With so many fragrance choices on the market these days, it can be difficult to know which scent to buy.
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Maybe you’ve heard of Pink Sugar perfume before, but you’re on the fence as to whether it’s the right scent for you.
This sugary sweet perfume is a popular choice for women of all ages, but it’s important to feel confident before making it your signature scent.
Thankfully, we’ve got you covered with a Pink Sugar perfume review you can use to make that decision easier.
Who Makes It?
Pink Sugar is made by Aquolina – an Italian cosmetics brand.
It’s their first fragrance, and it launched back in 2004. Givaudan and Shyamala Maisondieu are the perfumers behind this distinctive sweet and candy-coated scent.
Scent Notes
Scent notes, or fragrance notes, make up the layers of fragrant ingredients that all blend in the final perfume.
Any perfume-lover will tell you that scent notes are a very important part of finding your signature scent.
Top Notes
Top notes are the most prominent and noticeable notes in a fragrance. You’ll smell them right after you spritz your perfume. But, top notes also fade the fastest out of all fragrance notes.
The top notes of Pink Sugar are
- Raspberry
- Orange
- Fig Leaf
- Bergamot
Middle Notes
Middle notes are the foundation of the fragrance. They’re also called heart notes because they are found at the “heart” of the fragrance.
The middle notes of Pink Sugar are
- Cotton Candy
- Licorice
- Red Berries
- Strawberry
- Lily-of-the-Valley
Base Notes
Finally, base notes make up the rest of the fragrance. Once top notes begin to fade, base notes shine through and create a lasting impression. Base notes also enhance and blend with middle notes for a full fragrance experience.
The base notes of Pink Sugar are
- Caramel
- Vanilla
- Musk
- Tonka bean
- Sandalwood
Who Would Like It?
Pink Sugar primarily appeals to tweens, teens, and young adult women who enjoy all things pink and sweet.
It’s not a “mature” or subtle fragrance, so if you’re looking for a simple scent you should probably look elsewhere. But, anyone who loves to smell like they’re fresh out of a candy store will enjoy Pink Sugar.
When to Wear It
Pink Sugar is versatile enough to be both a day and nighttime scent.
It’s sweet, feminine, and perfect for a night on the town or a day trip with friends. It could easily become your signature scent and part of your daily routine.
Where to Wear It
Pink Sugar is not a fragrance for the workplace. Many workplaces discourage or even forbid wearing such strong perfumes to work.
Even if it’s allowed, your coworkers may not appreciate your cotton-candy cloud of sweet scent permeating throughout the office. It’s best to save Pink Sugar for other events.
Whether you wear it to a party or just to run errands, Pink Sugar is a scent that works for many occasions. It’s perfect for
- Birthday parties
- Weddings
- Dinner dates
- Shopping trips
- A girls’ night out
- Vacation
On the other hand, Pink Sugar probably isn’t suitable for
- Work and/or the office
- The gym
- Small confined spaces like airplanes or trains
- Spas and salons
- Anywhere that you don’t want to stand out (Pink Sugar always makes a strong first impression!)
Packaging and Presentation
Aquolina Pink Sugar comes in pink packaging, as you might expect. The packaging is adorned with white stripes, like a candy cane, with sparkles and glitter throughout.
The bottle itself has a dainty design that makes it look like it’s wrapped in a cute pink ribbon. The perfume is a pale yellow color, providing a nice complement to the pink bottle.
Pink Sugar would look lovely on a shelf or vanity and is definitely “Instagram ready.” If you enjoy cute, pink, and girly packaging, Pink Sugar will be right up your alley.
Personal Impressions
Pink Sugar packs of a punch of a first impression with delightfully sweet notes reminiscent of cotton candy and licorice. The candy-coated fragrance is strong without being overwhelming on the first application.
We found that Pink Sugar doesn’t lose its sweetness throughout the day, although some of the initial fruity flair fades over time.
Based on reviews online, the licorice notes in Pink Sugar have fragrance fans split. Some love the smell and others hate it or find it overwhelming.
After wearing Pink Sugar for a few hours, the caramel and vanilla notes make themselves known as the cotton candy smell begins to fade. It’s a delightful smell that brings to mind visions of candy stores and bakeries full of sweet treats.
To reiterate, Pink Sugar is incredibly sweet. Some people tend to get headaches when scents are too strong or too sweet, but we didn’t experience that when trying out this perfume.
The scent packs a lot of longevity into every spritz, so you’ll need to make sure you’re okay with smelling like cotton candy and sugary sweets for the entire day.
Some might be bothered by the “artificial” scent of the perfume. Those who enjoy more natural and subtle scents probably won’t enjoy Pink Sugar.
Performance
Pink Sugar is a strong fragrance that lasts. Even 8-12 hours after application, it’s still easy to catch a whiff of the middle and base notes.
You may even smell remnants of Aquolina Pink Sugar on your clothing after wearing it all day. It layers well with scented soaps and lotions for a truly powerful fragrance master mix.
As far as “bang for your buck” goes, Pink Sugar shines. It’s affordable and lasts all day. Plus, you’ll only need to apply a little bit to get the full effect. The combination makes Pink Sugar a great starter fragrance for a young tween making their foray into the world of perfumes.
Pros & Cons
No fragrance is perfect, and no fragrance is the right choice for everyone. By weighing the pros and cons, you can decide if Pink Sugar is the right scent to add to your collection.
Pros of Pink Sugar
- Longevity
- Sweet scent
- Strong notes
- Affordable price point
- Appealing to teens and young adults (and makes a great gift!)
- Makes a strong first impression
Cons of Pink Sugar
- A strong sugar scent can cause headaches
- Can smell artificial compared to other fragrances
- Divisive licorice notes
- Might be too intense for everyday wear
- Not a mature scent
Final Thoughts on Pink Sugar
Aquolina Pink Sugar has many dedicated fans – and just as many detractors. Love it or hate it, this sweet fragrance makes itself known.
If you enjoy unashamedly sugary sweet scents, Pink Sugar is a great choice. But if you’re on the search for a subtle, classic fragrance, it’s best to look elsewhere.
Selena Marc is a fragrance enthusiast, freelance writer, and dog mom living in Houston, Texas. When she's not writing about her favorite new perfumes, you can find her enjoying yoga or a morning hike.