Salvatore Ferragamo Signorina Misteriosa Fashion Edition 2020 Review: A Limited Edition Floral Gourmand
The 2020 limited edition of the popular Signorina Misteriosa offers a wearable, sweet, and mysterious twist on the original.
Launched in 2020, the Salvatore Ferragamo Signorina Misteriosa Fashion Edition is a limited-edition iteration of the popular 2015 fragrance. It was released as part of the brand''s strategy to refresh its core lines with collectible, fashion-forward bottles and subtle scent tweaks aimed at capturing new audiences and rewarding loyal customers. This edition arrived during a period where the gourmand and fruity-floral categories were fiercely competitive, with many brands releasing flankers and limited editions to maintain shelf presence.
Within the Salvatore Ferragamo fragrance portfolio, the Signorina line is the flagship feminine collection, known for its playful, youthful, and romantic scents. Signorina Misteriosa, the original, carved a niche as the "darker," more intriguing sister in the family. The 2020 Fashion Edition positions itself as a more accessible and slightly sweeter interpretation of that mystery, designed to be a versatile daily scent rather than a purely enigmatic statement. It sits in the mid-tier of designer fragrances, offering a recognizable brand name at a relatively approachable price point.
The inspiration behind the scent and its presentation is deeply tied to Italian fashion and a sense of playful femininity. The concept of "Misteriosa" (Mysterious) is softened here with a "Fashion" twist, suggesting a mystery that is chic, wearable, and contemporary. The bottle design, often a key feature of these editions, typically features unique patterns or colors on the iconic ribbon-adorned flacon, making it a decorative object as much as a fragrance. The inspiration is less about a deep narrative and more about evoking a feeling of confident, modern femininity with a touch of sweet allure.
In the fragrance community, the Signorina Misteriosa Fashion Edition 2020 has a reputation as a pleasant, well-made designer flanker. It is not typically hailed as a groundbreaking masterpiece, but it is consistently noted for being a reliable, crowd-pleasing scent. Its cultural impact lies in its success as a commercially viable limited edition—it''s a fragrance purchased by those who enjoy the Signorina DNA but want something slightly different or collect the special bottles. It''s often recommended as a safe gift or a starter gourmand for younger women entering the fragrance world.
The Nose Behind the Scent
The fragrance was created by perfumer Sophie Labbé. Labbé is a renowned French perfumer for IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances) with a prolific career crafting hits for numerous designer and niche houses. Her signature style often involves bold, contrasting accords and a modern sensibility. Some of her other notable creations include Burberry Her, Dolce & Gabbana The Only One, Valentino Valentina Poudre, and several scents for brands like Chloé and Narciso Rodriguez.
Accords
Notes Pyramid
Scent Journey
The fragrance opens with a bright, juicy burst of blackberry, immediately establishing its fruity-gourmand character. The blackberry is tart and realistic, not overly candied. It is quickly wrapped in a soft, clean veil of orange blossom, which adds a luminous, slightly soapy freshness. This initial combination is sweet, cheerful, and very inviting.
Within the first hour, the heart notes emerge prominently. The jasmine sambac adds a rich, indolic floral depth that contrasts beautifully with the sweetness. The star of this phase is the praline note—a creamy, nutty, caramelized sugar accord that transforms the scent from a simple fruity floral into a true gourmand. The praline is warm and edible, blending seamlessly with the lingering blackberry to create a dessert-like aura.
After several hours, the fragrance settles into a soft, cozy, and slightly earthy drydown. The patchouli provides a subtle, clean, and modern woody-chocolate undertone that grounds the sweetness. It is not dirty or overpowering. The vanilla and musk become the dominant players, creating a warm, skin-scent veil that is sweet, creamy, and incredibly wearable. The drydown is long-lasting and intimate, leaving a comforting trail.
Performance Dashboard
Lasts a solid 6-8 hours on skin, with the creamy vanilla-musk drydown persisting even longer on clothing.
Moderate projection. It creates a pleasant scent bubble for about 2-3 hours before becoming a more intimate skin scent.
Leaves a light to moderate trail. It''s noticeable when you move but isn''t a room-filler. Ideal for office or close-quarters social settings.
When to Wear
Community Verdict
A consistent compliment-getter, especially in cooler weather. The sweet, creamy drydown is often described as "delicious" and "cozy" by others.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Very wearable and crowd-pleasing scent profile
- ✅ Excellent value for a designer limited edition
- ✅ Beautiful bottle design that feels special
- ✅ Perfect balance of sweet, floral, and creamy notes without being cloying
- ❌ Not as "mysterious" as the original or the name suggests
- ❌ Performance is good but not exceptional (moderate sillage)
- ❌ Can smell generic or familiar to those well-versed in gourmands
Price & Value
“Excellent value for money. It offers a well-composed, pleasant scent from a reputable fashion house at a very accessible price point, especially if found on sale.”
📜 Reformulation History
As a limited edition produced for a single year (2020), significant batch variations are not widely reported in the community. However, as with any mass-produced fragrance, minor inconsistencies in note prominence could occur. There is no known reformulation, as it was a one-off release.
Who It's For
✅ Ideal For
- Women in their late teens to mid-30s
- Those new to gourmand or niche-inspired designer scents
- Individuals with a sweet tooth who prefer wearable, non-cloying fragrances
- Fans of crowd-pleasing, feminine scents
⚠️ Not Recommended For
- Those who despise sweet or gourmand notes
- People seeking a bold, mysterious, or animalic fragrance (despite the name)
- Minimalists who prefer clean, citrus, or aquatic scents
The Family
The original 2015 release, known for a darker, more pronounced patchouli and rose accord.
A richer, deeper, and longer-lasting concentration with amplified gourmand and woody notes.
Explore More
🔍 Similar Fragrances
Shares a similar DNA of patchouli, praline, and orange blossom, though La Vie Est Belle is louder and more powdery.
Comparable for its coffee-vanilla gourmand heart, though Black Opium is more intense and edgy.
Another honeyed, floral-gourmand with a similar playful, youthful vibe.
A more sophisticated take on the lavender-vanilla-patchouli structure, offering a similar comforting drydown.
💡 Clone Alternatives
Zara often creates affordable interpretations of popular gourmands. This would capture the blackberry and creamy vanilla essence.
A budget-friendly gourmand with marshmallow and vanilla, offering a similar sweet, youthful appeal.
❤️ You May Also Enjoy
Created by the same perfumer (Sophie Labbé), it shares a rich, caramelized coffee and vanilla gourmand structure.
For those who enjoy the contrasting elements of sweet (tonka, cocoa) and floral (jasmine, tuberose) in a designer package.
A more vibrant and fruity (raspberry, lychee) take on a bold, sweet fragrance with strong sillage.
More from Salvatore Ferragamo
🧪 Layering Ideas
- A clean, white musk solinote to amplify the skin-like drydown
- A simple vanilla perfume oil to boost the gourmand creaminess
- A light citrus or bergamot-focused cologne to add a fresh top-note sparkle for daytime wear
🏆 Final Verdict
The Salvatore Ferragamo Signorina Misteriosa Fashion Edition 2020 is a smart purchase for anyone seeking a reliable, sweet, and feminine designer fragrance that won''t break the bank. You should buy it if you appreciate gourmands but find some versions too heavy or cloying—this one strikes a perfect balance between edible and elegant.
Its strengths are its wearability, its crowd-pleasing nature, and its overall presentation as a special, limited-edition item. It performs adequately for daily use and leaves a lovely, comforting trail. While it may not satisfy those looking for a truly mysterious or complex scent, it delivers exactly what it promises: a fashionable, sweet, and charming fragrance perfect for everyday adventures.
Given its status as a limited edition, if you find a bottle at or near its original retail price, it represents a solid value in the crowded designer market. It''s an excellent choice for a signature scent for younger women, a safe and appreciated gift, or a pleasant addition to a collection for those who enjoy rotating sweet, floral fragrances.