Laurel Bath House isn't shy about naming a perfume Cannoli or Banana Hammock. But once you've enjoyed the names, there's still a bottle to choose.
Cannoli takes its inspiration from an Italian pastry shop, with Sicilian lemon, pistachio, and cinnamon milk. Banana Hammock heads for the pool, with bergamot, whipped coconut, and teak. Both have creamy notes, but they appeal to different kinds of fragrance lovers. If your favorite scents remind you of something delicious, start with Cannoli. If you love coconut and the smell of a beach holiday, take a closer look at Banana Hammock.
Cannoli is for the pastry enthusiast
Cannoli Eau de Parfum belongs to the gourmand family, the perfume term for scents inspired by food. Laurel also calls it lactonic, which describes its milky character. Here, that comes from the cinnamon milk note, paired with pistachio and a lemon opening.
It's an appealing combination if you like dessert fragrances and want to explore something beyond vanilla. Pistachio gives the composition a nutty theme, cinnamon milk adds a spiced, creamy base, and Sicilian lemon brings citrus into the picture. Laurel describes the overall scent as warm pastry, inspired by Little Italy.
One reviewer described it as very similar to a cannoli, without making her feel like a "giant walking dessert." If you're intrigued by the name but wondering how literally to take it, that gives you a better idea of what to expect.
We'd choose Cannoli for someone who loves bakery scents, milky perfumes, and a little spice.
Banana Hammock is for the coconut enthusiast
Despite the name, Banana Hammock Eau de Parfum has no banana among its listed fragrance notes. The tropical ingredient here is whipped coconut, with bergamot at the top and teak at the base. The tiny swimsuit is optional.
Laurel describes it as a warm, tropical scent with musky and woody undertones. The coconut supplies the creamy sweetness, while the citrus and wood give you more to consider than coconut alone.
One customer review compares it to an upscale coconut sunscreen, with bergamot cutting through the sweetness and teak rounding it out. If that association sounds appealing, Banana Hammock deserves a place on your shortlist.
We'd choose it for someone who gravitates toward coconut perfumes, beach scents, and warm woods. You don't need to save it for summer. A tropical fragrance can be particularly welcome when your actual plans involve a sweater and the subway.
A note on staying power
The same reviewer loved Cannoli enough to use three or four sprays instead of her usual two. She found it faded sooner than she'd like, though she sometimes caught the scent again later in the day.
Which would we choose?
We'd wear Cannoli to dinner and happily keep wearing it when dinner turns into a late night. Its lemon, pistachio, and cinnamon milk notes suggest a creamy, spiced scent with more to explore than your usual vanilla. If your next perfume should feel a little indulgent, get to know Cannoli.
Banana Hammock is for anyone whose vacation wardrobe is ready before their flight is booked. Coconut, bergamot, and warm teak give it a beachy character we'd happily wear long after the tan has faded. If coconut perfume is already your weakness, meet Banana Hammock.
