Inspired by The One
Flores De Mel
Honeyed peach and aldehydes over a deep bouquet of rose.
from R70.00
For Her · Floral Oriental
Katia
Inspired by La Vie Est Belle by Lancôme
Iris, praline and pear — sweetness with excellent posture.
Ordering opens shortly
Online ordering opens shortly. Browse the range in the meantime — join the list below and we will tell you the moment it does.
Made in Johannesburg
Blended and bottled by us, from A-grade French oils.
Door-to-door delivery in 2–4 working days
Free on orders over R750.
Secure checkout
Card and EFT through PayFast. We never see your card details.
30-day returns
Unopened and unused? Send it back within 30 days.
The scent, layer by layer
Top notes
The first impression, in the opening minutes.
- Blackcurrent
- Pear
Heart notes
The character that settles in after half an hour.
- Iris
- Jasmine
- Orange Blossom
Base notes
What lingers on skin hours later.
- Tonka Bean
- Vanilla
- Praline
- Patchouli
How it wears
- Longevity
- Lasts all day
- Projection
- Fills a room
- autumn
- winter
- day
- night
About Katia
Katia is a sweet iris-and-praline eau de parfum for women, inspired by La Vie Est Belle by Lancôme. It is easy to understand why this style is so widely loved.
It opens quietly. Blackcurrant gives a dark fruity tang and pear adds a soft, juicy sweetness, but neither lasts long or tries very hard. The opening is really just a door, and what is behind it is the point.
Iris carries the heart, and it is the reason this fragrance feels expensive rather than merely sweet. Iris is cool, powdery and slightly earthy, a grown-up note that keeps everything upright, and jasmine and orange blossom drape around it with a soft white-floral warmth.
Then the base arrives and stays for a very long time. Praline is nutty and caramelised, tonka bean and vanilla build a creamy sugar warmth, and patchouli runs underneath, dark and earthy, stopping the sweetness from ever becoming childish. That tension between candy and earth is the whole trick of modern gourmand perfumery, and here it is done extremely well.
It is powerful and it lasts. Two or three sprays are plenty, and it will still be with you at bedtime. Wear it in cool weather, by day or night, to work, dinners, weddings and anywhere you want to feel polished. It is also our most reliable gift for women of almost any age.
If you love La Vie Est Belle
If you love La Vie Est Belle by Lancôme, Katia shares its DNA closely: the same fruity opening, the same cool powdery iris at the centre and the same praline, vanilla and patchouli base that makes the original so recognisable from across a room.
Ours is slightly less sugary. The patchouli is a little more prominent through the dry-down, which gives our version a drier, earthier finish, while the original stays creamier for longer. The iris in ours also arrives sooner. Both perform exceptionally well, lasting eight hours or more with strong projection in the first two. Katia is an original composition inspired by that fragrance rather than a reproduction of it, and the earthier base is where it makes its own case.
Ivana Sofia is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the brands named on this page. All trademarks belong to their respective owners and are referenced solely to describe scent character. Ivana Sofia fragrances are original compositions inspired by these scents — they are not the original products.
When to wear it
Autumn and winter suit it best, though it is wearable in cool spring weather too, and it moves comfortably from day into night. It is at home at work, at dinners, at weddings and at family celebrations. Two or three sprays, since it is potent and grows as it warms. The 50ml at R120 is a good everyday size, with the 100ml at R200 for devoted wearers.
Questions people ask
Does Katia smell like La Vie Est Belle?
It shares the same iris and praline character and the sweet, long-lasting vanilla base that made La Vie Est Belle by Lancôme so popular. Ours is an original composition inspired by that fragrance rather than a reproduction, and it is a little drier.
How long does it last on skin?
Eight hours or more for most wearers, and longer still on clothing. It is one of the strongest performers in our women's range, so apply less than you think you need.
Is it suitable as a gift?
It makes an easy gift for women. It suits a wide range of ages, it is widely loved, and the 50ml at R120 presents well for birthdays and Mother's Day.
Is it too sweet for daytime?
Not if you apply it lightly. Two sprays in the morning reads as polished and warm rather than sugary, especially in cooler weather.
Reviews
Be the first to review Katia
Bought it already? Tell the next person what you think — it genuinely helps.
In the same scent family
Inspired by N°5
Gold Velvet
Aldehydes, may rose and sandalwood — the shape of classic perfume.
from R70.00
Restocking
Inspired by Coco Mademoiselle
New Beginnings For Her
Orange, rose and patchouli — clean, sharp and very self-assured.
from R70.00
Restocking
Customers also love
Inspired by The One
Flores De Mel
Honeyed peach and aldehydes over a deep bouquet of rose.
from R70.00
Inspired by Beautiful
Take Me Home
A hundred flowers, a little citrus, and sandalwood beneath.
from R70.00
Inspired by Cool Water Woman
Just Between Us
Honeydew melon, water lily and pineapple in cold light.
from R70.00
Inspired by N°5
Gold Velvet
Aldehydes, may rose and sandalwood — the shape of classic perfume.
from R70.00