Serpentine by Roberto Cavalli

sherapop

I love the opening of Roberto Cavalli SERPENTINE, in which I find the richness of gardenia mingling with balsam familiar and beloved to me from Marc Jacobs ESSENCE.

Unfortunately, SERPENTINE moves with dispatch past this sumptuous stage to evolve into a sweet concoction evocative of overripe bananas, forgotten in a corner of the kitchen until their only hope lies in the possibility of a baking initiative.

I can't explain the black-skinned syrupy banana aura from the listed notes, but something combines in a less than felicitous way with the balsam--perhaps there is mango, along with the mango flowers?--to produce a somewhat unappetizing gourmand medley. Perhaps the tropical flowers account for the sweetness of SERPENTINE. The orange is not at all noticeable to my nose at any stage in the development--this is not a citrusy scent at all.

In the drydown, SERPENTINE becomes more likeable again, with a dryness and warm woodiness that I like. But the overripe banana phase is disagreeable enough to nullify the niceness of the opening and the end.

Sissi

A Long Sperpent Decending from the Third
Eye from a Byzantine Gold Statue and the Palace is Wanderlust of Gold dust
Gold Icon Gold Funiture Golden Silk Bedsheets. and a Round Mirror Above
you head.

As the Serpent comes closer to you
behind it it leaves it markings on the
floor Revealing it's Long and Sinuous Line.
allover the Bedroom floor And then
magicly Turns into a Tall Slender Woman
her looks is a cross between Ursula Andress From the James Bone movie D.R No
Nicole Kidman Or Brigette Bardot
Is Covered in Goldust Paint and wears
a Golden G String Bikini and gently lie
back as she gently kisses you and you
moan in ecstasy And you hear the sweet
gentile sounds of the hindu bijans
and a scent of Sandalwood Insence coming into the palace bedroom from the Jeweled Sunset. Conjures up for me.
a feeling Of Bacchanelia in a time of
unsertily.

kittykati

serpentine failed to impress me. while i wouldn’t exactly call it cheap, i find it somehow bland – it almost feels like i’ve smelled some generic version of this in a myriad of other scents (first one that actually comes to mind, because of the sweet notes i get in it, is davidoff’s cool water, and then laura by biagiotti).
after the initial fruitiness, intertwined with some floral accords, all i’m left with for the rest of this scent’s life on my skin, is a sweet blend of exotic flowers, candied fruits, a tiny little pinch of pepper, and some sandalwood.
it’s admittedly not the worst scent out there, and the bottle looks really nice, so while i can’t say that i would hate it, i had much higher expectations of this one.

Sugar419

I ordered a sample of this and was so happily anticipating it, just knowing I would love it by the description. I certainly love the bottle. But no, no I don't like it. It's sweet, very sweet, almost cloying. The drydown could be spicy and maybe it's just my personal chemistry, but there's a layer of sweet over even the spiciness, making this one headache-inducing. Such a shame!

guest_bliss

I totally disagree...This perfume is amazing and my fiance loves it, it is not cheap at all and smells almost like it has a musky warm undertone. Cinema is definitely more fresh however this perfume is more soft, subtle and very feminine.:-)

Dark Curls

to eilismaireg: Agreed. Does smell cheap and to me boring, and i gave my sample away too.

eilismaireg

an exercise in how not to be sold by advertising. Nasty blah blah fragrance which smells cheap. Gave it away

Action

Sibling to Cinema EDP, both have the same father, Jacques Cavallier. Love them both!! Cinema a bit more polished, but Serpentine with it's own (less commercial) identity. Both fantastic.

Persephone

The death certificate proclaimed, immediate cause: fatal poisoning by a rattlesnake. The bottle mysteriously disappeared right after I got it, as if avoiding to be used.. Rightly so.

Mimmi

Agreeing with Ester - "Concept is opposit to scent itself". I was expecting something provocative and challenging. But since given a sample from other Fragrantican I am enjoying something more softspoken.
On me, the mango/orange note adds personality and make a difference in this flowerblend. Its low key but persistant, a warm and ripe but not too sweet lasting undercurrant. Blends down well with the soft sandal and balsamic spices. Compared to Cinema I find this makes it warmer yet more "dirty" then the shine of Cinema.
Averege sillage, lastingpower good (8 hrs) EDP.
Understated, confident and comfortable sexiness - "good for a mature woman at the office"? Make no mistake - even if such a concept is undesirable to some Young ladies, it hold its own pleasures and I belive this scent could add to them.

NebraskaLovesScent

It's not hard to like Serpentine.

As others have noted, it is not a particularly original scent, but sometimes I just want to smell pleasant and nice, to myself and others around me, without having to work at learning to like something. Serpentine is well-suited for those occasions. Strikes me as a good perfume for the office, too.

This is a beautiful feminine scent, flowery with a hint of sandalwood, and a sweet/spicy dry-down.

(I am also testing Roberto Cavalli for Her, and I find a lot of similarities between the two, but Serpentine is holding my interest a bit more.)

Not sure what concentration I'm testing as I received the sample in a swap, but it lasts about 8 hours, so I'm guessing EDP. Sillage was average.

It's well-priced, very wearable, non-offensive and comes in a great bottle. What's not to like?

Dark Curls

Never mind, I do not like it. I feel ordinary in it, and the dry down is just too sweet/plain for my taste. It smells pleasant enough but to me it is really boring! I cannot wait to wash it off; however, I had just showered and put it on. BLEH

Dark Curls

So I decided to wear the sample I have of this today and it smells really good! Very feminine. I do not think the staying power is too great on me though. I probably can do without buying a bottle of it.

Action

Should you ever see the body cream of Serpentine, do not hesitate for a second to buy it! Its smells just DIVINE, thick, creamy, warm en leaves a glitter trail. Also if you are a Cinema lover (like I am, and not a surprise also from Cavallier) this one really could suit you as well. Especially the EdP.

c3c

I lack the words to describe this one. I don't smell Tiare or Frangipani, not compared to true flowers anyway (who's scent I would roll in if I could) but it's intriguing and pleasant all the same. A bit sweet, somewhere along the lines of a very mellow Cinema, maybe a tiny bit of Laura Biagiotti Venezia, but it's own creation. Mysterious, even if you've never seen bottle, which conjures up images of Medusa. Although I do believe she'd wear it.

Sassy1

Wonderful floriental! My new winter favorite. Balanced and sultry. I'm buying it as soon as possible.

silvia_air

It's such a sexy perfume. It smells so good. I adore it!

Happyme2009

Beautiful bottle, I bought it thinking with a bottle like this it couldn't smell ordinary, the gold one... but it does... sadly, the most common floral I could think of ; no wow in it, no class, just perfumey, good for mature woman at the office maybe, where you want to smell clean and good, but be lost in your background,without standing up too much... too bad the bottle is so pretty... disappointing...

gesch

I have both the EdP as well as the EdT- Version of this superb fragrance. The edt is fresher, perfect for summer - the oriental part is less than in the edp.
Where the edp envelops you strongly, enticing you- the edt is like a caress, not spiced up but like the shy twin of the of the edp. it's like a small caress, where the edp is the all-out hug ;)
i seldom enjoy the edt-version of perfumes but this one is just plain perfect...

CaraMia

The opening of Serpentine is rather sweet and herbal, artemisia and orange shine through beautifully. This would have been good enough to hook me in, but the scent actually got better. The sweetness settled down a bit and the green leaves and warm dry wood kicked in to make Serpentine a complex luxurious floral. The pepper is understated and the spiciness stays close to the skin.

I'm wondering if the EDT is the one getting the less than rave reviews? The EDP is glorious and worth a second look!

Yummy

Guerlain

This is pure luxury one can buy captured in this dramatic snake-bottle. It`s such an Exquisite and Perfect perfume, that one can not describe it with simple words. One has to experience it. It reminds me of "Cinéma" by Yves Saint Laurent. Only that "Serpentine" is slightly more sofisticated, fascinating & luxurious. Simply an "IT-perfume"!!! And the bottle? A masterpiece of ART!(yes I admit it. I very much love snakes as decoration)

kastehelmi

I have only a decant, but I don't think I would want any more of this. Serpenine might be lovely from a distance, but sniffing my wrist, I don't care for it. It has a kind of pleasant woodsy heaviness, but there is a cloying sweet, and slightly-peppered quality that detracts from the seduction-like flower syrup and candied fennel. The bottle is beautiful...and I certainly don't hate it...

Update: Within 20 minutes, much of the overbearing sweetness goes away, so that I am left with scrumptious imperial sandalwood. I love such brilliantly rare orientals that harmonize notes like balsam, amber and sandalwood, not incorporating too much more, and leaving out the patchouli. While I often find the problem with fragrances of loving the top notes only to be disappointed by the middle notes and all too often, the dry-down, I can deal with some slightly overwhelming top notes when they reveal a fragrance as pleasant as this....
So I want it...sigh....
And the bottle is just gorgeous.

Update:
The sweetness and pepper blend here could work, but it doesn't-the dry down is so nice, but half of the time wearing the fragrance I get an overripe sweetness-not fruity, but sweet in the an off way. This isn't powerhouse, but it's too much in a tropical floral way and not very bold otherwise. Very wearable, but not loveable for me...

guest_Indira_89

I bought the first bottle 3 years before.
and i't still my favor, i jusr adore him...so sexy....and ...i feel much better wearing him...and sometimes feel like I don't need anything else to wear...mmmmmmmmmm

ticalica

Excellent smell
Desireable bottle
Exciting ads
Superior lasting power
!!!

Fragrance

I Like this perfume.. It's Sweet and deep in it there's a kind of mysterious touch. But it doesn't give u a refreshing feeling..But it's lovely...

sabel

The bottle is just so beautiful. And so is the perfume. It's very smooth and seductive. I get sweet gardenia and mandarin in the top-notes, then it's warm exotic flowers all the way to the comforting base.

guest_disalee

Just got a sample and i really like it. Its sweet and peppery, comforting and nice. I love the bottle and want it but since money is tight and im on the search for THE perfect scent it will have to wait. This is not the one for me. Even though its good enough to eat

tommy_girl

nice bottle and nice name that matches exactly the perfume inside.I really get the pepper here.in fact it's a bit like "visit" by azzaro,but this one sweeter.
I also get the mandarin orange(I thought it's tangerine,but anyway it's the fruity scent of the fragrance)
most of the times I don't admire pepper in perfumes but it's well mixed in this fragrance.there are just floral sweetness and a delicate hint of pepper.
snakes are strange animals.they are known for being hypnotic.there are so many legends about them.know that I'm smelling this perfume on my wrist I realize this is a good perfume with the right name.
I'm so eager to find and try the silver one.
not old-fashioned nor repetitive,just a new experience for snake ladies!

tsofa

I really wanted to like this fragrance... Its notes are lovely but they didn't match my skin at all, especially the sandalwood and the tolu balsam. Extremely strong, lasts all day long on me but unfortunately brings me a bad headache. The bottle is divine and seductive but not the fragrance itself. I'm really dissapointed.

perfumes_addict

Extraordinary perfume! I can’t understand all the bad reviews. It’s a very sexy and powerful fragrance. I was initially attracted by the bottle and I wasn’t disappointed when I tried this one on my skin. It’s the perfect summer fragrance, when you want to attract the attention of all men ;) reminds me a bit of Sensi from Giorgio Armani…

Trvevil

Serpents on bottle and the name... so attractive for me. But reviews it got isn't showing this perfume in it's light. Well out of bottle it smells like perfume. Just perfume, you know. It seems very classic scent. But when applied it to my skin it was heavy, oriental beautiful and with faint notes of fresh fruit or sweet flower just like lace. I really love the way this perfume is spicy and sexy, really mature. Then through spicy oriental composition you can feel sweet tiare flower rising. Capturing dry-down of my favorite sandalwood and something else interesting that I never met in perfumes I tried on me before. Nice blend of kinda sweet notes with peppery oriental notes.

PR

tried it few weeks ago, and it didn't catch my attention. generic smell not something I would like to have

alicektn

It smelled lovely on paper, but on my skin it was very annoying..It almost made me sick.

shelpen

I agree, this one is so generic in contrast to ORO. Plain Jane, indeed. Reminded me YSL Cinema...

dioradddict

oh i´m prone to buy it unsniffied too, but i´m kind afraid... would someone compare its smell with another parfum? does it reminds hot couture? is it a modern smell or not? i have oro and i like it, but i was looking for something easier to wear...

SandraS

Lovely at first but too sweet. I got tired really quickly. I got the feeling i was smelling someting sugary like coton candy. Not for me-

Moszatka

Special fragrance with fresh opening and then becames floral and semi-sweet. I like it, not an "everyday-perfume".

Aeternitas

Got my bottle, and I am disappointed. The bottle is so beautiful, the advertising is passionate and goddess-like, sexy, and exotic but unfortunately the fragrance itself is not. Very misleading. It is too subtle and generic. I agree with Maki that Oro is way better. I love Oro, so if you love Oro you will probably hate Serpentine. At first I get a bunch of florals and a bit of sandalwood, and on the dry down I get something fruity with black pepper and amber. It's light and plain. Wasn't expecting this from Cavalli. I gave this to my mom, she likes it :)

guest_Maki

uhhmm..considering that this is Cavalli, I can say..NOTHING SPECIAL.
"ORO" is so much better and stronger..for ppl with strong personality.

Aeternitas

Just bought this unsniffed, can't wait to see my reaction to it! I will, of course, write a review on it as soon as I try it.

doroula

This is one of the rare fragrances that make my stomach turn! Sorry, Cavalli, but I would rather skip this one!

elgab89

I love this one. I purchased it because I loved the bottle and I was lucky, the fragrance is just as intriguing. It is now one of my favorite fragrances. Sweet flowery with peppery tones. Mmmmm!