In 2001 the original Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue perfume was released. Since then it’s gone on to be a solid best seller which has had many different versions and flankers over the years. This article explains the difference between all the different Light Blue perfumes.
The original Light Blue perfume is an Eau de Toilette and is known as a classic light summer fragrance. It’s a fresh lemon and green apple with some feminine musky jasmine and bamboo in the heart and a slightly woody base. For me the green apple is the most dominant note which means that this fragrance is fresh but not strong.
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense
Light Blue Intense is effectively a stronger version of the original Light Blue perfume. It addresses the issue which many people have with the original; that it doesn’t last, by being more concentrated and through the addition of a slightly warmer base note.
In addition to these two core Light Blue perfumes, there have been eight limited editions released during the summertime. Even though most of these are discontinued, many are still available online. Often these limited edition Light Blue perfumes are themed around a particular area in Italy.
Light Blue Dreaming In Portofino
Portofino is a small harbour town right at the top of Italy, almost in France. That coastline has some beautiful locations like Monaco and this fragrance is inspired by that high-end coastal lifestyle.
Light Blue Dreaming in Portofino is much more floral than the original, with Osmanthus, Iris and Patchouli. The freshness of the opening note is a fruity lychee instead of the zesty green apple and lemon.
It’s such a shame that this was discontinued because it was the kind of perfume you get compliments on. It had great projection and a fresh femenine floral feel which is perfect for evening dinners in the summer time.
Light Blue Escape to Panarea
Light Blue Escape to Panarea has a white lid and a slightly green tint to the liquid. If you’ve been to anywhere with a Mediterranean climate you’ll recognise the pink flowers which grow everywhere, they’re a gorgeous vivid pink and have a beautiful floral scent which is captured in Light Blue Escape to Panarea. Panarea is actually a tiny little island off the west coast of Italy; between Italy and Sicily. I haven’t been to Panarea but I imagine it does smell like this fragrance. There is a warm tonka bean in the base notes of this fragrance which creates a slightly sweet and very cosy scent, combined with the jasmine and orange blossom notes in here, along with a fresh pear in the opening, Light Blue Escape to Panarea creates in my view the most sophisticated scent in the Light Blue perfume range.
Light Blue Sunset in Salina
This fragrance is named after Selena (an area in Sicily). The sunset feel is captured in the orange liquid of the fragrance; this is the first Light Blue perfume to have a very different coloured liquid in the signature bottle.
I’d say Light Blue Sunset in Salina is the most green of all the light blue perfumes. In hot countries like Sicily as the sun sets you do start getting the scent of all the planets and vegetation around you; I think that’s what this scent evokes. It has orange blossom and freesia, and again like the other flankers it doesn’t have the lemon or the green apples of the original. It’s a fresh white floral with a little bit of violet in, though it isn’t strong violet – it definitely requires a few sprays to get a good feeling for the fragrance.
Light Blue Love in Capri
Light Blue Love in Capri is one of the flankers which is more similar to the original Light Blue perfume. Lemon features heavily in the top note, complimented with orange. There is a floral honeysuckle note in the heart but really the lemon is the star of the show. I think it’s slightly more interesting than the original Light Blue perfume, with the orange and honeysuckle, but if you like the original I think you’d like this for sure.
Light Blue Italian Zest
Light Blue Italian Zest like its predecessor Light Blue Love in Capri, is very similar to the original Light Blue perfume. Essentially they have taken the original and added more lemon which makes this slightly sharper and zestier than the original. Unfortunately, this fragrance isn’t know for lasting, so I’d only recommend this if you’re looking for something very light.
Light Blue Sun
Light Blue Sun is a fun summery fragrance which is one of my favourites of all the Light Blue flankers. It has coconut and frangipani which create a tropical vibe. It’s the kind of fragrance you would wear on vacation, sipping Pina coladas on the Italian coast. It keeps the same notes as the original (lemon, green apple, cedar base) but the coconut really adds to the scent mix, making it slightly sweet and much more fun.
Light Blue Love Is Love
In 2020 Dolce & Gabbana released Light Blue Love is Love. This fragrance is probably the most light-hearted of the flankers. This fragrance takes the original fragrance notes and adds to them some fun raspberry, ice cream and whipped cream notes. These additional sweet notes are pleasant and not sickly sweet, but I find they find fairly quickly. This is a playful daytime scent which isn’t taking itself too seriously.
Light Blue Forever
The latest release in the Light Blue perfume range is Light Blue Forever. I personally own this fragrance; it reminds me of the floral versions of Light Blue which were released in previous years. The lemon and green apple top notes are complimented with a tasty blood orange. Orange blossom makes up the main note of the fragrance, which combines perfectly with the blood orange. There is a cashmere feel added to the base which makes this fragrance feel very classy. The lasting power is much better than the original; personally I wear this during the day and evening in the summer time.
