Seattle-based indie brand Sweet Anthem has launched Lolita and Poppy, two new fragrances in their series of "bottled stories you can read on your skin".
Lolita (shown) ~ "a musky aldehydic floral wrapped in the lushness and desire of Vladimir Nabokov’s infamous novel of the same name...The perfume itself is a sophisticated floral featuring modern aldehydes, juicy black currant, soft cherry blossom, and the golden honey-like notes of tonka bean softened by rosewood." Additional notes include sea salt.
Poppy ~ "Per fumum. The caliginous haze of resurrection. Spicy clove dripping with cocoa, smoky opium and Turkish musk with a motley crew of red flowers – a saffron-stained carnation among them."
Sweet Anthem Lolita and Poppy are available in 10 or 30 ml Eau de Parfum, 10 ml Perfume Oil, 5 or 10 ml Solid Perfume.
(via sweetanthemperfumes)
I actually like the sound of the Lolita notes, but I’m always taken aback when seductive/sexy products are named after Nabokov’s novel. I’ve read the book (several times) and I deeply admire it, but I can’t imagine anyone who has read this book wanting to “wear” the story.
As usual, I’m taking things too seriously, probably.
Hey, in this case at least they said “infamous novel”…most of the Lolita-inspired fragrances seem totally unaware of the story line.
In my defense, I majored in Russian Language & Literature, and know Nabokov’s works very well (Lolita being the one I read much later, after my critical studies were complete). Lolita, in its perfume form, is based on both popular ideals of the novel as well as descriptive narratives within – “honey-limbed, sparkling river nymph,” being one of the most poetic portions of the text, is the direction I decided to go with the fragrance.
– Meredith (Sweet Anthem)
Thanks for chiming in! There have been some really ridiculous perfumes that claim the novel as inspiration.
I want to try the Poppy. I suppose that it has the potential to smell like a head shop. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I have that category covered.
That one sounds great to me.
I just ordered a sample of Poppy (and a wee full bottle of something else for which they don’t have samples; naughty me).
I have Puono by Saffron James which has similar notes (Ylang Ylang, Pikake, Carnation, Vanilla and Tunisian Opium). I like it, but it’s a bit heavy on the Tunisian Opium.
Now I can’t remember if I tried the Puono or not. Wonder what happened to Saffron James?