Nina.

In 2006, Nina Ricci replaced an earlier Nina fragrance from 1987 with something that felt true to the house's romantic heart while speaking to a new generation. The new Nina was described by the house as a modern fairytale fragrance for a younger audience. The tart, green Granny Smith apple gave the fragrance a sharp backbone that kept the sweetness from becoming heavy. Praline added warmth, peony added romance, and the result felt like something more playful than what had come before. The original's candied apple note was reframed entirely, built around a Granny Smith variety that lends a green, tart quality preventing any cloying sweetness from settling in.

The composition's structure is what makes it work. The top citrus doesn't just open the fragrance, it sets the tempo. Bright, sharp, a little frantic. Then the Granny Smith apple arrives and does something clever. It keeps the sweetness honest. Too many gourmand fragrances lose their edges in the sugar rush. Here, the green apple note cuts through the praline, giving each bite a tartness that stops it from becoming syrupy. Peony adds a romantic softness without tipping into powder. And datura, the moonflower, adds an interesting twist. Nocturnal, slightly heady, it prevents the heart from being purely innocent. Praline and apple at this level is almost edible.

The citrus opens sharp and fast. Amalfi lemon and lime hit at once, bright as someone entering a room with purpose. Within minutes, the lemon starts to soften and the apple becomes visible, green and tart beneath the sparkle. At the ten-minute mark, the heart has fully arrived. Praline and peony take over, carrying the candied apple note that gives the fragrance its identity. The sweet, edible warmth of praline intertwines with the soft, powdery romance of peony, and together they wrap around the apple note, giving the heart a lush, youthful quality. This heart holds for a considerable time, with the sweetness lingering deliberately rather than fading quickly. The drydown is where the composition settles. Apple tree bark, Virginia cedar, and balmy musk arrive quietly, settling against the skin without projection. What lingers is warm and skin-close, not filling a room.

Nina found a devoted audience among younger wearers and those new to fragrance, praised for its wearability and consistent day-long performance. The modern fairytale positioning, candied fruit, playful sweetness, green freshness, connected with a generation that wanted something lighter and more approachable than the house's classic florals. Rated consistently high for scent quality and longevity, it became a staple for those who wanted a fruity-gourmand fragrance without the heaviness that often comes with that category.