Fragrance Review: Salvatore Ferragamo – Signorina Ribelle – A Tea-Scented Library

While I mourn the discontinuation of my favourite scent from Salvatore Ferragamo, Signorina Eleganza¹, let’s review the newest arrival to the brand’s main line.

Although my appreciation for gourmands has increased a lot lately, I don’t naturally gravitate towards bubblegum-type scents. So, I was surprised to actually like the new, very bubblegum-y Signorina Ribelle.

Review

Like many contemporary gourmands, pink-bottled Signorina Ribelle² drizzles a dainty floral bouquet with generous servings of vanilla and syrupy red fruits. Different from most in its genre, however, this is a gentle, soft scent. I do appreciate the change of pace, which helps this feel a bit more unique.

Signorina Ribelle opens with a dash of orange, and plasticky but pleasant red fruits - in what I call a “bubblegum” accord, which here doesn’t feel too sugary. An unusual note of ice cream follows, supported by coconut milk. This berry + ice cream combo adds a “yummy” touch to this fragrance, while warm florals and pink pepper help pull the composition away from smelling too literaly like a dessert. It does get close, as ylang ylang is quite buttery in texture, and frangipani, sweet… But their floral facets are still there, which I think is a good blending choice.

The entire arrangement feels not only nice, but also remarkably soft for the amount of sweet, creamy notes in it. Signorina Ribelle never falls into overwhelming sugaryness or weight. It smells fluffy, fun and light, with prominent but not cloying gourmand aspects - it’s very pleasant, and very wearable. I’d give it 3,5 stars as a lovely soft floral-gourmand… if it weren’t for its drydown.

Signorina Ribelle’s drydown comes way too fast, and turns the fragrance flat and slightly bitter. The plasticky facet of the scent becomes more prominent, and less pleasant³. It doesn’t smell bad, but it clearly loses the bright, pretty notes it had in the opening… so, for me, this takes away a few points.

Fragrance Impressions

Conclusion

The basic structure of berries + creamy gourmand note + subtle florals is a staple of the Signorina line, and here works very well. Signorina Ribelle keeps the style & DNA of its pillar, while also having its own personality. So if you like the original Signorina, there’s enough similarities you might also like Ribelle - and enough differences to justify owning both scents.

That being said, Signorina Ribelle definitely opens better than it dries down, which, added to its unimpressive sillage & lasting power, makes it overpriced, in my opinion… Still, this is a pretty soft gourmand, and if you don’t mind the price or lasting power, do give it a try! The ice cream accord is subtle enough to be worn daily, even in warm weather, and has a cheerful, fun aura.

¹ A ladylike, makeup-y almond & soft patchouli powder fragrance, with a whisper of suede. Why, Salvatore Ferragamo? Why discontinue such a beautiful scent?

² Which doesn’t smell rebelious in the slightest, and would be more aptly named “Signorina Gelateria”.

³ I’ve found a very similar problem in the drydown of otherwise pretty Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy… although, in Signorina Ribelle, this “bad plastick note” issue feel less intense.