Melograno by Santa Maria Novella

Bergamot, Orange Cyclamen, Ylang-Ylang, Rose, Pomegranate, Iris Root, Cedar, Vetiver, Fern, Moss, Tobacco, Hawthorn, Labdanum, Patchouli, Opoponax, Amber, Vanilla.

One thing I can say for certain, regarding this house, is that they make for some strong Eau de Colognes. Their offerings in this format retain more strength and presence than most Eau de Toilettes I sample. That's a terrific quality if the scent is enjoyable and understandably not so good if the fragrance doesn't float your boat. Melograno by S.M.N has me caught in the middle. I don't like it in the conventional sense, but I can't dismiss it either. It's strangely captivating, but it's not necessarily in my wheelhouse for regular wearing.

I'll begin by stating I experience no pomegranate as I know it. Truthfully, I care not about that as I don't believe a more "evident" rendition would make me love this fragrance. Melograno is Old School done very well, yet as much as I love some classics, this seems to be missing that certain something that makes me get off the fence. I also find the opening and heart much more masculine than expected. The base and drydown afford a more "shared" feel once they commence, but the totality of Melograno ( to me ) is geared more for men.

Melograno reminds me of a scent I would opt to wear in the cool, fall weather. It possesses citrus, florals and earth tones jockeying for position during its opening and heart accord. In actuality, this fragrance is a good representation of what's listed in the accords as undertones of wood, green and the suggestion of tobacco are all represented as Melograno heads into the base and drydown.

This potpourri of aroma dissipates just enough after 30 minutes to permit the entrance of a soft, oriental finish. Even after this has been on my skin for over 30 minutes, I still feel this is a masculine scent. I still cannot love this, but I suppose respect is as good as it's going to get.

Sillage is good with longevity being impressive for an EDC. This is easily detected 6 hours later. Neutral rating from Aromi for Santa Maria Novella's Melograno. A sample wear is highly recommended as I find this leans very retro in its own way.

Comments

Black Suede by Avon

Nutmeg, Clove, Amber, Musk, Moss, Wood Notes. Yes.........I am reviewing one of the Rodney Dangerfield's of fragrance. Black Suede has been gracing medicine cabinets, for better or worse, since 1980 my friends. If you're expecting me to inform you ( like others may have already ) that Black Suede is a nasty scrubber, you will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're expecting a glowing review claiming it's a diamond in the rough, you won't hear that from me either. I will say though that Black Suede doesn't deserve the hate it's received and most of that is due to snobbery aimed at Avon products in general. I kid you not when I state that a close relative to this fragrance is Cacharel Pour L'Homme. The array of spice in both ensure comparison, but the "smoother" of the two is Black Suede due to its implementation of Amber. While wearing Black Suede, one can detect a hint of "drugstore". That quality doesn't manife...

Chanel copying Guerlain. Why?

Last month, I had the pleasure of trying Comète by Chanel, the latest addition to their prestigious Les Exclusifs line. This fragrance follows the release of Le Lion in 2020, another standout in the same collection. Like Le Lion , Comète is a beautiful perfume that captures the essence of Chanel’s refined elegance. However, both fragrances bear a striking resemblance to classic creations by Guerlain, leading me to ponder the direction Chanel is taking. Chanel has a great fragrance history. Not as hallowed and old as Guerlain but for past three decades it has far outshone Guerlain. In my view, no other perfume house has come close to Chanel’s excellence in this century. This makes their recent approach of echoing Guerlain classics somewhat perplexing. Have they run out of fresh ideas? Is Roger Dove at the helm of their fragrance division, or have they perhaps...

Teatro Alla Scala - Krizia

I tried Comete by Chanel today and wanted to write about how Chanel is going by the way of Roger Dove - copying old masterpieces. I did not know where to post that and then I realized I have been neglecting this blog. When I logged in I saw an unfinished post I wrote a year ago about Teatro Alla Scala by Krizia. Teatro is the best full bodied floral - better than any Chanel or Patou. Even better than Gucci L'Arte. A brief background: Teatro Alla Scala is an Opera theatre in Milan. The bottle's design is an homage to the theatre and the perfume an homage to its sophisticated patrons. I wanted to write a symphony for it. Maybe some day. For now here are few notes I wrote comparing EDT vs EDP. And if you don't have Teatro, your wardrobe is incomplete Rose, Jasmine, Tuberose. Jammy berries (more in EDP) . Honey note listed is probably the jammy part Vetiver & moss - more in EDT Rose and carnation is more than jasmine and that is what separates it from other florals like J...

Il Mondo di Odore

Search This Blog