Hot on the release of their two new body mist collections, everyone's favourite budget/90's throwback brand So...? are back with three new Eau de Parfum fragrances. The collection revolves around the hashtag #UnleashYourStyle, drawing inspirations from catwalk trends to create three very different scents: So...? Sheer Illusion, I Am... So...? and So...? Dark Romance, all retailing for £6.99 for 30ml from Superdrug (and later launching in Boots).
On first impressions, I love the packaging. It is a departure from So...?'s original range of eau de toilettes, and there isn't anything else in the budget fragrance sector like them. They each come in a cardboard box, with great attention to detail like the rose gold of Sheer Illusion and the textured cardboard of I Am So...? The fragrances are housed in squared-off glass bottles, each with a different design peeking through the glass on the back and a complementary coloured lid. I love that they have been designed with aesthetics in mind, so your fragrance not only looks great on your dressing table, but you won't feel embarrassed about pulling it out of your handbag. That being said, the 30ml size is still great for taking with you on the go. The only downside for me is the text on the front of the bottles, as it makes them look a little less sophisticated.
It was a tough choice of which to try first, but I went for the pastel pink hues of So...? Sheer Illusion*. This is inspired by the luxurious, sheer fabrics that adorn the catwalks for spring and summer, like tulle and satin. The fragrance matches the feminine feel of said fabrics, with a fresh opening of bergamot and mandarin, a soft powdery heart of rose and jasmine, and a base of sensual sandalwood. Sheer Illusion is a soft, woody floral that warms to a creamy skinscent. The scent really intensifies as it dries down, and even though the top notes are a fleeting visit of fresh citrus, don't be tempted to overspray as the base really comes into its own as it warms on the skin, and has decent lasting power. This is a fairly inoffensive scent: clean, comforting and classic, with a touch of fresh laundry in the opening, before becoming warm and sensual on the skin. I can imagine this would make a nice office scent as it is pretty and pleasant, although it is not my typical kind of scent. I would definitely recommend checking it out if you find the likes of Chloé fragrances a little too sweet, or you usually go for florals from Valentino or D&G.
Then there is So...? Dark Romance*, inspired by gothic influences in fashion, and combining darker elements with a more romantic look. It is described as being "rich, mysterious and sassy", and I totally agree with this! It is sweet and indulgent, with that darker feel, like the sexier sister of So...? Sinful. It opens with a rich, sweet blend of bergamot, pink pepper and dark praline, and softens with feminine violet and vanilla notes. As soon as I first spritzed this, I thought of dark cherry liquor chocolates.This is more of an evening scent, but the thing I love about it is that it's not too overpowering: it really had the potentially to be really sickly, but the strength is perfect. It still has that candied finish of So...? Sinful, or even scents like Britney Spears Fantasy or Ariana Grande, but it's just that little bit more sophisticated.
Lastly there is I Am... So...?*, which has a vibrant and fun pink design which initially led me to believe this would be a fruity, tropical scent. It is actually more of a bold floral scent, with fresh mandarin and vibrant orange blossom, with a base of luxurious cashmere wood, perfect for pairing with a brightly coloured summer dress. In contrast to Sheer Illusion, I Am So...? really packs a punch in the opening, and this continues throughout the fragrance. It opens with a certain fizziness, and reminds me of a sherbety orange and raspberry cocktail. The orange blossom comes in the form of a bitter orange neroli scent than soft floral and the cashmere woods give it a lot of dimension. Personally this isn't my cup of tea, as it is really reminiscent of bold "night out" fragrances like Paco Rabanne Lady Million or Jimmy Choo, but if you're a fan of those, this is a brilliant affordable option!
Overall, I really like this new range of Eau de Parfums from So...?. I really like the concept and I love that the range draws upon having a signature scent based on your style. The scents are good quality and long lasting and don't smell at all cheap, which is key when choosing something more affordable. My favourite out of the three has to be So...? Dark Romance, followed by So...? Sheer Illusion, with I Am So...? not really being my cup of tea. There's a good range of scents so far, but I'd like to see them bring out something more fresh or fruity, as two out of the three have floral undertones. They are in fact bringing out a fourth scent in the range for AW17, so I'm really intrigued to see what they come up with!
Which scent do you like the sound of?
- Post contains PR samples (*) and affiliate links -
- This does not affect my views and I will always give my honest opinion of a product -
