Olympéa Paco Rabanne for women
Perfume rating 3.85 out of 5 with 12,015 votes
Olympéa by Paco Rabanne is a Amber Floral fragrance for women. Olympéa was launched in 2015. Olympéa was created by Loc Dong, Anne Flipo and Dominique Ropion. Top notes are Water Jasmine, Green Mandarin and Ginger flower; middle notes are Vanilla and Salt; base notes are Ambergris, Cashmere Wood and Sandalwood.
Paco Rabanne launches a new feminine fragrance in August 2015 under the mythical name of Olympéa. Olympéa represents the equivalent of the masculine edition Invictus from 2013, inspired by the athletic spirit, competition and victory.
The concept is based on the idea of a modern Greek goddess and evokes strength, dynamism, and conquests. The perfume is developed by Loc Dong and Anne Flipo. Its both salty and floral composition is characterized as fresh oriental, opening with sparkling green mandarin, aquatic notes of water jasmine, and fiery ginger lily, with salted vanilla in the heart. The base notes are sandalwood, cashmere, and ambergris.
The face of the perfume is Brazilian model Luma Grothe. The bottle is shaped like a laurel crown, designed by Marc Ange. The fragrance is available as 30, 50 and 80 ml Eau de Parfum.
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Pros
Cons
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Fragrantica® Trends is a relative value that shows the interest of Fragrantica members in this fragrance over time.
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The Fragrant Legacy of Monsieur Paco Rabanne
by Jernê Knowles, Elena Vosnaki, Raluca Kirschner, Rouu Abd El-Latif, John Biebel, Sergey Borisov, Iulia Halatz, Edie Smith, Markéta Rybínová, Sophie Normand
Perfume longevity:3.63 out of5.
Perfume sillage:2.52 out of4.
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Mystères du Château de Dé
Smells much like liqueur or candy.
Masiwa
I love this fragrance. Despite it being linear, it has such a comforting (not the type of comfort that rocks you to sleep) scent for me. Lasts for over 8 hours on my clothes and nearly as long on my skin. Too strong for bedtime...keeps me awake. Worth the money. Kenzo World Power is very very similar. It's an alternative for a more tamed Olympea. I have both and I don't think there is a need for both
lmwimsatt
Ive been knowing intense for years. I couldn't stand it at first but it grew on me. Now I'm trying the original and it's so much better! I love this. It's spicier, lighter, and less perfumes. My new favorite
danilodeathayde
The opening quickly reminds me of One Million Parfum, probably due to the salt + the characteristic vanilla of the brand. Soon, it becomes much saltier, without iris (despite being listed). The salt evokes something metallic, like rust in a beach house.
There's something here that strongly reminds me of sunscreen, creating a warm and stuffy sensation. It smells like a moisturizing cream (usually already quite sweet) mixed with sunscreen.
It's very difficult to detect the jasmine, and I wouldn't know what ginger flower smells like, but as for the "savory" aspect, it only has the salt; it doesn't smell like ginger or anise. It evokes the beach, but in this case, it's a stuffy sensation, like skin under sunscreen.
I expected to like it, but it gives an unpleasant sensation on my skin. I feel that One Million Parfum accomplishes everything proposed here and a bit more, only better.
ZekaChi
I go nose-blind to this fast - I can't smell it after a few minutes.
Since I bought leftovers in a bottle, I was suspicious it might have been a fake, but both the nice people in Fragrantica forums confirmed it was legit, and my husband can smell it quite well even when I sense nothing, so it must be a me thing.
Edit: I see another commenter mentioned nose-blindness, too, so that might be a thing to consider before, erm, blind buying.
Taking that into account, I can't speak to its longevity or projection, so I won't score them, either.
I can talk about the scent iself:
It is nice enough.
The soft citrus, the slight salinity and a background soft creaminess smell pleasant.
It smells like springtime sun's rays - light, not too warm, but there is warmth in there somewhere.
That said, it's not too interesting, even though the combo is well blended and I haven't encountered many similar scents.
I'm glad I only bought a small amount of it.
I'll use it up, sure, but it'll be an okay/meh experience.
Penny232
I found this perfume to be bland. It smells like caramel, warm but light and generally uninteresting
asiarakk
Dominant salty vanilla + white florals. Feminine, elegant scent. It differs from other lux perfumes and is worth you attention. At least test it on your skin at your local boutique. Can be a blind buy if you like salty vanilla and jasmine luxury brand type of scents. It’s also long lasting parf with good sillage. Best from the line in my opinion. You can wear it all year around and to any occasion. Ageless.
Not soapy on my skin at all. Very long lasting with a pleasant vanilla dry down. Concentrated juice in a bottle that sometimes I want to drink, how yummy it is. Interesting fact, I don’t like jasmin but this one has it and I don’t hate it 🤔
FragheadMo
Selling a 15ml travel spray, sprayed once. Pm if interested, Eu only.
vanillababy111
Ive tried this one so many times and I'm just completely noseblind to it. I smell NOTHING no matter how much i sprayed
Kaareneparker
Smells like a hot day at the beach/ocean to me! Yummy salty vanilla scent! But best to sample first since to some it may induce a headache/ nausea. I enjoy it on summer days…. A very relaxed scent to me so a leisurely summer day scent.
evavidal62
Beautiful fragrance that you want to only buy at Macy's department stores if it's available there, Sephoras, or straight from the Paco Rabanne website. Any other place - i.e. a drugstore pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, is sure to be a knockoff. This is the most commonly knocked-off fragrance but I could be wrong. I think the other is Coco Mademoiselle. Olympea has been described as marine, aquatic, beachy, sun tan lotion-y and evocative of clean nude skin. While I can see how it's like clean feminine nude skin, I don't share the opinion that this scent is marine/aquatic or lotiony. For me, it played out differently in it's performance. Starts off instantly spicy and warm. Smells like it has cinnamon or the chemical note of cinnemal but it may just be the ginger/ginger flower in the top notes coming through quite strongly. At the same time it is not overbearing or offensive in it's strength. It has a spicky kick which smells like a vague mix of spices. Definitely ginger but not just ginger. Aside from the spice top note, it smells of white florals also in a vague way. Definitely jasmine, but she is subdued and not a green bushy jasmine. Some call it a water jasmine, but all that means to me or to my nose, is that it is soft white floral, and powdery. The powdery white floral is what I most like about this perfume. It is clean, delicate, womanly, like a gorgeous retro talc powder from a powder box on a vanity dresser table. This has the feel of a vintage perfume with powdery white florals. The feminine factor is high. Smells like you are putting on a pretty dress and going out for a romantic night out on the town. It has a cosmetic feel, or rather like a combination of everything a woman does to prepare herself to be at her most glorious womanhood - i.e. make up, skin cream, lotion, powder, skin moisturizer, and fragrance. It has a perfumy perfume kind of smell but it is not generic. It has a special warm quality and very comforting and soothing. I wear this to bed more often than I do to a date. The vanilla note emerges right before the dry down. I am not picking up on a salt note. It is a warm vanilla in the depth of the base and it is joined by a nice warm not too strong dose of musk. I would call this dry down musky. The woodsy notes - cashmere wood and sandalwood, are also there; but it feels more like musk. The scent is long lasting and envelopes you in a lovely cloud. It is meant to be applied lightly. Don't overspray. This is a very beautiful perfume if you give it a chance. Despite being popular and mainstream, it has a vintage charm that makes it stand out and apart. I can't compare it to any vintage in particular. It's just like a powdery white floral with added spice and musk. Smells best in the fall and winter due to it's spices and warm musk. This is elegant and classy. And that bottle is just one of the most beautifully designed in our modern times.
katiesimpsonhair
I love this, it’s such a hot beach Holliday scent, it reminds me of tanning oil and golden skin. It’s sweet and salty with a warm base / sun cream. I get what the person below on the comments means about a 90’s smell as it reminds me of the sun cream my mum used, it was thick and the smell of it reminded me of family holidays to Majorca and the holidays I dreamt of on the programme with Judith chalmers, Wish You Were Here! This has good strength and lasts a decent amount of time.
whiteorchid23
Headache in a bottle
Filolek3037
Smelling it and got immediatly catapulted back to the 90s: i’m a 7yr old girl, it’s a super hot summer day and i drive with my family to a huge open air swimming pool, on the radio: modern talking- cheri, cheri lady on full blast. There we meet with my mums friends. Everyone is wearing animal printed and super tight bikinis, ladies having long red nails and a perm…and all i can smell is the air being saturated with moist of the pool water and the typical tropical sun screen scent from the 90s. I like this perfume- smells like the 90s 😁
breeperfumes
A girl at work had this on and it was delicious - warm and salty and sexy. When she told me it was Olympea I was over the moon to know this, as it had been on my wish list for some time and I had yet to smell it.
I did a spray test on my wrist for the day as I wanted to see how it would sit on my skin before buying. The opening was a burst of fresh white florals, as it began to set and dry down over the course of the day, it turned into an alluring, sexy, warm, salty vanilla scent that I couldn't stop smelling on my wrist. You can right away smell the water jasmine florals in the background, with the cashmere note and warm salty scent coming out to play.
I couldn't pick up the ginger in this one on my skin, but I don't mind at all. It had amazing longevity, and I feel it will be a big compliment perfume. It gives me spring vibes but honestly with the right layering and ocassion this can work a year round. Very happy this is now part of my collection.
Lydscha
I love this perfume. It's perfect for spring and summer. It's become my go to in this warm weather.
Charity77
An easy reach when you just want to smell pretty. It's not one I reach for often, but when I can't decide, she's a safe and lovely fragrance that I can grab and know I'll love it. Nothing spectacular, but I always enjoy wearing her. Very pretty.
perfumepearl
The opening is DELICIOUS! Beautiful mandarin with ginger. The dry down is very basic salty vanilla, perfect for summer. I thought that I wouldn't enjoy this, but I actually like this a lot. This is at the same level as Voce Viva, at least for me. A nice basic perfume that is well blended, but this is nothing that I would spend my money on. If it smelled just like the opening all the time, then I would buy it.
nordlanderin
I just want to second the previous review. I loved it at first, but then it became so soapy it's really disappointing.
Could it be something wrong about a certain batch?..
Little Principessa
The opening is very good. The dry down smells like toilet and soap.
Lady Patches
If you like Scandal Og JPG. You will like this. This perfume has a salty high note that punches you on the face like the Honey note in scandal. You love it or hate it. Is a summer scent but you would get dizzy with the heat and this strong scent. Is overly sweet, floral and salty.
An overpowering scent, I used the whole bottle and brought me lots of compliments and that's why i kept using it.
I wouldn't use it for every day wear, cause can be overwhelming, I know I'm not the only one getting headaches with this one. Is really overwhelmingly sweet and salty.
Still can be sophisticated for a summer night out, would definitely use it for summer nights.
On the dry down is more bearable and is a sweet sexy summery scent.
Velvetta
I think it deserves a new review, i used to have problems with it but i think it was my skin chemistry or possible hormonal changes.
I think it's my most complimented scent. It's very long lasting, definitely leaves a scent trail and projects. There is just something magnetic in this scent, georgeous sweet and salty gourmond.
In my opinion it's the best scent by Paco Rabanne (apart from discontinued Black XS l'exces that i used to love when i was in high school, i still miss this one :( ).
I think it's one of these fragrances that will have a permanent spot in my collection. It just smells, beautiful, delicious and sexy, what more could i ask for?
nisarsarah9
Attractive scent and lasts long but the vanilla notes become too much to handle. It becomes unpleasant for my liking!
Aquapinkmoon
I’m obviously an idiot because I tested this in store and hated it, but I wanted to love it so badly that I purchased a full bottle on sale a few days later, hoping I’d magically fall in love with it. The reviews were so good that I was convinced my nose was wrong (🙄) luckily for me, I did fall in love with it. The name is very fitting, this has a salty, sea breeze and ocean mist scent mixed with a little vanilla to make it sweet and ginger to make it fresh. This smells like sun kissed skin or what I imagine a beach goddess would smell like, i really want to wear this on a summer holiday but this would also be perfect as an evening event or every day perfume in the warmer weather. There are comments saying that this is a winter perfume but in my opinion this is truly a summer scent. I also tested Olympia legend and that was stunning but I didn’t purchase as it wasn’t as “marine” or “beachy” as the original.
ambervxyjul
Very beautiful vanilla although a little mainstream. The saltiness is perfectly balanced with sweetness. I would say this is an easy blind buy or gift buy. The florals come out more on my skin and reminds me of a toned down Chanel fragrance. Nothing too crazy but also nothing too boring. A beautiful floral vanilla salty fragrance
Yasmeena0
This perfume is okay nothing special or bad , if U want the best go for olympea flora it’s more feminine and sensual 🌹
cloudk
Very strong, sort of synthetic big box perfume smell, but not that cloying. I do like the saltiness to it- but, it's not for me.
bellalandia
My boyfriend loves it.
Mmmmmmm delicious
TarahB
Love this scent!
Very strong & lasts a long time!
I’ve worn this one a lot through the day for work, on an evening & on holiday! Perfect for all!
It’s Salty, beachy & when it drys down the vanilla comes out more!
elleayjay
I was very intrigued by the salt note here so I blind bought this from Jomashop.
I really like the combination of salt with the vanilla and base notes! If you’re looking for gourmand vanilla, this is not it. It’s more of a light & airy vanilla.
This reads like a sweet and salty but fresh skin scent on me and I love it! Lately I’ve been really into “your-skin-but-better” scents that still have lasting power and project, and this will be added to that category for me because it definitely lasts all day.
I’m getting really good at blind buying! 😏
azifah97
Olympea intense used to be favourite perfume for years , Olympea was my second favourite growing up but since recent years I’ve explored more with much wider ranges of perfumes so I have now moved on but I’m surprised the more I got in the perfume world that this one’s not very rated and that it’s not very loved , this is perfume was the start of my hot girl era , I walked around like I was that guurrrl but I have noticed it can smell bad on some people so it would depend on the body chemistry
jeannebelmondo
I do like that this is a sort of marine and metallic vanilla, I just wish it wasn't so one-dimensional and linear. It's an interesting take on vanilla but it's still a basic, and pretty cloying vanilla. This is a safe buy for someone new to perfumes but not as unique as I hoped, definitely still smells like a basic designer perfume
dronx
I blind bought this because I had loved a flanker of this perfume. Initially this smelt strange to me - very salty and sweaty. I have since left it for a while and now on reapplication I don't mind it. It's still a strange salty smell on initial spray but dries down to a soft salty floral scent. It's a strange one for sure.
Letmeregister
Only perfume enthusiasts that like unique smells could like this. It smells downright horrible, salty vanilla. No offence but if I smelled it on someone I would go another way.
ljsmith
I previously reviewed this as too ambroxan-heavy in the opening, but now I take it back. I gave my sample a few weeks to settle and came back to it and now it really is the sexy summer fragrance people say it is. Fresh and beachy with just a hint of sea-saltiness and florals.
Sweet Satine
Bought a full bottle of Olympia, I opened it and it smells beautiful, what I did not expect was the headache I had. I have a big collection of perfumes, none have ever affected me like this. I will trade for a perfume of equal value, otherwise I may use it in summer or fall. Very disappointed. My fault.
judearose123
I blind bought this at a perfume shop on vacation a few years ago. My boyfriend was curious about the scent so I unboxed it in the car and we both loved it. The vanilla blended with the salt & cashmere wood is giving salted caramel vibes. If you took a Sol De Janeiro body mist and added a few notes to make it more fresh & mature, it would smell something like this. The ginger and water jasmine in the opening can be challenging, and the salty caramel I mentioned earlier can smell like BO with the wrong body chemistry. That being said, I would definitely order a sample and try it on your skin before committing to a bottle. You’ll either smell like a hot girl out running errands in her little summer outfit, or you’ll smell like sushi. All that being said, my boyfriend doesn’t comment on fragrances but he told me that he loved this one multiple times before it became a skin scent. 10/10.
Shnizel
Olympea used to be my favorite perfume, this perfume has everything in it.
It has a special salty smell mixed with the sweetness of Carmel and flowers. This fragrance is long lasting (7-12 hours)
After years of using it I started to hate this perfume because he started to smell like sweat for me, I think it's because of the salty scent.
goddessoftheforest
This is mostly vanilla and jasmine tied together with sea salt. Cashmere wood is hazy on the base. Everything else is in the background.
The vanilla with sea salt gives a fresh gourmand vibe. The prominence of the jasmine is very outputting to me just because I hate jasmine. Quality is good but a bit synthetic. Moderate to strong silage and good longevity.
pineapplepoptart
I always loved this back in the day. Real girly girl happy scent. Until that guy on curlyscents called it a urinal cake. Lmfaoooo I can’t unhear it.
Lovescents3
To my nose this is a very amber forward fragrance. The salt and ambergris come across like an amber accord to me.
I appreciate it more now that it has been sitting on my shelf for more than a year. It is sweeter now, and I can smell all of the notes more. Especially the mandarin and the jasmine.
This performs better in the warmer weather for sure, but not an easy scent profile to like. It’s a bit harsh/ screechy. These days feels a bit dated.
Wittyusernam3
If you're someone who appreciates the visual aspect as well as the fragrance and occasionally makes purchases for the sheer love of a bottle design, Olympea perfume is an enticing choice.
The bottle is shaped to resemble carved laurel leaves adorning its sides. This thoughtful touch cleverly ties back to the name "Olympea," reminiscent of Olympian laurel wreaths.
I blind bought as I am a vanilla fiend, however vanilla? Where? I’d almost keep this fragrance for its bottle alone.
Message me if you are interested in the 30ml.
Sweet Satine
Beautiful scent, this perfume graced me with a headache multiple times and I rarely get headaches with perfume, maybe the cashmere, ambrogis or salt. I have a huge bottle of this perfume. I wish I could trade it for another, alas I would recommend wearing before buying this perfume.
girldeadbug
This was my signature scent in my early 20’s, 23 years old to be exact. So that was 2015, meaning I was obsessed with this as soon as it came out. Angel Muse EDP was my other signature scent. So, as you can see, I have a thing for unique, room-filling fragrances, especially if I’m gonna stick to one every day for a long period of time.
I would love to add it back into my collection… but I am so scared that it has been reformulated. 😞 Paco Rabanne isn’t exactly known to be a brand that stays true to an original formula, even if it is universally loved. Anything to save a few pennies I suppose…
Well, anyway, I guess I will have to do my detective work and ask for batch codes before purchasing.
I have never tried any of the flankers. 😳 Actually never seen any of the Olympéa line in-store, so I’ve never been able to test them. The OG must’ve been dumb luck!
anjunakerry
I brought blind off the back of loads of reviews. I just don't like the salt note. I can almost taste it and it tastes like sweat on the upper lip after a hard work out.
I really wanted to love it, And i probably would if it wasn't for that savoury saltiness. I dont hate it, But i dont like it nor reach for it.
I also agree with the user who likened it to playdoh! Playdoh is salty to me.
I didn't pay a lot for 30ml so there's nothing to be "salty" about (see what i did there?) My daughter in law has had it and it suits her.
simplyelexina
smells like sunset at the beach. exactly what i was looking for
yara.xo
fresh and beachy, aquatic. doesn’t quite reflect the blend of notes, i’m not feeling anything special with this one sadly
yelrog
I just received a bottle of this yesterday from JOMASHOP, and I have a lot of feelings about this one.
Originally, I thought I had ordered the Olympea Legend, but I was mistaken. I had ordered the OG Olympea because I specifically wanted that ambergris note. I don't own a single fragrance (aside from this one) that has ambergris, and so I've always been interested to try it. I love the idea of a warm, vanilla, marine scent, so I thought this was gonna be a huge winner for me.
Initially, it has a bit of a sharp opening, (ginger, citrus, thick powder), but then this saltiness starts to shine, and the ginger dissipates and becomes sweeter (vanilla, cashmere). It has a faint soapiness to it, but it's pleasant. It definitely helps to make it more palatable and not so heavy. Without this underlying soap tone, I think it would be headache inducing for sure. As it sinks into my skin more, it definitely smells like my hair after being at the beach all day; windswept, salty, a little trace of my vanilla-y shampoo, and a breeze coming through carrying a whiff of some handsome man's cologne.
I will need to try this one a few more times before I can really decide if I like it or love it, and I need to play around with it in different seasons. Washington State winter doesn't seem appropriate for this scent, but it feels like it'd absolutely shine in the summer (we don't get crazy hot here, so I think it'll work better).
Reminds me a LOT of how Vegas smells, like walking through the Forum Shoppes and lingering outside of Caesar's Palace. Honestly it feels like that's how this was intended to smell, and I love it.
vibrant.girl
I keep re-sampling, hoping to smell the sweetness or even saltiness that others do… this is straight up playdoh to me. A bit of jasmine offering floral lightness, but no vanilla or salt or mandarin for me. And for the first time I’m getting the pickle-y note from sandalwood - I understand why people dislike that so much, now. I’m holding out hope that I’ll try a big bottle someday in the shops and will feel the magic.
ljsmith
The drydown is so creamy and sunny and lovely, Jasmine and sea air and sand in your hair. Unfortunately the initial spray gives a healthy blast of ambroxan, which I’m just too sensitive to. It isn’t so much that I can’t smell anything else, like many ambroxan laced scents, but it is enough to give me a headache.
A+ fragrance if you aren’t sensitive or headache-prone, C- if you are.
stevchonni
If you like Olympea or Olympea Intense, try Lattafa Ajwad, you will be surprised.
Olympea with roses and i mean it in a good way.
hnk11
This is the closest I ever got to having a signature scent. Absolutely delicious, deep, warm, spicy, intoxicating. Vanilla and salted caramel, with a hint of sourness from the citrus and ginger. I understand that this could be polarizing or overwhelming to some, though.
Mooluna
Not love not hate just nothing, cant get the hype
anna222
Sooo plain like it’s giving nothing
Ariete76
Very good perfume and this is coming from someone who absolutely doesn't like perfumes of this type... because I love fresh perfumes (quite the opposite of this one). Olimphea first attracted me to the olfactory pyramid, then I tried a sample and it was love. first sniff, I smell an initial salty smell... but be careful not marine rather salty! Then as the hours pass, a delicate vanilla scent emerges, always supported by that salty note that distinguishes it and last but not least a very delicate amber/vanilla smell that lasts for several hours, I repeat, I love it and coming from someone who snubs vanilla scents it says a lot! For me it is perfect for autumn/winter periods simply because I love fresh and more summery fragrances in that period but this does not mean that it could be perfect for those who love sweeter scents even in summer
clumsylunch
Creamy vanilla, tangy, beachy, salty. A modern Eternity by Calvin Klein, has a very 90s vibe. It's pretty, sweet and inoffensive. Great one for people who are shy of more heady, complex fragrances. Can imagine gifting this for a teen who's getting into perfume.
mercedizzy
I should like this but I fucking hate it
BikiniSoTeeny
Loved this on paper so much, but salt on me pulls so sour and like BO
FrogSaint
Olypnéa is a perfume that I bought blind because of the TV ad back in the day, the gorgeous bottle and the mythological connotation of the name.
This fragrance is fresh and sweet and gives me sporty vibes.
For a couple of years, this was my everyday scent for work and going out, an all-rounder!
I really miss this perfume, I am thinking of repurchasing this one.
natalka999
Smells like if you put vanilla beans in a sea water .. i love that smell.. on me it does smell like a light skin sent but it lasts forever. If you dont like smelling sea salt you will not like this. I do not get much caramel, only when i spray it and it goes away very fast. Mandarin i dont smell at all to me there is no fruit in this.. I love this for summer.
Blueberries
@noircottoncandydreams:
There's quite a bit of ambergris in this one and some people are sensitive to it and can experience it as metallic and headache inducing. If you're not sensitive to ambergris/ambroxan/amberwood this might be a fragrance for you. Recommend trying in a perfumery or ordering a sample first.
albatros
@noircottoncandydreams I blind-bought Olympea, and it was one of the best blind buys ever. Nothing triggers migraine here, it's feminine, fresh, beautiful vanilla with Jasmin, completely intoxicating and addictive.
noircottoncandydreams
I'm so curious about this to where I'm thinking of possibly blind buying! I can see though above how many people agree that it can be headache inducing. The notes seem to be fine for me, but can anyone explain which notes exactly seem to be the ones to trigger migraines/headaches?
Notes that personally cause issues for me are red and pink roses, ANISE, and most caramel.
T.I.A
Moshpitbunny
Absolutely beautiful addicting scent. To me it smells like expensive creamy artisan vanilla bean ice cream with Michelin star quality flaky sea salt on top.
Perfect balance of sweet and salty smells so good in the wind/air.
Definitely beachy vibes - salty vanilla with marine notes. I don’t really get the green mandarin ( thank god - I dislike mandarin as a note) or the Jasmine and ginger or at least not very strongly anyway but I think it may be supporting the salty vanilla keeping it interesting. Lasts quite well with a good scent bubble.
Love it enough to consider making it a signature for the summer at least as it holds up pretty well in Australian hot weather.
Has some nostalgic vibes for me as I had a friend who smelled sooooo good and they smelled a lot like this all the time even without fragrance on ( they wore a lot of different Paco Rabanne ) and I always wanted to smell like that but female version - I think I’ve found a new favourite.
Ellim
Perfection. Just the right amount of intriguing and sexy with a uniquely fresh sweetness. Reminds me of salty liquorice which I'm obsessed with. My skin chemistry unfortunately does something bizarre with the dry down, since I end up smelling like hangover breath, which, needless to say, is extremely unpleasant. I suspect the salt note, although luckily this does not happen with another salty perfume Kenzo World Power. But as long as I spray this beauty on clothes only, I am in for a gorgeous ride and it continues to be one of my favourite blends.
Andy224
Love me some salty vanilla scents and this is no exception. Such a feel good perfume that can be perfectly worn on summertime/warm temperatures days. It’s unique, refreshing and uplifting. Great performance too.
dinadina
Anyone else that thinks that it is similar to Ajwad? Just a bit fresher.
Marxwick
The floral, vanilla, salty ambergris, and creamy sandalwood are pleasant and intoxicating in the air.
The intensity of the fragrance may be overwhelming when it is smelled up close on the skin.
The longevity and projection are decent.
pommedemars
A love-hate relationship with this fragrance, the salt vanilla mix is very interesting yet the metallic blast is very disturbing, I love jasmine but I hate the too much of it. it's super strong in an annoying way, it gave me a headache. For me this is a loud girl who is fun to be around when partying but no real depth or originality. Perfect for parties and if you want a confident boost in a room full of strangers.
Sarra816
this reminds me of idol aura because both of them have this salted vanilla to them... not really too much of a fan of how it smells on me but I will spray it on my bedsheets.. I thought I would be able to smell more of the white florals and jasmine but this smells like salty sand, like if you go to a salt water beach and smell the shoreline...
wintersong0
Long lasting good projection. Spring-early autumn. Surprisingly for me it’s fresh yet warm and sweet, I don’t get the salted caramel mostly the Jasmine. Big stand out i love it!!
DariaFrancesca74
Fragrance that evokes clear aquatic atmospheres, aquatic jasmine and the harsh citrus notes of almost unripe mandarin, immersed in brackish water, the marine note is a slight illusion, but the fragrance is brackish, salty, at the same time childish sweet, vanilla notes emerge. Unexpected temporal evolution, amber, pleasant, almost reassuring. Honestly I don't feel it is close to my olfactory preferences, it didn't excite me. Commercial fragrance without infamy and without praise.
curieuse
Warm fluffy shampoo floral. Very feminine. Some saltiness in it but feels clean, reminds me of Dior J'adore. I get why people say it reminds them of fabric softners. It's quite intense.
darkgiu
This scent has a stratospheric persistence, on me it is almost permanent I keep smelling it even after 15 hours! I love the combination of vanilla and salt, sexy and feminine, definitely a primarily summer scent, although it can also be considered at the same time very versatile because of the warm base! I also use it as an aromatherapy moment....when I need to mentally escape in a desert salty island somewhere.. 😎 Also for bedtime 😇🏝️
Cooler_Butter
The top notes do not go well with the base notes... I think the citrus and ginger + salt + base notes mixed together smell like sweat. Part of it still smells good - especially the vanilla - which makes it worse IMO. It could've been a very nice salty vanilla scent... to me, it smells like if a sweaty person put on a really nice perfume, or if a really nice-smelling person started sweating profusely.
CristinaScent
It was love at first snif. Beautiful, sexy and absolutely amazing feminine fragrance. Vanilla, salt and frowers like jasmine and also some marine notes get me right away. I also try Olympea Solar, but I think the original is better. Olympea (original) is one of my signature scents in summer. I have also use this fragrance on holidaytrips and its perfect for those too.
bad_flo
oooh yes , hello sexy mamacita! this perfume is for someone who has a sexy, confident attitude and feels comfortable in their womanhood! the salty notes blend so well with the florals , this is a long lasting perfume. if anyone wants a cheap and accurate replica for this, try Eyfel perfumes,code W223 .
FeleciaB
Eh. It's not particularly unique. Super strong though. I get the fabric softener comparisons. It was a blind buy. I'll never finish the bottle.
avv521
This scent is getting harder and harder to find in US stores, which is kind of sad since it's one of the most unique vanilla scents on the market. I used up one of my 5 ml samples of Olympéa and I am halfway through my second one.
When I first bought this, I did not like it. It straight up smelled like a plug in air freshener to my nose. But over time as I let the scent marinate in my collection, it started smelling so beautiful and sexy. I wore this all throughout my 2 week Italy vacation and the heat made it smell so intoxicating! Although they aren't at all similar in scent profile to one another, something about Olympéa and Tom Ford Soleil Blanc give me the same vibe: tan skin, on vacation, curly hair from the salt in the ocean, and just SEXY. Also, for anyone who is European, this scent reminds me of something my older cousins would wear out to the discotheques back in the 2010s.
The most prominent notes in Olympéa are the salt and vanilla, but the vanilla isn't edible to my nose. It's more like a fresh vanilla (which is probably why I was getting air freshener the first time). The jasmine is soft all throughout. I don't get any ginger or mandarin. The longevity of this scent it pretty strong. I do 2 sprays and I can smell it for 6+ hours on my skin. I also find that this scent does well in both super hot and super cold weather. Like I mentioned, I wear it on vacation but I have also worn it on nights out in the winter time. It's just a super versatile scent.
Overall, I used to hate this scent but now I like it, yet I don't think I would buy a full bottle since it takes me forever to go through a sample given how strong the scent is. If you are interested in purchasing it, I often see it sold at the airport duty free stores.
AquaJima
I get sunscreen, salty sea hair, California and surfer vibes. Is not fresh sunscreen, more the smell you get when the person is fresh out of the water and reaching for a towel.
I like the concept, but I don’t see myself making a commitment past a few days wearing it. The metallic note is not quite right for me.
Cait Sith
Salty vanilla, a little waxy. A sea breeze on a hot day. Ice cream after a swim in the ocean.
Olympea is the summation of a 2019 microtrend: The VSCO Girl. For those who weren't there to witness her, the VSCO Girl wears an oversized white t-shirt, a pair of birkenstock sandals and a shell necklace. She makes friendship bracelets on the beach, her hair salty and stiff from the midday surf. A little metallic in the opening, she takes candid polaroids of her friends and loves to drive. She is a tomboy with a little softness, just like Olympea's slightly powdery and extremely comforting sandalwood drydown.
There is something nostalgic about Olympea, some vague memory of coconut-scented sunscreen, of unbearably cool older sisters taking you to the beach in summer, their jasmine perfume mingling with the heat inside a car too old to have air conditioning. She is one of my favourite summer scents in the the dry heat of an Australian summer; it demands something clean and soft regardless of my wishes. Indeed, when I put her on I certainly feel cleaner, though the fragrance notes contain no suggestion of soapiness or clean laundry. The only downside? A little lack of longevity on my skin. She transforms quickly for me, and disappears far too soon.
begum123
It made me sick. Gave me headaches, nausea and fatigue.
calo_calico
It was love it at first sniff for me. I am probably the only one here who wishes it were saltier. I love salted sweets. Bring on the salt, Paco! 😘
AllyWindsor007
If you’ve had the opportunity to try Jean Paul Gaultier Divine, Juliette Has a Gun Vanilla Vibes, Maison Margiela fragrances Beach Walk, & Mugler Alien Goddess - you will LOVE Olympea.
At first sniff, I wasn’t sure if I loved it or not but let it settle and within moments, I was captivated. She is all things beautiful - her salty vanilla & floral composition is a true reminder of the beach & holiday (relaxation). Laying down on the warm sand, smelling the salty crisp blue water - all while inhaling the gourmand vanilla from the body lotion or sunscreen applied. She brings me back to Cuba - and I will never complain about that!
She is (in my opinion) under-rated - she is a front runner in beach like fragrances. I’ve seen mixed reviews saying she’s too strong - but I LOVE her & I think she’s a sexy & bold scent.
Missjojoh
This was a blind buy for me after reading the reviews I decided to take a chance (plus it was on offer for a small bottle)
Have to admit I wasn't completely sold on first "sniff" but its grown on me. I sprayed 2 sprays on my wrist at 730 this morning and I can still smell it now at 830pm!!
Lovely scent with excellent longevity (on me) 😊
angievoicu
It s too strong, i hate the smell, it turns my stomach. GROSS
MTK82
Confused with the reviews here! I think this is a very sexy perfume...feels Cozy and delicious! I like it a lot!
kcp
Gave me an anxiety attack. I don't even have anxiety.
Yussra smki
I just got a small bottle like one week ago and I’m totally disappointed :(
It doesn’t smell as I imagined.. I was expecting more vanilla scent.
It smells really noisy and on my skin it’s salty vanilla which smells really disturbing for me.
Not going to purchase it ever again.
kittywhiskers
As with other people here I was trapped into the hype and marketing and blind-bought hoping for something amazing. At first spray I loved it. Though it reminded me of my local mall it also brought warm fuzzy memories. Possibly the salt and warm vanilla reminds me of the pretzel stand right next to the chocolate/ice cream shop? And jasmine is usually such a comforting scent to me.
After wearing it a couple times, I'm a little bored of its linear-ness and want more out of it. I do agree with the reviewers that say this smells somewhat juvenile, sweet and cloying. It's missing depth, missing maturity... almost like it's a little girl's perfume. Personally I can't say which exact note is missing. Maybe more woodsy notes would do the trick?
The bottle is absolutely gorgeous though and I admit it's 90% the reason why I bought it. Unless you love aquatic-gourmands (two scent categories which I would never picture together but here we are) with a salty touch, I would steer clear.
himeboshi
I think it's an okay scent, I wouldn't buy it though. I tried my best to like it but the jasmine/vanilla/salt combination is very ordinary imo. It's very soft and I'm sure a lot of people would love it, but there's nothing really special about it. A boring aquatic scent.
ultimate.bliss
Imagine you're walking on a beach in the evening with someone you shouldn't be with. You can smell the saltiness of the sea everywhere, your vanilla perfume, and thanks to the sea breeze, you can even faintly smell the jasmine perfume of your secret lover. And that is exactly how this perfume smells like. Like a secret fling, someone your parents don't approve of. Clean, like the sea, and a bit messy, like vanilla and a bit of dirty jasmine.
I like this one a lot. Good longevity and okay sillage. I can imagine this on a young woman or a young man. Great for every season and weather.
dal1985
This has definitely been reformulated, the juice is lighter in the bottle when it used to be darker and it smells nothing like it did in 2019 and 2020, FM 436 dupe smells much more like how Olympea originally smelt, girlfriend is definitely sticking with that
Kizzyb93
When I bought this over a year back I’m going to be honest now I only bought for the sake of having it and to be honest I hated it.
Ok so Il explain after having my child I took fenugreek and if you don’t already know it makes your sweat smell of overpowering maple syrupy/slightly salty …(tbh not an awful smell however you get sick of it after a while )
This fragrance reminds me to much of that
So for anyone who really likes the smell of this just take fenugreek instead of forking out £80+☺️
joydoge
Man I truly really hate the smell of this, it smells like old cheap fabric softener, I think it’s the salt note that really bothers me.
ciobanu.andreea
To me this is very bitter, aquatic and with a touch of roasted almonds. This is all I detect. It leaves an aquatic breeze after a while, an ocean trail but the bitterness and roasted almonds always accompany the aquatic notes, until the end when it becomes a musky, woody base.
svdwdsn
This cause very very bad nausea for me. Blind bought because of the hype, and i fully regret it. 🤢
Callisa'sBlueSky
Olympéa is a bit of a temperamental perfume to me. When I wear this during the right weather it is absolutely gorgeous, but under the wrong conditions it can be cloying and somewhat sickening to me.
My favorite times to wear this is either early summer mornings when it is still cool and crisp, or mild and breezy spring days. When I wear this under these conditions, I get a beautiful, airy and almost aquatic jasmine scent supported by a very unique type of vanilla that reminds me of warm sand, with a slightly salty note. This feels like sitting on a warm sandy beach, overlooking the ocean and the breeze brings floral scents from afar which mixes beautifully with the salt and sand. I especially enjoy wearing this in airy and breezy conditions, catching whiffs of this perfume from a gentle breeze around you is fantastic.
When I wear this on colder days, I get a weird metallic note and the scent just does not develop and bloom on my skin. And if I wear this on really hot days, the vanilla takes over and it becomes sickening and cloying to me. On hot days the floral notes disappear and I smell only vanilla and sweaty saltiness.
The longevity of this is really good, I can smell it at least 12 hours on my skin. And I find that this is a strong perfume, it projects a lot so I have to spray mindfully when I wear this.
I would not recommend this as an everyday perfume, simply because I get such different results depending on the climate. But under the right conditions this is a very pleasant and easy to wear perfume.
Farolina
I smelt an empty bottle my roommate had left and I fell in love. I saved up to buy it the original version and I was underwhelmed!
However, after a while I can smell some 🥥.
SpiceyApple
Salty vanilla. Makes me think of sunkissed goddesses. Love it. It's perfect for summer and I can still smell it on my skin the next day. Good quality bottle, too. Recommend for all ages.
Alciia
Makes me nauseous
Blueberries
This is very ambergris/ambroxan dominant. I feel the aquatic jasmine and a hint of beautiful green mandarin but the metallic ambergris overpowers the other notes and as I'm sensitive to it, this wasn't a match for me. In summer I enjoy salty notes but the salt in this feels almost non existent, especially compared to Olympéa Solar with its potent saltiness.
Good performer sillage/longevity-wise.
Albena96
it smells like salty vanilla . I like it
Jessiebaby
I was really excited to try this perfume after reading many great reviews and was shocked. I don’t get any of the beautiful notes described by many. This perfume to me smells cheap, sweet, and juvenile. My husband didn’t like it at all either, said it smelt really young and sickly sweet. This perfume reminds me of a Britney perfume I used to wear when I was a young teen. I tend to go for seductive, spicy, intense fragrances. I’m also a beach bum and don’t think it’s suitable for a beachside moment either.
Lauren387
If anyone has or knows where to source a pre-formulation Olympea (old style bottle that is not pictured at top of this page), could you please message me? I would appreciate that so much.
onjelbercier
Awful! The opening smells like Softsoap and the drydown smells like the inside of a Ross. It does not smell like it belongs on someone's body. It's airfreshener, not perfume.
brandybasisty
This is a watery floral bomb on me that's almost headache inducing. I'm not getting any salted vanilla- drydown has an aquatic unisex feel that's slightly sweet. It's interesting that some reviewers here say that all they get is vanilla, so perhaps it depends on which formulation it is. My review is of an older bottle. Not for me.
Manasa_gr
The opening notes are a blend of jasmine and mandarin, it captivates you just after a few seconds of spraying on to the skin. And it slowly gives off salted vanilla notes within half an hour.. such a comforting fragrance. It smells really light but still has your attention throughout. The longevity and sillage is great, off the charts. Works great for the summers too. Can't get enough of this fragrance!
ru2
This really grew on me. Initially I found it really powdery and strong, but I learnt that I needed to spray VERY lightly. A little goes a long way with this for sure. The powdery-ness does go away eventually and then you’re left with a fresh, aquatic, feminine smell. It was a compliment getter for me. I have used it up now, but I think next time I might get the eau du toilette or the other versions just to give them a try.
fairylightprincess
this is v salty, but i love the blend of it with the vanilla. it’s not as sweet as i usually prefer, but i really think i could see myself wearing this day-to-day :)
strawberrystar
I am not so sure about this fragrance. I really liked it on paper, but it smells completely different on my skin. I only smell a very chemical opening followed by a strange metallic scent. I hope I will smell the same sweet vanilla and florals I got on paper after a few more wears.
haus0fXI
All I can say is WOW.
The salty note in the beginning is extremely strange to me. I don’t think I’ve ever smelt something quite like that before and it’s intriguing. It lingers quite a while but the dry down is pure jasmine and I’m just in awe.
This fragrance is pure femininity.
To my nose, I get Salt, Jasmine and Faint vanilla. (So far)
I can tell this is not offensive at all to the point where one can wear all seasons.
I don’t have anything in my collection that smells like this and I love that.
This was definitely a successful blind purchase.
I’ll have to look into the other Flankers of this and see if I have the same positive review :)
ava96
Opening is white floral, vanilla and salt. It's very good for summer, though maybe not in suuuuper intense heat.
The drydown gets saltier but there is still a lot of vanilla.
Overall nice but not full bottle worthy for me.
softhe
I fell in love with this perfume a few years ago, whilst I was still in college. It was one of the first name brand perfumes I ever bought for myself, and had since sparked my love for vanilla and salt in fragrances - there just seems to be something that works with my chemistry.
Whenever I wear this, it sticks to me like glue, it lasts FOREVER, and anyone within 6 feet can smell me; on the flip side, whenever I encounter someone else wearing this juice out in the real world I can smell them from 6 feet away too. I love it!
Personally, I think this is more of a cold weather juice - when it's hot or humid it feels a bit like a heavy, sticky cloud (or so I've been told). I've worn it both day time and night time, I think you can dress it up or dress it down!
Anyway - I love this perfume. I'm actually on my 2nd 100ml bottle and it's been so worth it every time!
marietangerine
If YSL Libre Le Parfum is winter, this is the summer counterpart. That vanilla ginger white floral combo is quite warming and sensual. The added saltiness makes this more “summer nights” appropriate.
Strong sillage and longevity.
Farolina
Well, I have great memories with this one.
I first smelled it on my roommate abroad who happened to be sweet- just like her signature scent.
We were in summer, I sniffed the empty bottle she left behind, I almost took it with me that's how much I liked it.
I am not sure if it is discontinued now?
I am still eyeing it for sure!
I love jasmine (blended not on its on).
I smelled the salty note too, perfect for the beach.
I also like that it is sweet but not syrupy or cloying.
The ginger is well-blended too, I actually like this note.
I JUST ADOREEEE IT!
Catanddog
The salty note is off putting
lynne2
What a strange fragrance. At first I couldn't think of season to make it shine. It's somehing in between cologne and sugary perfume, like the echo from 90's (metallic smell ) meets 'la vie est belle'. Well, I can imagine who can wear this. It's an excellent choice for people who literally are anosmic for citrus and all freshies. As you always have hard times with summer fragrances, Olympea is a perfect sollution.
katiesimpsonhair
Something about this reminds me of Miss Dior Cherie. So addictive!
Lotte_Liese
This is definitely an interesting floral- the salty note and ambergris keep things interesting as you're left guessing what the notes may be, but the influence of vanilla in the dry down turns this jasmine floral sweet, almost gourmand, but not quite- that salty note and bit of ginger step in.
It's highly feminine, sophisticated and worthy of being a signature scent for the woman who prefers her florals.
Xela_529
I love & adore Olympea! She's one of my favorite designer fragrances. I know she can be somewhat controversial, so I would advise against blind buying if you aren't too familiar with salty vanillas. I can also see her not working with certain chemistries.
I find her to be more complex, especially for a designer fragrance which I really appreciate. I would say she's a tad more mature; I think it takes a bold woman to rock her. The blend here is simply intoxicating to me in a way I can't describe.
All in all, she's a great and very unique fragrance, perfect for spring, summer, and even fall. 8/10 for me.
canabena
Very interesting scent. I wouldn't call this a safe blind buy just because its so complex.I really like it though, The way it all blends together is really beautiful. I get the salt which gives it this ocean air feel but then the florals really help to tone it down and create that perfumeyness.There's a touch of fruitiness too which comes from the mandarin and ginger.Its an overall beautifully blended exotic scent wonderful addition to my collection.I also wanted to add this is the perfect beach girl scent, the more I smell it the more it makes me want to hit the beach.This will be reserved as my vacation scent love it!
valentina.marini
this is a genius gourmand, so interesting and different. sweet and salty! i love this as i love its slightly superior brother Pure XS (which could be a flanker of this) in the colder months.
Maria19
This is the choice of a confident woman. The vanilla and saltiness make this a wonderful scent. Lasts on my skin for hours. I can't describe this other than not for the faint of heart. I am glad I have it. A blind buy, I knew I am going to love it.
poodleParty
Wow, this smells SO good on my skin. Ultimate pretty California girl/beach bum vibes.
I've been interested in testing out more salty perfumes this summer, and this is the perfect amount of saltiness. Not too much, but it's noticeable. I won't be getting it this year, but maybe next year...I'm guessing it's not going anywhere, since they keep making flankers of this.
This is one of those perfumes that smell different everyone...I can tell by just reading the reviews. Some perfumes with Ambergris definitely smell like cigarettes on my skin, but this one didn't smell like that.
ellasfragrancelibrary
just….no. I’d heard SO many people go on and on about how beautiful this fragrance is and how it’s their favorite salty vanilla, warm and comforting, etc. I love gourmands and vanilla so I really just wanted to blind buy a bottle because I’m impulsive but something told me to get a vial sample first so I did. Got it in the mail and was soooo excited; I sprayed it on my skin immediately and I have never been more disappointed annd annoyed because I felt like I had been mislead. I don’t know if it’s the jasmine or the ginger flower but that floral note punches you straight in the nose and just doesn’t let up. I can kind of smell the “salty vanilla” in the back but that combined with the obnoxious floral makes it smell like sweet playdough. It smells so much like Pink Friday by Nicki Minaj to me, which I also find repulsive. I've never considered myself to be picky but maybe I am, or maybe there’s just something that those fragrances have in common that makes my nose go wacky but this is just gross 🤕
katiesimpsonhair
Love this so much it’s the ultimate summer scent for me. I can really smell the Jasmine which reminds me of coco Chanel Mademoiselle. I also get the mandarin note but mostly jasmine, the vanilla isn’t that noticeable it must be in there somewhere. For me it smells like salty-sweet beach with sun cream on warm skin.There’s something very unique about this scent that I just love. I also love the bottle it’s so pretty.
SilkyWoods
I quite like this on paper, but it’s straight sushi on my skin unfortunately lol
Lovely246
This smells amazing! The opening is very fresh and fun with a lot of that saltiness tempered by beachy flowers. The dry down turns sultry and smells like a smokey gourmand. The vibe of this frag is definitely that effortlessly gorgeous sun kissed surfer babe that spends all day hanging with the chiseled dudes on the beach. The girls are all jealous to the point of hatred and all of the guys want to date her but she only sees them as friends except for one, who holds her heart. At the end of a long day on the waves they all lay down some blankets and roast some marshmallows on the beach. Her eyes meet his across the fire and she gets goosebumps.
This scent totally smells like that super cool but so sexy chick. And much like that chick this frag is fresh and fun early on followed by some notes that are more enticing and complex.
10/10 would wear all summer long
cleanirene
I find the first whiff nauseatingly sweet and on a friend of mine it smells like cotton candy, but on my skin it dries down into a seductive, warm and delicious scent of vanilla and musk in a matter of minutes. My boyfriend and I both love this on me!
LSAUG
My husband loves this, but I think he is going to have to live w/out me wearing it. For me Olympea is just an OK. And an OK for what it is. A beach/party girl perfume. Now I'm not against those type of perfumes I own a couple but what bugs me about Olympea is the ginger lily and salt. There is way too much ginger and salt in this perfume, especially in the opening that is very off putting. As the perfume goes a long those notes do fade quite a bit but I can still detect them. Olympea does become a very creamy coconut/white floral/vanilla w/ a salty caramel vibe but that damn ginger really ruins this for me much more than the salt I'm afraid. I agree w/ the reviewer below this does have some sushi vibes going on here w/ all the ginger and salt. I'm sure they added those notes to keep this perfume from becoming just another vanilla/white floral perfume, but I wish they had dialed them back and by a lot. My husband can't smell them. He just smells salty caramel, beachy white floral yumminess. Olympea is worth a sample if you like this type of perfume. It depends on your nose if you get a lot of that ginger and salt. And some may enjoy that but it's not for me.
Allybabaa
Tried to like it but ended up selling my bottle. Why? The salt mixed with the ginger is SO overpowering and gives straight up sushi vibes. The marine note doesn’t help that either 😅. Only in the dry down (I’m talking like 1-2 hours later) does this become a wearable, sexy, summertime frag. But that opening is pungent and gross. Couldn’t get over it. Not worth it folks.
mvddies
Honestly the jasmine makes this not dissimilar to a bathroom spray for me? It has a very skin-like scent, not super unpleasant but not really my thing for sure
domesticangel
i really wish this one worked for me! salty notes really intrigue me, and olympea is one that kept coming up over and over again when i was hunting down perfumes that utilize a salty smell (my first dive was with womanity, which i love, but this ain't about her), so when i finally tried it, i was met with disappointment :^(
i'm glad i saw at least a handful of other reviewers mention a cigarette smell, otherwise i would've thought i was hallucinating--it literally made my wrist smell like some sort of sweetness trying to cover up cigarette smoke. any sort of cigarette smell nearly makes me gag, so that was a huge let down and a total deal breaker. i gave it two full days of concerted effort, but it fell so terribly flat on me--i got none of the warm animalic, fresh sweetness, or intriguing saltiness that other users have described. just a very general sweetness laying on top of those cigarettes that never did evolve into something more complex or alluring. i own a couple of fragrances i didn't like at first but powered through until i saw the light and began to love them dearly, but this one is so unpleasant to me that i have no desire to see if we may have more chemistry down the line.
it's a pass for me and i'll be returning my bottle, but i would really love to know what this smells like on someone whose chemistry actually plays nice with it! it's always sad when you aren't invited into the cool kids club with fragrances that blossom so interestingly and beautifully on others, but that's life. they can't all be winners!
HannahRosesAreRed
Gourmands are a hit or miss on my skin. I like smelling them on others, but not usually on myself–they can be too cloying. Vanilla can sometimes work, though it can be too heady or sweet. Paco Rabanne's Olympea, however, is not. It's just right! It's a very sweet, slightly savory and extremely sexy vanilla fragrance, backed up by indolic and animalic jasmine. The salt and marine notes give this perfume that distinct beachy, sunkissed and almost skinlike quality. It's warm, inviting, sensuous and a major head-turner.
Paco Rabanne doesn't skimp on quality–this is a powerful fragrance with great sillage and longevity, really "less is more." One or two sprays is all you need to make your presence known. Although Olympea is pretty marine, with that salty ambergris note, I find that this might be too strong to wear in the summer heat, though it would be fantastic for summer nights. I could wear this for all seasons, especially fall and winter–I lived on the east coast my whole life and the idea of a warm, marine fragrance for beach autumns and winters is a dream come true. (Yes, the beach can be cold!)
Olympea is super versatile. I could wear this layered with cozy sweaters on cold winter nights curled up with a book, or live my surfer girl fantasies in spring and summer. Fabulous scent. Word of caution–because it's so sweet and powerful, I recommend bringing Olympea out for play and out of the office. Now, I'm off to hunt down the Intense and Aqua flankers!
crissy25
I adore Olympea! I'm obsessed with the whole line. I have 4 including this one, the original. It's a gorgeous, rich vanilla, amber dream. It's slightly creamy from the sandalwood. The salt and ginger gives it something special. I love this in the summer but it's works year round. This is a very sweet scent which is right up my alley. Excellent projection and good longevity. I like the bottle design too! I can't wait to try more from this line.
Projection: 8/10
Longevity: 8/10
Overall Experience: 10/10
books.art.dogs
Perfect everyday fragrance for spring and summer, and definitely signature scent worthy.
Olympea lives up the hype, guys. It’s this perfect light, sweet, and somehow fresh vanilla- I suppose from the ginger note. Plus the longevity is fabulous. I sprayed it on a shirt, pulled the same shirt out a week later, and it still smelled strongly of Olympea.
I absolutely love it, and will most likely purchase Olympea Intense this fall.
Azadae23
It reminds me of Fleur de corail by Lolita Lempica ...I don't know why but it does ! I had higher expectations it kinda disappointed me 😕 Makes me dizzy I'd prefer it to be freshier..
fluffyfairy
'European teenage girl in the summer' is a perfect description of this.
gonegirl
you know that initial sharp alcoholic blast that most perfumes have right after you spray them? that never really goes away with olympéa. it just smells harsh and sharp and perfumey. i wanted to like it because the notes sounded interesting and the bottle is GORGEOUS, but i’ve tried it twice and was underwhelmed both times.
Velvetta
Shes beautiful, but she has her messy moments. I am not sure yet how it works, but sometimes i do get this weird sweaty-salt that throws me off, but when she does perform well on my skin other time - its georgeous! It really has this summer goddess vibe and does turn heads. There is just something weird with this one on my skin sometimes, but i didnt figure this out yet. It does last tho! I am not sure about projection, i have general problem with it - but Olympea remains noticeable for a long time, thats for sure. Really good price and performance ratio. Also i have to add, that personally i am not a big PR Perfumes fan, but this girl is an exception for me. Definitely worth a try.
P_a_p_e_rcuts
I really love this! A scent that really shines on the skin, I find it doesn’t pack much of a punch on clothes. Oh my skin it’s just warm vanilla and lots of salt, and it makes me feel so sexy. I actually love to layer with this too, I add it to overly sweet scents or freshies and the salt just elevated other scents. The bottle is honestly probably my favourite in my collection. My only gripe is that it doesn’t last that long on me, but I do have that with a lot of frags. Definitely keen to pick up the intense
Edit: I can sadly no longer reach for this. Whenever I wear this now it’s just heady white florals and makes me feel dirty when I wear it, and gives me a headache. I like the smell still on paper, but on my skin it is too overwhelming for me. This is a sad one for me because it’s such a great summer scent.
anthirasamsara
Olympéa reminds me strongly of a hot surfer babe with salt and sand in her sun-kissed hair. Her chiseled abs are glistening with salt - is it from the sea or her own sweat? Either way, you wouldn't mind licking it off. Is that too sexy? Sorry. It's a sexy scent. A never-ending sunset, golden hour, glistening decadence.
toastytina
I've only worn this a couple times, but so far, I'm loving it! For me, it's the perfect mix of gourmand and fresh. I'm not the biggest fan of gourmand fragrances but this one does it for me. It also smells somewhat luxe to me. The dry down is so addictive and sultry.
TessaG
The first time I smelled this I hated it. I didn't get 'summer' from the scent at all. But, for some reason, I saw the bottle again in another store the next day, and decided to spray it on - and omg, the notes really do work! The initial strong sweetness dries down and the saltiness and vanilla really come out. It's absolutely stunning. I can't stop smelling my wrists when it dries down until I can only catch a whiff of the mandarin, salt, and sandalwood!
Twentzel
Call me crazy, but it reminds me of Girl of Now by Elie Saab, it’s dry down 🙃
Apaolone04
This is one of the few fragrances in my collection that really takes me to another place. I went on a month long trip to Colorado, I had blind bought this fragrance right before hand and immediately knew that was gonna be my new scent. It was end of summer/beginning of fall and I felt like it fit the mood perfectly. I would describe this as an aquatic floral with salt and vanilla almost at a 50/50. Something about it is so addicting, maybe the ambergris. So addicting I used the full 1oz while I was there, even though I brought 7 different perfumes. My only complaint is that it doesn’t last long on me. My first bottle had a light beige colored juice, second bottle now has a dark orange juice but the scent and longevity are exactly the same.
Rose1412
I'm not sure where the salt is in this? I only smell heavy, cloying sweetness. Don't really like this.
helen2323
Okay, I'm no perfume expert, but Olympea had me hooked like a fish on a hook! I mean, who knew vanilla, salt and water jasmine could be such a dream team? The first spritz is a bit spicy for my taste, but then it gets sweet and salty like a snack on the beach. Don't even get me started on the drying part - it's like a warm embrace from a sexy mermaid.
My boyfriend actually liked it too, which is a miracle because he usually says all my perfumes smell like "fancy flowers" or "weird spices". But he said I smell delicious, so I think I'm going to wear this a lot.
Aksha.aa
Another one of my favourites. Lots of salt and vanilla. The projection is amazing and the longevity on my skin is eternal. I wore this on my vacation to a tropical place and it was perfect. 5-6 sprays can last for a day or two🫣. Beach with pristine blue waters and blue skies, sipping pina colada with palm trees swaying in the back is the vibe I get from this fragrance. Perfect for summer and with spot on layering it can be ideal for other weathers too. My bottle is almost over and I definitely will be purchasing this again.
Rating-10/10
Cadera97
This perfume was already born a classic. It's soft and elegant yet innovative. I dislike the smell of seafood and fragrances with calone smell like egg whites on my skin, but Ive had none of these issues with Olympéa. This is my go-to fragrance when I want to smell chic and rest from overpowering scents.
IsSheNotFragrant
Not surprised to see Monsieur Ropion's name in the frame. His hit rate is way above average. This is a good, solid, wearable fragrance. Im not generally a big fan of vanilla but the saltiness takes the edge off the sweetness enough to make it adult and chic. The ambergris enlarges the warmth and the citrusy-salt accord keeps it clean and airy so that it remains simultaneously warm and fresh. On top of which, its a versatile all year rounder despite its obvious summery connotations; appropriate for almost any setting. Sillage and longevity are also very good. All in all excellent value for your money. There aren't many frags you can say that about these days.
ps. this must be sprayed on skin to test because of the interaction of the salt note on skin and body chemistry. On card, it can smell almost almost harsh but it assumes a different quality on skin.
Rach2star
My all time favourite perfume great for summer time but I could wear all year round. I find it warm and comforting.
Reminds me of sitting on a beach on a hot summers day.
Amber Plokchouli
This fragrance reminds me once again of how strong our associations with scents are. Olympéa is *sensual* but not sexy, I’m the sense that it doesn’t induce imagery of sexy black lingerie or boudoir. This is salty sun tanned skin on the beach. Bronze bodies rolling in the Sam’ sand. White sand sticking to tanned skin. There’s hint of sunscreen mixed in.. this is hot sweaty summer days with a sea breeze in a bottle. It’s the smell of skin without being animalic, as it doesn’t represent the animalic notes of skin, but the salty ones. It’s beautiful.
On first spritz I was a bit disappointed, I had tested this on my skin in store and remembered it as being more seductive than what I pick up in the opening. I also was reminded strongly of another fragrance, after a little while it came to me: Oscar de La Renta - Blue Velvet. At this point I spray blue velvet in my elbow to compare, and they are indeed very very similar. BV has a bit more of a berry note, but in the opening of Olympea they are both very similar in that velvety, salty vanilla goodness.
After the opening Blue Velvet stays a bit more floral with a touch of berry whereas Olympea settles into that GORGEOUS vanillic salty skin scent. From here on they are different, but still similar enough that BV could’ve easily been an Olympea flanker. They have a lot of similar notes and if you are a huge Olympea fan and want something similar, that leans a bit more towards fresh berries, than Blue Velvet is worth a try for a (VERY affordable) Olympea flanker. Don’t expect them to smell the same though. They’re both beautiful in their own way. Olympea is more sensual where BV is like her playful, cheeky, weird little sister. BV stays closer to the opening of Olympea for its duration, it does have Olympea’s creaminess, but never quite reaches that simmering warmth of Olympia’s dry down.
Like many others have said Olympea can be worn in the colder months due to that vanillic warmth, but the scent itself is summery. In winter you’ll be breathing it in longing for the heat of summer to roll around in the hot sand. In summer It’s the perfect scent for a night out, to have that after beach sandy smell, that never quite disappears in the shower, cling to your body.
Such a gorgeous scent. Very few scents invoke such strong imagery. Definitely a keeper.
Update:
I just can’t get over how addictive this is. It’s the skin like quality that makes me constantly smell my wrists. It reminds me of a summer where I camped on the beach. I was so clean from swimming all the time and my skin would smell exactly like this. That natural sweetness of clean warm skin with a touch of salt. Maybe some sweat, but the absolute cleanest kind of sweat without any body odour. There’s no muskiness, just skin and salt. GORGEOUS! It seems to layer well with just about anything too if you want to give a fragrance a bit more body and warmth. It’s the type of scent that you often don’t smell on yourself, because it’s like a second skin. Is there though and lasts quite well. It doesn’t have insane longevity though, if I spray it before bed I don’t really smell it in the morning, except maybe the faintest of faintest whispers, whereas beast fragrances can even linger when sprayed in the morning on the day before. Still I’m guessing you get about 6-8 hours from this. I’ve tested this in store a few times before, and now I regret not actually buying it sooner 😆
My pet peeve with Paco Rabanne fragrances is that their bottles tend to be a bit tacky and cheap looking (in my opinion that is). I feel like they want to cater to a specific audience, that is just not me, and when I see their bottles I expect their fragrances to smell a lot cheaper than they do. It’s minor offence compared to making a bad fragrance though ;)
Lipsticklights
Oh my this is gorgeous 😍 verry late to the party haha been after a versitle signature frag beachy but not strictly coconut, summer use only! I can see this being stunning in the heat of summer nights and equally lovely in the cooler fall times.
I have had bronze goddess in the past and just had no staying power whatsoever, finally have found my scent! Please never discontinue this paco rabbane have just placed an order for a big 80ml 🥰❤️ Gorgeous sweet not gourmand though, salty skin day at the beach summer in Greece sitting by the sunset and palm trees ahhh bliss!!
Midnight Raine
Just tested this scent. Without looking at the listed notes this smells like oud, incense and burnt sugar on me. 😆
Definitely odd. If I want a sweet oud & incense smell, I'll stick to Raghba Wood Intense.
Edit: Okay, now I get the hype. The drydown 5 - 6 hours later is gorgeous! Sweet vanilla & salted caramel. It seems to last for quite a while on skin.
xsxcstarx
I always remember smelling this for the first time & thought what an unusual lovely smelling scent, the salt note is what stood out to me.
When I purchased my own bottle it still had the salt but very faint, it felt like its 'edge' had gone. I find Olympea a hard one to describe, it smells dry & very clean to me
I would say this isn't a blind buy, I really like it & love wearing it in summer but it this is a chameleon on everyone
la_belle_duchesse
Absolutely in love with Olympéa! 😍 This is such a sweetly-fresh scent. The mix of floral and vanilla is beautifully done but what I especially love is the salt note in it! It is just delicious. I think that this is a scent that can be worn in any season - the salt note makes it fitting for summer but it is a bit deeper than other summery fragrances and works well in colder months too. Its lasting power is also quite good. I sprayed it only a few times, thinking it wouldn't be noticed but got complimented by a co-worker. A current favorite for sure! ❤️
yourbestie
sexiest fragrance ever, also really long lasting on my skin 😍
Roos88dutch
Love the beach vibe it gets. Really summery
Ambrenuit
An enchanting fragrance for goddesses. Although it is more oriental than fresh, it is not heavy, for me it is a summer evening scent. One of my classics that I will always return to. Beautiful, intoxicating, immortal, divine.
Efrosini
New review: I hadn't worn this in years, until a few days ago. Spring is coming, although it's still icy outside. The blue skies and sunshine is elevating the mood. I used to think of this as too generic for my taste. It might be generic, but I still enjoy it for just being around the house. It's an uplifting, easygoing fragrance.
One of my absolute vices regarding anything sweet is the synthetic bubblegum/tutti frutti flavour (I'm also a synthetic banana lover, taste wise). There is a certain hint of tutti frutti in this, a flowery bubblegum streak. I don't want to smell fruity, like Trésor, but I like smelling like this. Paco Rabanne is synthetic and pretty generic in general, which is okay, if that's what you're looking for in the moment. Not every day is an Angel day.
Stimul
I am sorry, I really wanted to like this therefore I blind bought it. For Paco, for the top three rank listed under the Salt Ingredient, for the controversial comments and complicated promises.
Alas, the only thing I liked was the salt though it leaned an alternative to Mugler's Womanity.
A retro, outdated combination between the said Womanity, Cerutti 1881 and the very first Givaudan's C-THRU purple, same fresh aromatics as in latter, though not listed in both pyramids.
One spray and I returned it. Olympea reminded me of three scents that I used to like in the past but not nowadays. I have much better frags to enjoy.
Cheap, not justifying bottle. Poor glass badly shaped, some scratches on out of a sealed package, plastic cap. Nothing Olympic.
Paco, I still love you for yourself and for the Ultraviolet Summer Pop I used to accompany on hot summer night clubs in my 20s.
suzanne_ronald
A MODERN-DAY GREEK GODDESS (or in some quotes a 'Modern-Day Cleopatra') is said to be the inspiration for this scent, signed by Anne Flipo (La Vie Est Belle Lancome), Dominique Ropion (Alien Mugler, La Vie Est Belle Lancome, Euphoria Calvin Klein) & Loc Dong (Euphoria Calvin Klein). This scent has her visiting the Florida Keys. Imagine the wind in your hair as you drive a convertible up to a surf shop bordered by flowers. Next door is a sweet shop with open doors out of which the scents of key-lime pie and saltwater taffy waft on the breeze. Hydroponic jasmine and salty vanilla open this beauty and deepen onto an ambergris and woody base. Love at first scent!
Coontrast to Olympea Legend;
These are definitely not the same. Legend is an amped version of the salty vanilla aspects of Olympea, with rich ambery tones that altogether evokes ambergris with a burnt, creme brulee quality. Needs a light touch or you will feel asphyxiated by a vanilla pod.
Contrast to Olympea Aqua:
Aqua comes close to the original Olympea, but jasmine is more forward here giving an overall more fresh experience than marine. This one is nice layered over Olympea Legend.
Contrast to Olympea Aqua EDP Legere: This definitely has the Olympea DNA, but slightly less vanilla forward and, although not listed, to my nose has a bitter orange/orange blossom note not found in Olympea. I love this one because it smells to me like orange blossom bath salts I got in Casablanca. Because of this, it rivals the OG for top spot IMO.
Contrast to La Rive In Flames:
This is a fairly close approximation to Olympea but with a much more modest performance. In addition there is a faint coconut note that isn't listed in Olympea although to my nose it's in both of these two. This one is perfect for a dumb reach in Spring/Summer, or if you want to get an idea of how this scent profile smells. Works best after spraying and storing a few months.
Contrast to Afnan Ornament:
This one has been compared to Olympea Intense. If you are a fan of Olympea Intense you might like this, and it seems to be a crowd pleaser. However to my nose it's missing the ingredients that make this scent profile special, and instead goes in a slightly different direction, more vanilla-tonka and white floral.
Overall: Above average performance from the start, this is versatile enough to be worn year round by anyone and for any occasion. FB worthy. 10/10.
Ayshaa
This is a very, very pleasant scent. Sometimes I will just remove the cover and just smell the perfume without pressing down on the atomizer. It, however, doesn't project far when I wear it and it doesn't seem to last as long either....and that is what keeps me on the fence about repurchasing it in the future. I may try layering this with the Olympea deodorant to see if that makes improves projection and longevity. Something about it reminds me of ...a sweet slushy drink....with some salt in it. Or....the salted glass rim of a cocktail.
Kizzyb93
Smells like plastic... On skin it became a lot more sweet but it was very unpleasant and I could not seem to wash it off my skin... it doesn’t smell the same as Gucci Rush, but it has the same type of feels to it….
Longevity, it would last on your skin forever
Projection a little bit over average
(I really love the intense version of this)
This is not for me
Hifza
Its kind of a beachy and summery fragrance. I kind of have a love and hate relationship with this. It completely depends on the mood either this fragrance is to be sprayed or not. Floral notes balance this fragrance very well.
habiba ahmed
it's a salty scent which is not my type at all
Elfin Will
A good sweet and salty scent. I don't know if I'd ever buy it, it's the kind of perfume I couldn't bear on me for more than 5 hours (I find it heady, especially if it's hot outside). But the fragrance is really beautiful, as well as its evolution. You can smell its different notes as you go along. I love the way it smells on clothes the next day! And ohh that Cachmeran.. I'm in love!
This perfume has a good longevity, a good sillage, but the different olfactory notes will dissipate little by little, and all you can smell in the end of the day is salted vanilla (its dry down reminds me a lot of Do Not Drink, "Eau Sucrée Salée" by Sephora!)
8/10
Catmo
If you love salty and beachy fragrances, you’ll love this. If you hate salty fragrances you’ll definitely hate this.
This is my favorite summer fragrance and I’ll never be without it.
Rosemary14
Olympea is the fragrance that taught me that very thick, heavy, vanilla doesn’t go with marine, salty, fishy, ambergris. (I’m pretty sure I already kind of knew that) Even though tons of fragrance reviewers love this fragrance and swear by it, it’s not a safe blind buy imo. I find this fragrance very animalic in the ambergris. You might not smell that to be true though. The only way to know is to test it on your skin. On me this smell’s synthetic and clashy and just… not good.
Tiffcampos87
So disappointed! Everyone raves about this but on my skin, it smells like a men’s cologne from the early 2000’s?! It’s way too masculine for me.
tarajane91
Warm, salty vanilla with jasmine - I think this is a pretty sexy scent! I still love it and I think it can work all year round. I agree with another comment that 2-4 sprays is enough as longevity and sillage are very good. It lasts ages on clothes! I don't think this scent will agree with everyone, so definitely try a tester on skin first.
fars96x
Really doesn't sit well on my skin, I get a slight sweet vanilla at the start. But on dry down - I just get lots of salt and almost a reed diffuser smell. After a while, it made me feel quite nauseous.
Elinj89
This smells amazing on my friend and awful on me. I've tried it on a couple of different occasions, but it doesn't sit well with my skin chemistry. Sorry to say, but it is quite headache indusing.
thebeautifulsurrender
Smells just like Beach Walk to me.
joikgirl
Used to own this, my mom has gone through so many bottles of it. Now smelling this, there is ginger and a lot of green mandarin and in the end vanilla, no salt though. Would not waste my own money on this.
LoveBitch246
Unfortunately, like Libre, this turns into something akin to carpet fresh or air freshener on me… the sharpness in the opening also gave me a headache. I am slowly realizing through my sampling journey that I don’t really enjoy “fresh” scents.
Hey.its.allie.24
I personally love Olympea i think is one of my most used and favorite perfumes of all time! It just smells so unique and sexy to me. The scent is so seductive and charming every time i wear it I can't stop smelling myself!
It's a gourmand perfume but not ordinary gourmand if that makes sense? It's not that sweet because of the salt but it's so warm and cozy due to vanilla, ambergris and Cashmere. I do smell all the notes except mandarin I think it doesn't give a fruity vibe at all. The projection to my skin is very high but it's a deep and heavy perfume anyway.
pariamehr
I don't like the ginger but I just gave this half an hour it turned into a nice salty vanilla very sweet tho! It's nice winter fragrance nothing special about it
ellabr
I don't like how this opens but I love the pretty vanilla dry down!! Sweet but still classy
SaltyVanilla
This is my favorite fragrance. When I first spray I get a hit of light jasmine that is not migraine inducing, heavy, or indolic. The jasmine in this fragrance just imbues a light and almost aquatic floral quality to the scent that lasts through the top and the mid. I get just a touch of spicy warmth from the ginger flower that adds a bit of fun. Then I get hit with the main show: a yummy, yummy salty vanilla that is not edible but at the same time delicious and addictive. This has just the right little touch of sweetness without being what I would call a sweet fragrance. There is nothing sugared, candied, or gourmand in here. Finally the fragrance closes with a warm, cozy, musky skin scent that must be the ambergris. The overall picture is warm, inviting, skin like, but also aquatic.
nadascents
i just don’t get it. this smells like an air freshener spray in the worst most artificial way possible.
Abbaloney
I really tried to like Olympea but I just cant. It just smells like someone who sprayed themselves with a nice floral deodorant spray after having an intense workout at the gym.
I really think its my nose. I may enjoy it more in the future, who knows.
gxbjw
This and Invictus EDT are the popular annoying couple that everyone wants to hang out with. They’re actually cool though, just not everyone’s cup of tea.
In all seriousness, this is the female version of Invictus EDT in terms of sweetness, playfulness and also being not unique at all. But hey, at least it’s well-blended.
Shikin27
I don't get a lot of the salt just a lot of white florals.
Alice611
Quite different from what I’m used to.it’s got that salty note which works really well with the vanilla.it’s sweet but not sickly sweet and has some freshness to it. Nice perfume that could be worn in both summer and winter
peachygal
Salted vanilla is essentially what this is. The salt note is prominent throughout.
It’s a summer scent for sure because of the salt but it’s deeper than what I would deem a summer scent so totally appropriate for winter wear if that is something you consider.
It’s an unusual scent because the salt is so prominent. And it’s very sweet. Performance is very good too and the dry down is even nicer. The vanilla shines here. Really beautiful.
Serasmellsgood
Since I currently live in a tropical country and the humidity is atrocious, vanillas/gourmands risk becoming sticky and cloying.
Olympea manages to steer clear of that sickly territory while still having the brown sugar beachy vanilla forward fragrance. And it stays all day!
The other notes help to give the fragrance depth and conjures up an image of Southeast Asian deserts - while maintaining a watery element that keeps it wearable.
The key to this fragrance is to not over spray. 2-4 is enough <3
Paco ate this UP y’all I’m in love
*loves_shoes*
Tried this again today, just to check, and yes, I still prefer the intense. This is nice, but it has a slightly sickly quality bout it. I prefer the richness of the intense.
Gyps
What an interesting fragrance. I’ve had it sitting for a while now and decided to pull it out. Initial blast of citrus and salt to my nose. I thought it was going to stay like that but the vanilla came wafting through. Really lovely and different. I never knew how a salt note would smell and now I’ve found out. It’s summer here and I think it’s a lovely fragrance for the warmer days. Very nice.
fantomette
Salty, marine, slightly boozy vanilla. Not my vibe and it unfortunately gave me a rash !
nateya
The opening smells exactly like the ocean, but in the best way possible. It’s salty, aquatic (but not fresh), oriental and vanilla. The drydown is a very perfumey vanilla scent. This is a hard one to describe, you really have to smell it for yourself. Nonetheless, very pretty & unique scent.
ca$hm3re
Salty.
It’s actually quite offensive to my nose, even though it’s not a super offensive scent profile oddly.
It is one I like, but definitely one I’d have to be in the mood for to wear, otherwise it would be causing a stressful headache.
The image is evokes for me is a popular blonde surfer girl with beads in her hair and a wetsuit on by the beach😂.
Salty vanilla, nice but not as safe a blind buy as I would’ve expected. Not my favourite.
roxhas123
This is me in a bottle.
Every year I either get it for Christmas or manage to grab some in the xmas/new year sales and its always been my go to. I always have more than 1 bottle at a time because its my comfort blanket fragrance.
Even manages to change my mood when wearing it :)
12/10 <3
arizonaruby
Salty, sweet floral. It might be the name/bottle but it make me think of sitting in an outdoor cafe at sunset in the Greek islands, surrounded by a trellis of blooming jasmine. It’s sexy and a nice change from the millions of fruity florals among designer fragrances at the moment. Men seem to really like this one on me.
susana_lago
I think this will be my forever favorite perfume. It just doesn't fail you, you can say is crowd pleasing but not to an extreme like La Vie Est Belle, it keeps his personality and I found people that find it a bit overwhelmed by it.
It's salty vanilla and some fresh sweet florals. The salty part makes it special, and the floral part gives it freshess, because this perfume is A STRONG ONE. I perceive many of the notes through all the development of the fragrance, although it definitely evolves and it's not the same all the time.
It's beautiful, playful, sexy, can be an everyday scent and you will definitely get noticed.
This was the fragrance I had the day I meet my boyfriend, and he LOVES it on me, although he chooses others when he smells it on paper. Because of that, I would recommend you to test it first in yourself, the smell it's not totally the same in a test paper and skin.
The sillage is great and also the durability. It lasts like an entire evening and sometimes more, although it gets more subtle with time, like every perfume, but is still noticable.
When I first spray it, everyone around me can easily smell it when I pass by, and it keeps that way for hours.
If I had to choose a forever signature scent, that is likeable but also has personality I would chose this one. The salty note gives the feel of a warming and little spicy scent, you get it when you spray it, it's that "something" that transforms this perfume from a basic boring crowd pleasing to a different but likeable but noticeably different and stand out fragrance.
I don't get people that say it's boring or that it has nothing new to offer or that it's just very common because it's not.
I feel like the original EDP is the better one in the Olympea collection, followed by the Intense version (discontinued, sadly) that is a much more warm and spicy scent with lots of ambar that makes it even more special but so strong that makes it difficult to wear sometimes or can be overwhelming. The original doesn't, and it's the one I reach for the most in my entire collection in all seasons, although when it's very hot (30 something degrees Celsius, or less with SO MUCH humidity in the air) I sometimes consider it a little too much.
Overall a great everyday - every season kind of scent with a great sillage, projection and durability, liked by many people but with so much personality 🤍
Abbaloney
When i first got it, it was growing on me. I started to like it. I decided to add this into my collection since i got olympea solar - and i love that one. But now I just cant stand it and neither can my partner. May try it in the fall season..
This is definitely not one that you can blind buy
Sammbac
With a name like Olympea and the bottle strongly resembling an ancient Greek artifact, the first thing hitting me about the scent was the salty, marine notes I couldn't help feeling that this fragrance is a whole Greek Island holiday vibe. I got light florals and muskiness too, turns out that floral is jasmine so even more Greece in the mix. This is something I can envisage picking up at the duty free, wearing on balmy nights in Zakynthos, dinner outside surrounded by jasmine flowers, midnight walks on the beach, dancing in tavernas catching the scent on your shoulders as you move, feeling fresh with a spray or two on day trips and boat trips then wearing all summer long on your return home and into the Autumn to evoke the summer memories and salty beachiness. In short, a holiday in a bottle, but not a tropical one. Greece! Light, airy, salty, warm, and soft. Average projection and longevity. Suited to the younger woman or man perhaps but leaning feminine.
KTobie
I'm not sure how to feel about this one... I blind bought it due to great reviews...
I can see why others like, it's unique... but I only smell salt and flowers. I was hoping for a little more sweetness.
Maybe it'll grow on me...
Seattle Dweller
Guys opinion.
My neighbors daughter wore this to dinner with my girlfriend and a group of friends last week.
The vanilla floral mix was intoxicating on her skin. Beautifully distracting in a feminine and confident way. Nothing skanky or naughty. Nothing old ladyish or dated. Just soft sweet and uplifting.
A few people writing reviews are comparing the floral elements to the Dior Cherie series of perfumes - but this obviously adds the trademark Paco Rabanne sweetness (fun) and the ever so slight salty aquatic notes that the male version Invictus has.
I purchased my girlfriend a bottle and she is on cloud nine with its performance and longevity. She says she literally feels better and the male compliments and attention (what have I done!) are never ending.
Other comparisons are to that of the new CK reveal for women, and LA Rive in flames - that one similar but having more amber in the dry down.
If you want to drive men crazy, ignore the ridiculous marketing and in store promo materials, and give this fragrance a whirl.
ellebunny
This is my favourite Paco Rabanne perfume. The packaging is beautiful as always, but what really counts is the juice that's inside.
Olympea is a fairly linear fragrance. Immediately, you get that salt accord with a very heady but clean jasmine. I'll agree with others that first and foremost, this IS a jasmine perfume before it is a vanilla perfume. The jasmine is fragrant, tea-like, and done in a very feminine fashion... this is no Alien jasmine, which is loud and angular. The salt adds just a bit of a metallic tinge to offset the sweetness of the jasmine and cuts through the thickness of the incoming vanilla. The vanilla in this is more bean-like than it is cake or extract; a very natural vanilla with just a bit of smokiness. As the perfume dries, you can really pick up on the cashmere wood (cashmeran) and ambergris (ambroxan), which adds texture and makes this perfume have more of a beachy vibe. In the drydown, Olympea evokes the scent of sweet, salt-licked skin. This is very beautifully done and well-balanced.
This is great for all seasons and all occasions. I concur that this would be a great perfume to bring around for vacations, especially if you're going somewhere with beaches and ocean views. Sillage is rather heavy but it won't fill the room, and the lasting power is great (at least 8 hours). This is a love for me and will be one of the rare perfumes that I'm willing to repurchase.
dyaver
It's a very warm, comforting, oriental fragrance with a salty twist, which definitely makes it stand out. I'm actually surprised how much I like it. It's not an ordinary perfume. It's intriguing and quite addictive.
Germany
I was not going to buy this one as I bought many others lately. But every time I went to the store I couldn't help spaying it. Just because I thought it was a little unusual. Savoury , something really attractive.
Sweet vanilla ,,,,, salty wind by the sea , this is summertime by the ocean to me.
Not a scent a normally go for but I really enjoy this. I like the sweetness of it , the vanilla and the salt is just fabulous ! And ambergris and sandalwood is always amazing to me in a fragrance. , so it has a lot I love ,,,, yet I dislike to much jasmine , not sure about ginger and something in it to me reminds me briefly of womanity ,but not the silver spoon taste I get from womanity. I suppose the attractive side of womanity ! And yes there is a lady million vibe going , a scent I always wanted to get but never did and partly because of the bottle .
Olympia starts with a fresh , mandarine ,citrusy spicy , jasmine scent which can be off putting to my nose ,,,,but then quickly goes into a absolutely wonderful vanilla salty stage ,,,,this is when I go crazy over it. And obsess completely ,,,, then the drydown is phantastic with the ambergris and sandalwood , warm creamy but still airy in a way , never heavy ,, this makes a great summer fragrance!!! It's uplifting !
Update , great summer perfume, wearing it a lot , my husband likes it he said it smells like Florida , this time he is not so far off.
kbord777
A wonderful fragrance!
I recently took my husband with me to fragrance shop, bless his heart lol. He was patient and smelled everything I presented to him on test strips. But he always came back to Olympea as the one he liked most. (I found it to be love at first sniff by the way)
Vanilla, salt and water jasmine were the most prominent notes, on the dry down some of the other notes come in to play, slightly powdery and a little sweeter. Great longevity and sillage. Delicious!
And? Anything that makes my husband say, "you smell yummy!" is a win in my book :o)
meama
What is happening? P.Rabanne launches a good perfume! Everything happens today. At the opening there is a salty butter caramel effect which is very nice. The heart of the fragrance has in the overall effect a rendering of gardenia, very close to that one of Annick Goutal in A Matin d'Orage EDP. Gradually, as the jasmine fades, the gardenia morphs into a salty slightly fresh (ginger) vanilla who persists for hours.
The most beautiful part is the first half-hour but the base is just ok, quite identical to La Vie est Belle Absolu (from the same nose), easy without being vulgar, finally a Paco Rabane who not taking the customer for a cash cow.
pansylady
Soft, deep and lovely- vanilla gourmands are not my usual fragrance genre, but even so, I found this enchanting--
I smell honey, don't you??
iamoir
Olympea is a weird one. After the completely incohesive opening, it stabilizes into a straight up very very intense foody vanilla. There is something heavy in the background that is not vanillic though. The salty note is there, sure, but it the background smell is rather a mish mash of ginger, jasmine and amber. Has a fresh spicy powdery deep vanillic drydown.
Not that the notes can't work together, they look rather interesting, but Olympea just doesn't cut it for me. It's nauseating. Weird vanilla in a rather bad way.
It's like they wanted to create an iteration of their vanilla gourmand, because it's in fashion, and this is what they came up with.
A no from me. If it works for you, rock it
redskyatnight
Have you ever gotten hit in the face with a wave? Your nose fills with saltwater, your sinuses clear, and your nasal passages tingle a little bit? That's this feeling in a bottle. I'm reliving every salt-washed wipeout with a sniff of my wrist. Without losing my bikini top, thank goodness.
Seriously though, it's a lovely perfume. I always thought that if Yankee Candle's Pink Sands (strawberry and salt) came in a perfume, I'd love to have it. This comes pretty close. I get mostly a crowd-pleasing, subtle fruit with lots of salt and a talc-powdery-like finish. I'm not usually a fan of powder but it's doable here. I have a high tolerance for spice and gourmand scents, so the vanilla and ginger barely register for me. I really wish I could pick up on those more.
This seems like a pretty good year-round scent for a variety of occasions. Particularly for summer, as it's fresh and light. The longevity and sillage are both excellent (one spritz was more than enough for me). Great creativity in creating a bottle and scent that are reminiscent of common themes in Greek mythology: feminine mystique, natural beauty, and the sea (up close and personal! Nose is still tingling...).
Edit: I want to like this so much, but after a couple days of wearing it, I'm getting a little headache. Beware if you know anyone who is sensitive to perfumes. I might try layering it to round it out more (it's soooo powdery on my chemistry, not very gourmand at all).
Eden1
One of my friends wore this fragrance for about 6 months, until I realized that the very unpleasant, slightly b.o-eque, cheap soap smell she always had, wasn't her own body scent, but this fricking perfume. I get the concept of putting salt in this perfume, but this didn't work out at all.
The opening is so close to my fave, hypnotic poison, but the dry down is horrible. I can't understand how someone would choose to put this on in the morning. I guess it's the salt that gives off a metallic scent, and then those awful cheap powdery, white floral notes... Oh this is not for me, but I'm also happy for everyone who find happiness in this perfume.
EDIT: Okay, I know why I find this fragrance b.o-esque. This smells like you haven't showered in 4 days. Not like pure sweat, but let me explain:
You've been too busy the last week, so your hair is now full of dry shampoo, hairspray and that salty and greasy smell of unwashed hair.
You smell like sweat, but you've had to layer up on deoderant, but now, the real smell of your body is really breaking through. These unwashed smells + several scented products in your hair and on your body = Paco Robbane Olympea.
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