Il Mondo di Odore

Brazilian orange, Indonesian cloves, Petitgrain, Rum extract, Bourbon vetiver, Ylang Ylang, Indian sandalwood, Gaiacwood, Vanilla absolute, Amber and Tonka bean. Mona di Orio's Vanille is not just another vanilla fragrance. You might think that, by name alone, this could be a one trick pony or very linear. On the contrary, Vanille is complex and multi-faceted. I enjoy the vanilla note as much as most people, but only in certain implementations. If it results in that waxy, vanilla candle aroma, I end up shunning that fragrance. I annoy myself due to the fact that this particular note, in certain variations, arouses such a sensitivity. Since I'm stuck with my olfactory, I move on and when I find one that works, I'll extol its virtues. Enter Mona di Orio's Vanille. This is a spicy, woody vanilla and falls smack in the middle of the gender category. It would smell appropriate and extremely good on anyone. Vanille has the ability to exude largess, yet the accords...

I just heard the news that Mona di Orio has passed away. I know nothing of the particulars concerning this, but I admit that it has left me feeling extremely sad. Young, talented, attractive and the person behind some pretty terrific and daring fragrances. My sympathies go out to her family and co-workers. Mona will be missed by not just those closest to her. Her line of work touches strangers as well as those involved in her life. I know she influenced  mine with her creations and I truly admire her talent.

Allow me to say that if the use of oud in Mona di Orio's creation is indicative of the real ingredient, then I can now understand why some of the "oud purists" never cease to make mention of the "inferior" synthetics that mimic true oud. Has Mona used real oud? I don't know the answer to that anymore than you do. What I do know is that this fragrance is outstanding and it stands to reason that she implemented a certain degree of the real deal here. Smooth as silk is a term I use somewhat undeservedly at times, but here it would describe the totality of Mona's Oud to a tee. Imagine cutting a rib eye so tender you could use a plastic spoon to do it. LS lists the notes as : Elimi Phillipines, Green Mandarin from Calabre,  Petitgrain Paraguay,  Indonesian Patchouli,  Absolu Osmanthus China,  Nagarmotha India,  Atlas Cedarwood,  Laotian Essential Oud Oil, Musc and Ambergris. As everyone already knows, the price point of over $5 per ml is what it is.Yes,...

Okay........I'm a leather lover by nature. After applying Cuir my initial impression was a loud "YEOWZA" ! I then thought that it's quite possible a retired fireman collaborated on this composition. Living a large portion of my life in the inner city back east, I've had my share of traversing through some burned out and gutted factories or row homes. The aroma of charred items is not one you lose a bead on as the years go by. Cuir truly smells like I'm standing in a room full of burnt embers that have been extinguished for a few days. The casualties in this fire were wooden timbers and leather goods that were put out with Mrs Dash meat seasoning. Does this sound gross? Well, it's not. Very weird ( to me at least ), but not gross. I do get the leather rendition and it's off the beaten path. I have numerous leather fragrances like quite a few of you, but none smell anything close to this. This is a leather jacket that has suffered smoke damage in a d...