Neapolitan Goth

[doomsday_disco]

When it’s too hot to wear all black, consider refreshing your aesthetic with this deliciously neutral palette! Chocolate, strawberry and vanilla, sticky with labdanum and duly chilled with a whisper of clove smoke.

Edited July 11 by doomsday_disco

[Failmingo]

Hoping to do a Summerween live-sniff soon, but in case that takes a minute, figured I'd sketch out some impressions of this scent, which I have been DYING to smell. 

 

In the bottle I'm getting full-bodied Neapolitan freeze-dried astronaut ice cream sandwich, including chocolate wafer. There is a scuzz of smoke floating around it which is easily overpowered by the sweetness, creaminess, and nostalgic familiarity of these classic flavors combined all in one scoop.

 

On the skin I immediately get a jolt of sticky tartness from the labdanum, and the clove grows fangs. It's both darker and warmer than I was hoping for in an ice cream scent, decidedly polluted, like that same sandwich found underneath a bar table at a goth club. Not bad, but more of a traffic jam of notes, right at the instant when I was expecting smoothness.

 

And yet, and yet! Within a few minutes, everything settles down and re-blends itself into a rich, creamy concoction that is recognizably Neapolitan, topped with a drizzle of angst. The clove steadily becomes more noticeable as "clove" than as "smoke" which helps impart some of the desired coolness, although the gummy labdanum still suggests a treat that is actively melting. I think the labdanum clings tightly to the strawberry component, and the clove to the chocolate, leaving the vanilla to fend for itself in a smaller supporting role. It seems like from a distance the clove might be the most distinctive and recognizable note, appealingly ensconced in a murky dessert-y sweetness, but up close I can still pick out the individual flavors.

 

All in all, this is totally great! I was promised a Neapolitan ice cream perfume with a funky attitude, and that's what I got. My childhood sweet tooth is happy, my teenage disaffection feels SEEN and VALIDATED. Two scoops way up!

[auraysu]

This was the one I was most excited about from Summerween, and I like it! There really is an aspect of melted ice cream- I get ice cream soup vibes with the three flavors blending together- but instead of being 'cold' from the ice cream or 'hot' from the clove, it stays 'lukewarm' because they balance each other out. The clove is a tiny bit spicy, but it's lowkey enough that it complements the ice cream. As it dries down, it settles into a dim, gothy aura with a soft, melty tinge. 

[hollyhuynh]

Definitely initially smell like neapolitan ice cream… the strawberry is very artificial and candy like, while the chocolate is pretty muted and the vanilla serving as the base. The labdanum is adding to the very sweet, candy-like (or resinous?) nature of the scent. The smoke is indeed, just a whisper, and i don’t really get it unless I’m sniffing up close. The clove does emerge later during wear though, and it's again, sticky sweet. A lovely note though- it plays well with the strawberry and doesn't overpower everything! However, it's too artificial and candy like to me, so I won't be upsizing.

[Teamama]

I can confirm that Neapolitan Goth is amazing, both in the decant & on a piece of felted wool. Ice cream accord! vanilla! the strawberries in commmercial ice cream that seem weirdly dehydrated! labdanum! pale milky chocolate! clove & tobacco! I doff my hat to the amazing skills & artistry on display in this blend.

 

I hoped it could be a surprise gourmand hit for me, like Pistachio Ambrosia. But my skin chemistry refuses to let me have nice things containing cloves. I had to wash it off . I will pass along my decant, pouting like a dissapointed toddler as I do. 

[sunshinedaisybliss]

Many of you may remember that in the early 80s, Robert Smith took a break from being the frontman of The Cure and played for a year or so on tour with Siouxsie And The Banshees. He and Siouxsie were old mates, their bands having toured together previously. Returning from their travels in 1983, both Robert and Siouxsie found themselves seeking more fulfilment in life — something more fun, and less pressure than being on stage every night. They decided to buy an icecream van, thinking it would be lovely to travel around England making kiddies happy. Taking inspiration from the very popular Mr Whippy brand, they named their van Mr Gothy and off they went!

 

In only a few short months, Mr Gothy became well known throughout the villages of England for its sweet treats — including the most popular of all; the neopolitan icecream cone with its creamy layers of sweet vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. However... as hard as they tried, Robert and Siouxsie were unable to embrace the sweetness and pinkness of the whole icecream van ethos and it wasn't long before people started complaining that their appearance and their habit of chain smoking clove cigarettes were upsetting the kiddies. One complaint sent in to a local council said the icecream had a weird smoky smell and "the people in the van look scary".

 

Sadly, it wasn't long before the children who used to scream with joy whenever they heard the Mr Gothy van coming up the street would hide and refuse to go outside, crying their little eyes out and peeking fearfully through the curtains until the van was out of sight. Robert and Siouxsie would drive around for hours trying to attract business, but it was clear that their best days were behind them and eventually Mr Gothy closed its window for good — Robert returned to The Cure, and Siouxsie went back to being a banshee. 

 

In an interview with Rolling Stone in 1997, Robert was asked if — given his inability to give up the wild hair, lipstick, eyeliner and chain smoking — he felt responsible for the failure of Mr Gothy and the fear and sadness he caused thousands of kiddies across England. He responded "No, in fact it inspired me to write 'Friday I'm In Love' because weekends were the best of times in the Mr Gothy van.".

 

Now here we are in 2025, and I'm so happy that BPAL has released this lovely tribute to Mr Gothy! It has all the classic flavours of neopolitan icecream, mixed with a warm smoky clove — exactly how the inside of the van used to smell after a few days on the road. But without the crying children. 

 

PS if you don't believe me, here's a rare photo from the good old days of Mr Gothy. 

 

[LavenderCoffee]

Idk how to follow Mr. Gothy but I am really enjoying this fun Summerween scent. When I first tested it I was unsure, but I am appreciating it more every time I come back to it.

 

It's not really a full on ice cream experience to me, but the neapolitan ice cream is definitely present, if that makes any sense. A velvety strangely creamy vibe that lingers on you like realistic incense. The clove smoke is a really nice touch, but I could not resist layering some Thorns Clove Cigarette to punch it up a bit. 

 

This lasts a good while for me, and while I can smell it all day, I wouldn't say it has much throw to it. Still a delightful fragrance. I think I will be wanting more than a decant.