FRAGRANCE REVIEW: Romantina by Juliette Has A Gun + Romano Ricci Puts Down The Gun Draw

I have been a fan of the Juliette Has A Gun line of perfume because like the name it has shown a woman’s fragrance can be a little darker. Romano Ricci has over six fragrances in the collection, used some of the most intense notes in perfumery and somehow made them feel like they belong on a woman with attitude. You may say many things about Juliette Has A Gun, but demure would not likely be one of the adjectives at the top of the list. The running story of the line is very loosely based on Shakespeare’s Juliet and in the past it has focused more on the stronger emotions of that saga. For the newest release, Romantina, M. Ricci actually makes a fragrance which is demure and more gentle in its emotions.

Romantina according to the press materials is supposed to evoke “a love story….about a young woman visiting Rome. She falls madly in love with a local guy (Romeo?), but leaves within 24 hours so that the love story stays untouched.” This time our heroine is in love and so the temporary nature of strangers meeting and parting is captured in Romantina with white flowers, rose, osmanthus, and iris. This is Juliette putting down the gun so she can reach for the white rose being offered to her as a token of affection.

Romantina opens with orange blossom and jasmine as the white flower harbingers. M. Ricci tones the indolic nature of the jasmine down to the same level as that present in the orange blossom. This allows them to interact on a level footing. Muguet is also in the top notes to add a bit of green metallic spine to the early going. The muguet also bridges to the iris which begins the middle phase of Romantina’s development. The iris is joined by a muted rose and a leathery osmanthus. This mix of floral notes promise a feisty romance. The base notes turn sweet with vanilla leading the way and vetiver adding a cutting edge with a bit of patchouli to give Romantina a faux-chypre quality.

Romantina has average longevity and average sillage.

Romantina shows that M. Ricci does not necessarily always have to have the gun loaded and ready to go. Sometimes it can be put down for just a moment to let tenderness take over; before she picks up the gun once more. I like Romantina as a change of pace for the line and would like to see a couple more like it over time because Juliette’s life doesn’t have to be full of tragedy; it can have a softer moment or two.

Disclosure: This review was based on a sample of Romantina purchased from Surrender to Chance.

Mark Behnke, Managing Editor

 Romantina will launch in the US in July 2012 and thanks to Europarfum (www.europarfum.com) we have  one 100ml bottle for Draw to one winner. To be eligible please leave a comment about this review or your favorite Juliette has a Gun fragrance by May 25, 2012. The winner of the draw will need a bit of patience, as he/she will receive Romantina when it debuts in the USA.  Romano Ricci was awarded a FiFi in 2011, "The Special Prize of The Fragrance Foundation France Board". He is the nose for Romantina.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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57 comments

  • This is an exciting release! Thank you for doing a draw.

    My favorite Juliette has a Gun fragrance is Lady Vengeance.

  • hotlanta linda says:

    The photos are my fave part of this review!! This newest scent sounds good for Spring/Summer heatwaves, as in not as heavy a hitter 🙂

  • Laurentiu says:

    Sounds interesting. I have yet to try any of the JHAG perfumes, but I would love to.

    Thanks!

  • I am a fan of, and own Lady Vengeance. It is a dark rose that is almost edible. The patchouli and vanilla build a contrast of sweet and savoury that adds tension to the rose. A rose with a thorn, for sure!

  • matildaben says:

    My favorite fragrance from JHAG is Citizen Queen – a great aldehydic floral leather. I also like Lady Vengeance. Thanks for the draw; I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

  • Citizen queen and calamity j are my favorites and I think Mr Ricci has definitely matured with each perfume
    Great review and yes a surprise for JHAG a soft floral faux chypre!
    I enjoy that there was a story of two strangers meeting in Rome and falling in love
    Thank you for this generous draw

  • ringthing says:

    I am *discovering* osmanthus, so this sounds interesting. Lady Vengeance has been my favorite JHAG scent.

  • TimeaZsofia says:

    My favorite fragrance from Juliette Has a Gun is Citizen Queen. I adore the wonderful bottle too.

    Thank you for this fantastic draw.

  • I like the attitude that seems to come from this release. Juliette may have a gun but she can still slow down and smell the flowers.
    Seems very interesting, I am looking forward to trying it!

  • Linnea Wiedeman says:

    I love the story behind the perfume. has me very excited like a good book.. sounds amazing.
    thank you for the chance at the draw.

  • I am sold: Romantina a faux-chypre quality. It sounds good!

    My fav from JHAG is Citizen Queen and I am going to wear it tonight.

    Thank you for the draw!

  • LAdy Vengeance is my favorite, but romantina sounds very nicely done!!! Thank you!!

  • Romantina …I hope to meet you perhaps your floral heart will be mine
    If not I wouldn’t mind Romano Ricci
    If I am the winner I will wait with anticipation

  • My favorite from Juliette has a gun is Calamity J. It’s woody and sweet. Delicious!

    This new perfume seems to be right up my alley because I usually love white florals, especially orange blossom.

    Thanks!

  • Oh wow!

    Juliette Has a Gun was one of the first niche perfume lines that I tried, when I first got into the hobby. I just love the line. I can’t wait to try Romantina (at first I thought it said RomantiCa, which would have also been a pretty name). What an exciting draw!

    My favorites thus far are Lady Vengeance and Citizen Queen. Mmm… leather and rose. And have you seen the bottle? It’s definitely in my top 5 favorites.

  • Christy C says:

    I haven’t tried this line and am very interested to learn in the review that many of them are darker women’s perfumes! The combination of florals in Romantina sounds interesting and lovely! Thanks for the draw!

  • Citizen queen is my favourite…rose, iris, immortelle, leather…amazing!
    Thanks for the draw.

  • Citizen queen is my favourite…rose, iris, immortelle, leather…amazing!
    Thanks for the draw.

  • I only sampled this line very briefly but from what i remember my favorites were lady vengeance and citizen queen. thank you for the draw, i’d love to win this as i don’t have any white floral scent in my collection.

  • I really like the theme behind these perfumes. My favorite is Midnight Oud! Thanks for the draw.

  • my favorite from JHAG is lady vengeance. wold love to smell their softer side with this delicious sounding scent.

  • What I like most about this review (besides pictures) is that the fragrance notes are written in such a way that I can almost smell it unfolding. It sounds just like my kind of thing, so I’d be patient if I am the lucky winner.

  • My favorite Juliette Has a Gun is that very daring rose, Lady Vengeance. I tried Not a Perfume, and discovered it was Not For Me. But Lady V. is one of my go-to scents.

    Thanks for the fabulous draw! I am a very patient person, by the way. 🙂

  • This sounds great, I love orange blossom, jasmine and osmanthus notes. I am still exploring the line and have not quite found The One.

  • The only other JHaG I’ve tested is Not a Perfume. I liked how it quietly enhanced my skin’s natural scent. Romantina sounds like it will be up my alley. I like floral musks, especially when there is a bit of green involved. Thank you for writing about this fragrance.

  • I haven’t had the experience of JHaG yet. But the idea of orange blossom, muguet, a muted rose, and a leathery osmanthus sounds like a very beautiful combination to me. And the advertisement photos are gorgeous! Thanks for the draw.

  • My favorite is Citizen Queen with notes of Leather, Bulgarian Rose, Iris, Amber, Immortal flowers, Labdanum. I think the whole JhaG line is nicely done and the notes in the Romantina sound beautiful.

  • My favorite Juleitte Has A Gun fragrance is Lady Vengeance, a beautiful mixture of rose & patchouli. Thanks for the drawing 🙂

  • cheesegan says:

    To be eligible please leave a comment about this review or your favorite Juliette has a Gun fragrance by May 25, 2012.

    I haven’t tried this line, though I do admire their marketing. The notes listed in the article: orange blossom ,muguet, iris, muted rose and a leathery osmanthus and base notes of vanilla, vetiver, patchouli make this sound like a white floral that I would want to try.
    Thanks for the article and the great blog.

  • Sue B Honey says:

    I’ve tried the entire JHAG line-up, and Calamity J. is on my want list. Love, love, love it’s smoky, powdery sweetness. Definitely a big girl perfume imo.

  • Ooohh…. looks very interesting! My most favorite of those I’ve tried thus far is Lady Vengeance. I can’t wait to try Romantina! Orange blossom, jasmine, muguet AND patchouli — “squeel” very exicted for the release. Thanks for the chance!

  • yourfoxiness says:

    I love all of the JHAG fragrances that I’ve tried, but I’d say that lady vengeance is my favorite! so glad to find this new site!

  • The pictures are lovely and the description of the notes sound really delightful. So far I haven’t tried any perfumes from JHAG, so this would be the first one!

  • I have vengeance extreme and love it. I would say it has the most silage of any perfume I have bought so I wear it when I want to stand out a little. The notes in the new one sound great, I can’t wait to smell it.

  • Eleanor T says:

    Juliette has a Gun is one of my favorite brands and I am really excited about a soft white floral from Romano Ricci and my favorite is citizen queen
    I hope I win this because the review makes the fragrance come alive and transports me to Rome for a brief encounter with a handsome stranger

  • Adrian G. says:

    My favorite JHAG is Mignight Oud – well done oud, very unisex. Nice review too BTW. Thank u!

  • Great review! I love the idea that Romantina is a bit of tenderness, a softer moment… appeals to the romantic in me. Thanks for the draw!

  • Tourbillion says:

    The only one of theirs that I have tried is Citizen Queen, which is lovely. However, this one sounds wonderful too! Can’t wait to try it.

  • Favorite comment: “Romantina shows that M. Ricci does not necessarily always have to have the gun loaded and ready to go. Sometimes it can be put down for just a moment to let tenderness take over; before she picks up the gun once more.” Very well-said…

    Fave JHAG fragrance: I have only tried Citizen Queen…and love it! On reading about them though I do believe Midnight Oud (and perhaps Extreme Vengeance) would be amazing!!

    Thanks for the super generous draw!! 😀

  • gypsyqueenmother says:

    I think it was quite poetic the way Mark said:
    This time our heroine is in love and so the temporary nature of strangers meeting and parting is captured in Romantina with white flowers, rose, osmanthus, and iris. This is Juliette putting down the gun so she can reach for the white rose being offered to her as a token of affection.

    I really like Citizen Queen, but Miss Charming is wonderful!!

    Beautiful pictures and very well written review…

  • Teddy Oliver says:

    I would love to try Romantina, but my favorite Juliette has a Gun cologne is Vengeance Extreme. Thanks for the draw.

  • Deanna G. says:

    I have not tried any of the Juliette has a Gun fragrances but Romantina sounds lovely. Jasmine & Iris are two of my favorite flower notes. I would love to try! 🙂

  • I have never tried any of this line. Romantina sounds absolutely lovely and I would be so happy to win this fragrance to wear this summer!

  • amberosmanthus says:

    I love osmanthus and chypre. I have not tried any from this line, but this sounds like something I will have to sample. Thanks for the opportunity.

  • farawayspices says:

    I do not yet have any Juliette Has a Gun perfumes, but Romantina does sound very nice! And the bottle is such a fresh departure from the traditional clear glass bottles found in the majority of perfume lines, I love the contrast between the dramatic name of the perfume house with the soft, romantic name of the perfume. I would love to enter the draw!

  • From the notes listed here I am expecting a white floral extravaganza! I don’t quite understand the treatment these notes have received though. Is it a naturalistic approach or an abstract one?

  • ineverwas says:

    My favorite Juliette Has a Gun perfume is Calamity J – I just adore the mix of iris, patchouli and amber. Also love Lady Vengeance (one of my favorite rose fragrances). Honestly, there is no perfume from this house that I don’t like 🙂

  • I love Lady Vengeance and Lady Vengeance Extreme – gorgeous rose and patchouli. I have them both and wear them a lot in winter and fall.

    Romantina seems to be lovely and romantic fragrance for spring. I love osmanthus and rose in perfumes.

  • Carolyn Gudgel says:

    I’ve never been lucky enough to try any of Juliette has a Gun line! Romantina is right up my alley with white flowers! Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Iris, Osmanthus & Vetiver all in one fume! Romance by way of flowers! Heaven, simply heaven! Please include me in the drawing.

  • love the line as a whole. Justa great concept. Juliette reminds me of my best friend Kayla. She’s pretty quick, a real firecracker.

    the love story romantina is supposed to be evocative of reminds me of her visit to NYC last summer. met a boy. and it was over.

    sad how these trists evolve and devolve so quickly. always left wondering….