Head Over Heels by Ultima II is a bright, nostalgic fruity floral that captures the playful side of 1990s women's fragrance. Released in 1994, it centers on peach, melon, and plum before moving into a softer floral heart and a light woody, mossy base. The result feels cheerful, feminine, easygoing, and especially suited to warm weather rather than formal or dramatic occasions. South Beach Perfumes currently lists Head Over Heels as a 3.9 oz Eau de Toilette for women.
What makes Head Over Heels interesting today is how clearly it reflects its era. Fruity floral perfumes were beginning to move toward fresher, more casual profiles in the early 1990s, and this fragrance embraces that shift without becoming overly aquatic or sharply citrusy. Peach, plum, and melon remain the defining notes, while the flowers and woods give the fragrance enough structure to keep it from smelling like simple fruit spray.
What does Head Over Heels by Ultima II smell like?
Head Over Heels smells fruity, floral, fresh, softly sweet, lightly woody, and slightly mossy.
The opening is dominated by peach, melon, and plum. Peach gives the fragrance a soft juicy sweetness, melon creates a fresh watery quality, and plum adds a deeper fruitiness that prevents the opening from feeling overly light. South Beach Perfumes identifies these three fruits as the defining top notes of the fragrance.
As it develops, rose, jasmine, and geranium give the composition a more floral personality. These florals are not especially dense or dramatic. They function more as a soft bridge between the fruit and the base.
The drydown moves into soft woods and moss, adding enough depth to make the fragrance feel complete without taking away its youthful, airy character.
What are the top, heart, and base notes of Head Over Heels?
Head Over Heels by Ultima II was released in 1994. Contemporary trade coverage from March 1994 reported that Revlon planned the Ultima II Head Over Heels launch for October of that year.
Top Notes: Peach, Melon, Plum
Heart Notes: Rose, Jasmine, Geranium
Base Notes: Soft Woods, Moss
Historical fragrance references sometimes simplify the perfume to peach, melon, plum, carnation, tuberose, and cedarwood, which suggests that published note pyramids have varied over time. The consistent theme across sources is the same: juicy fruit sits at the center of the fragrance, supported by feminine florals and soft woods.
Is Head Over Heels for men, women, or unisex?
Head Over Heels was created and marketed as a women's fragrance. Both historical retail references and current South Beach Perfumes information classify it for women.
Its peach, melon, plum, rose, jasmine, and geranium profile gives it a traditionally feminine fruity floral identity.
That said, anyone who enjoys soft fruit and airy floral scents can wear it regardless of how it was originally marketed.
How long does Head Over Heels last?
Head Over Heels typically lasts approximately 6 to 8 hours for many wearers, although individual performance depends on skin chemistry, temperature, application, and bottle age. South Beach Perfumes gives the same general longevity range for the fragrance.
The fruity opening is naturally the brightest stage.
Peach, melon, and plum gradually soften as the floral heart becomes more noticeable, while woods and moss help the fragrance retain some presence later in the day.
Because this is an older fragrance, storage history can also matter. A bottle that has spent years away from heat and sunlight may perform differently from one stored poorly.
How strong is the projection of Head Over Heels?
Head Over Heels has soft to moderate projection.
During the opening, the peach, melon, and plum create a noticeable fruity scent around the wearer. The florals extend that presence, but the fragrance gradually becomes softer as the woody and mossy base settles closer to the skin.
It is not designed to dominate a room.
That softer projection suits the fragrance's casual personality and makes it easy to wear in situations where a powerful perfume might feel excessive.
What fragrance family is Head Over Heels?
Head Over Heels belongs primarily to the fruity floral fragrance family, with fresh woody and lightly mossy characteristics. South Beach Perfumes classifies it as Fruity, Floral, and Fresh Woods.
Its structure is easy to understand:
Peach, melon, and plum create juicy sweetness.
Rose, jasmine, and geranium provide floral softness.
Woods and moss add a gentle base.
That simplicity makes Head Over Heels approachable and easy to wear.
What seasons is Head Over Heels best for?
Head Over Heels is best suited to spring and summer.
Warm weather highlights its peach, melon, plum, and floral character, while the soft woods and moss keep it from disappearing completely.
Spring allows the rose, jasmine, and geranium to feel fresh.
Summer brings out the melon and peach most clearly.
It can also work during early fall when temperatures remain mild, but it is less naturally suited to deep winter than richer amber, vanilla, or spicy perfumes.
Is Head Over Heels better for daytime or nighttime?
Head Over Heels is primarily a daytime fragrance.
It works particularly well for casual mornings, brunch, errands, lunch, shopping, weekends, and relaxed warm-weather outings. South Beach Perfumes likewise recommends it for daytime, spring, summer, and casual settings.
It can certainly be worn at night if you prefer light fragrances, but it does not have the deep woods, amber, spice, or gourmand richness normally associated with dramatic evening perfume.
What occasions should Head Over Heels be worn for?
Head Over Heels works particularly well for:
- Everyday wear
- Brunch
- Casual lunches
- Shopping
- Weekend errands
- Spring outings
- Summer days
- Beachside activities
- Casual dates
- Day trips
- Travel
- Relaxed social gatherings
- Situations where you want something playful and uncomplicated
It is especially effective when you want fragrance to feel cheerful rather than serious.
What age range is Head Over Heels best suited for?
There is no required age for Head Over Heels, but its playful fruity floral character makes it particularly approachable for teens, women in their 20s and 30s, and anyone who enjoys nostalgic youthful fragrances.
Women who wore it during the 1990s may also enjoy it specifically for the nostalgia.
Someone younger may experience the peach, melon, and plum combination as a fun vintage interpretation of a fruity floral.
The important factor is taste rather than age.
Is Head Over Heels office appropriate?
Yes. Head Over Heels is very office appropriate when applied normally.
Its soft to moderate projection, fresh fruit, gentle florals, and light woody base make it relatively unobtrusive.
Two to four sprays should generally be enough for a normal office environment.
For a fragrance-sensitive workplace, one or two sprays would be safer.
Is it good for dates? Yes, especially for casual daytime dates, coffee, lunch, brunch, or warm-weather outings. Peach, melon, plum, rose, and jasmine give it a light flirtatious quality without becoming overly seductive.
Is it a safe blind buy? Relatively safe for someone who enjoys peach, melon, plum, fruity florals, and lighter women's fragrances. It is less safe for someone who prefers heavy vanilla, strong patchouli, oud, incense, or highly concentrated modern perfumes.
What fragrances smell similar to Head Over Heels?
Head Over Heels has a straightforward fruity floral structure, but several fragrances currently available through South Beach Perfumes explore very similar combinations of melon, peach, plum, jasmine, rose, woods, and moss.
Paris Hilton Eau de Parfum: A More Modern Fruity Floral With Melon and Peach
Paris Hilton Eau de Parfum is one of the strongest alternatives for someone who enjoys Head Over Heels. It opens with melon, apple, and peach before moving into freesia, mimosa, jasmine, lily of the valley, lily, and tuberose, then settling into sandalwood, musk, ylang-ylang, and oakmoss. South Beach Perfumes currently lists it as available, including low stock in the 1.7 oz size when checked.
Both fragrances use melon and peach over soft florals and a mossy woody base.
Head Over Heels is simpler and more plum-focused.
Paris Hilton is fuller, more floral, and more polished.
Escape by Calvin Klein: A More Complex Melon and Peach Floral
Escape is another natural recommendation because it combines melon, apricot, apple, lychee, black currant, peach, rose, jasmine, oakmoss, musk, sandalwood, amber, vetiver, cedar, and vanilla. South Beach Perfumes currently lists it as available.
Both fragrances share melon, peach, jasmine, rose, woods, and mossy elements.
Escape is more complex, richer, and more sophisticated.
Head Over Heels is lighter, simpler, and more playful.
Someone who loves the fruity freshness of Head Over Heels but wants more depth may find Escape especially appealing.
Il Bacio by Borghese: The Closest Match for Peach, Melon and Plum
Il Bacio is arguably the most direct comparison because its heart contains peach, melon, and plum, the same three fruits that define Head Over Heels. It surrounds those notes with honeysuckle, freesia, jasmine, lily of the valley, rose, musk, amber, cedarwood, and sandalwood. South Beach Perfumes currently lists Il Bacio as available.
Head Over Heels places the fruit at the opening and keeps the fragrance light.
Il Bacio surrounds the same fruit combination with a more developed floral structure and warmer base.
For someone who loves Head Over Heels but wants a richer fruity floral, Il Bacio is an excellent next step.
What is the difference between available concentrations of Head Over Heels?
Head Over Heels has appeared historically in more than one fragrance format, including Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum presentations. The South Beach Perfumes product discussed here is the 3.9 oz Eau de Toilette.
The Eau de Toilette gives the fruit and floral notes a lighter, fresher presentation and is particularly well suited to daytime and warm-weather wear.
Historical Eau de Parfum bottles may feel richer and potentially longer lasting, although age and storage conditions make direct comparisons difficult.
With a fragrance released in 1994, bottle age can sometimes have as much influence on performance as concentration.
Learn more about fragrance concentrations.
Is Head Over Heels discontinued?
Yes. Head Over Heels by Ultima II is generally regarded as discontinued from regular production.
Specialty fragrance sellers currently identify it as a discontinued fragrance, and historical references note that it was last marketed under Revlon.
That does not mean authentic bottles have disappeared.
Older distributor inventory, fragrance wholesalers, and specialty retailers can continue offering discontinued perfumes for years after regular production ends.
South Beach Perfumes currently maintains a product listing for the 3.9 oz Eau de Toilette, although it was marked sold out when checked.
When was Head Over Heels released?
Head Over Heels was released in 1994.
Contemporary industry reporting from March 14, 1994 stated that Revlon planned to launch the Ultima II women's fragrance in October across department stores carrying Ultima II cosmetics.
That contemporary source is particularly useful because it confirms that Head Over Heels was an actual Ultima II launch under Revlon rather than simply a later fragrance relabeled by retailers.
Who created Head Over Heels?
A specific individual perfumer responsible for Head Over Heels is not reliably documented in the major public fragrance references reviewed for this guide.
The fragrance was released under Ultima II while the brand was associated with Revlon, and contemporary reporting confirms Revlon's involvement in the 1994 launch.
Without a reliable source naming the perfumer, it would be misleading to assign the fragrance to a specific nose.
For older mass-market fragrances, missing perfumer attribution is not unusual.
How many sprays of Head Over Heels should be used?
For most situations, 3 to 5 sprays is a good starting point.
For office wear, 2 to 3 sprays should generally be enough.
For normal daytime wear, 3 to 5 sprays provides a noticeable but comfortable scent.
For outdoor spring or summer settings, 4 to 6 sprays may work well if you prefer stronger presence.
Because older bottles may vary in strength, begin conservatively if you are wearing vintage inventory.
Is Head Over Heels authentic?
Yes. Head Over Heels sold by South Beach Perfumes is an authentic Ultima II fragrance. South Beach Perfumes states that its fragrances are authentic original products sourced through established distribution channels.
Authenticity is particularly important with discontinued fragrances because shoppers may encounter older bottles on secondary marketplaces with unclear sourcing or storage histories.
Differences in packaging, coloration, or bottle design can occur with older inventory and do not automatically indicate that a fragrance is counterfeit.
Learn more about our product guarantee policy.
Who should buy Head Over Heels?
Head Over Heels is particularly well suited for someone who:
- Loves peach in fragrance
- Enjoys melon notes
- Likes plum
- Prefers fruity floral perfumes
- Enjoys rose and jasmine
- Likes light woody bases
- Appreciates gentle mossy notes
- Collects discontinued fragrances
- Loves 1990s perfume
- Wants an easy daytime fragrance
- Prefers spring and summer scents
- Likes soft rather than powerful projection
- Wants something nostalgic
- Enjoys Paris Hilton, Escape, or Il Bacio
- Prefers cheerful perfume over dramatic perfume
It is especially appealing to anyone who wants a fragrance that feels uncomplicated and happy.
Who may not like Head Over Heels?
Head Over Heels may not be the best choice for someone who prefers:
- Heavy vanilla gourmands
- Powerful amber perfumes
- Oud fragrances
- Dark patchouli
- Smoky incense
- Very spicy perfume
- Strong projection
- Dense winter fragrances
- Complex niche compositions
- Extremely modern woody ambers
Someone who dislikes melon or peach should also approach it cautiously because those fruits are central to the fragrance rather than minor accents.
Final South Beach Perfumes Expert Review
Head Over Heels by Ultima II captures a very specific moment in women's fragrance history.
Released in 1994, it arrived when fruity florals were becoming lighter, fresher, and easier to wear. Instead of using an enormous floral bouquet or a heavy amber base, Head Over Heels builds its personality around three immediately recognizable fruits: peach, melon, and plum.
That combination gives the fragrance its charm.
Melon brings freshness. Peach adds soft sweetness. Plum provides a slightly richer fruitiness. Rose, jasmine, and geranium then make the fragrance feel feminine before woods and moss provide a restrained finish.
There is nothing especially complicated about the structure, and that is part of why it works.
Head Over Heels was designed to feel fun.
It suits warm afternoons, casual outings, weekends, lunches, travel, and the kind of everyday moments when a dramatic perfume would feel unnecessary. It also offers genuine nostalgia for anyone who remembers the lighter fruity fragrances that became increasingly popular during the 1990s.
Its discontinued status makes the fragrance more interesting today, but nostalgia should not be the only reason to appreciate it. The combination of peach, melon, plum, flowers, woods, and moss remains remarkably wearable.
Someone looking for enormous projection or a complicated niche composition will probably want something else.
For the fragrance lover who wants a cheerful, feminine, easygoing fruity floral with unmistakable 1990s personality, Head Over Heels remains a charming perfume worth remembering.
Explore our Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Signature Scent.
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