Lolita Lempicka is a doozy of a fragrance to talk about. 

Josiane Maryse Pivida took the pseudonym of Lolita Lempicka, inspired by a combination of Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita, and Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka.

She started her fashion house of Lolita Lempicka in 1983, with her style inspired by fairytales, princesses, and the romantic fashion of the past.

The fragrance Lolita Lempicka was originally created in 1997 by perfumers Annick Menardo and Christian Dussoulier, and has been reformulated many times since. The bottle design has changed a few times as well. With each reformulation, starting in 2010, Annick Menardo was the perfumer alone. Though the fragrance changed minutely each time, the style and aroma maintained a similar essence to the original fragrance.

It was created as an ode to femininity, and has always had a sensual essence to it, inspired by multiple things…

1) Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit. 

2) The character ‘Lolita’, from the book of the same name by Vladimir Nabokov.

3) The paintings by Polish Art-Deco artist Tamara de Lempicka, whose paintings of women were said to have sensuality to them, being inspired by sexuality, female liberation, and the female gaze.

4) Fairytales from Pivida’s childhood.

It was “an enchantment dedicated to all women who let themselves be seduced by a magical and sensual universe.”

Upon its initial release, it was shaped like an apple, inspired by Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit. It has changed over time, but has recently gone back to its iconic apple shape.

Top Notes: Star Anise, Violet, Ivy

Heart Notes: Licorice, Cherry, Iris, Orris Root, Amaryllis

Base Notes: Vanilla, Praline, Tonka Bean, White Musk, Vetiver

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In 2010 it was changed and given the name Le Premier Parfum.

Top Notes: Ivy Leaf, Pineapple, Lemon, Rosewood, Sour Cherry, Anise

Heart Notes: Lily of the Valley, Rose, Jasmine, Licorice, Violet, Iris

Base Notes: Almond, Vanilla, Heliotrope, Tonka Bean, Musk, Praline, Vetiver

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With the 2017 change, it was named Mon Premier Parfum and the bottle changed from the familiar apple shape, to something between an apple and a heart, and had a geometric form to it. From this time on, Lolita Lempicka became vegan as well.

Top Notes: Ivy, Star Anise, Cherry

Heart Notes: Orris, Violet, Licorice, Amaryllis

Base Notes: Vetiver, Musk, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Praline

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The final reformulation(that we know of) was done in 2021. This time the bottle went back to its iconic apple shape and was named Le Parfum.

Top Notes: Amarena Cherry, Anise, Violet

Heart Notes: Licorice, Iris, Tonka Bean

Base Notes: Musk, Vanilla, Praline, Patchouli Prisma

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Throughout all its changes, it has maintained a general similarity within its composition. Cherry, Anise, Licorice, Violet, Praline, and Vanilla have been present in each version, helping to keep the iconic sweet and spicy essence. 

Mon Premier Parfum is the version you can find at Parfumerie Nasreen. It has a candy-like aroma to it, bringing a sense of youth and energy. Over time it deepens and the spices thrive a little more, bringing a more va-va-voom quality to the scent. As everything dries down, a subtle earthy essence sets it, but is fleeting, followed by a touch of Musk that only enriches the overall sensual vibe to the scent. 

If you can’t tell, it’s difficult to talk about this scent without talking about its sensual essence because it really is!

Though Mon Premier Parfum is not the most recent version, both this one and Le Parfum(2021) are available through the Lolita Lempicka website.

We would love to hear your thoughts of Lolita Lempicka, any version you have tried, especially if you have tried more than one!