the boutique launched two different interpretations of magnolia-inspired perfumes, Michel and Sandrine.
Grandiflora Sandrine opens with sulfuric grapefruit with spicy pepper. To my surprise this one is all about the citrus – bright, spicy citrus. The heart is like a really luxurious laundry detergent – musk and clean florals. It goes through a stage that reminds me of gunpowder tea (smoky green tea). The dry-down is a stunning slightly-fruity musk that melds perfectly to my skin.
If I had “blind sniffed” this, I would have thought of it as a clean grapefruit tea. I would have never picked up on any magnolia references. Overall, this is a good “clean” citrus tea. Honestly, I would have thought it was a new perfume in By Kilian’s Asian Tales Collection (and it would have been the best one in that collection).
Give Grandiflora Sandrine a try if you like citrus florals. Or perfumes like Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis, Antica Farmacista Grapefruit, Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune, By Kilian Water Calligraphy and/or Tommy Hilifiger Tommy Girl. Because of the citrus and the freshness, I think this one would be a good perfume for spring/summer wear.
Projection and longevity are average (which is rather good for a citrus-heavy perfume).
The 3.4 oz retails for $185 at Luckyscent and Indigo. Samples are also available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A clean grapefruit tea. If you are looking for a magnolia perfume, I don’t recommend this. If you are looking for a grapefruit perfume, I recommend this. It’s a really good citrus.
*Disclaimer – Sample provided by the brand. I am not financially compensated for the review. My opinions are my own. Product pic from Fragrantica. Aida Overton Walker from www.findagrave.com.
Now that you mention it I need to go back and retry. Grapefruit tea doesn’t sound much like my experience but I think sometimes note lists, expectations and others stories can have a determining effect on what we smell. I am quite excited to see if given your new input I can follow your journey.
It’s a really pretty fragrance, but grapefruit was so amp’d on me. But, in all fairness magnolias do have that citrus thing going on. It’s one I’m going to revisit too.