Woman Bruno Banani

Bruno Banani Woman is a fragrance caught between intentions—neither fully floral nor decisively fruity, yet somehow compelling in its indecision. Launched in 2001 by Thierry Wasser, it represents a particular moment in perfumery when aquatic florals were beginning their ascent, before they'd saturate the market entirely. The opening salvo of ivy and water lily creates an almost ozonic freshness, as if you're standing near a fountain in a formal garden, though this freshness never quite commits to the austere. Instead, peach arrives to soften the edges, introducing a fuzzy warmth that feels almost gourmand in its inclination.

What makes Woman interesting is how its heart refuses conventionality. Freesia typically announces itself with sharp brightness, yet here it's tempered by the creamy whisper of lily of the valley—that green, slightly aldehydic white floral that smells faintly of bell-shaped flowers after rain. The peach persists, acting as a bridge between the bright florals and vanilla's creeping sweetness in the base. There's a distinctly synthetic quality to the composition (52% synthetic accord suggests considerable use of aroma chemicals), which lends the fragrance an artificial prettiness rather than naturalistic sophistication.