Il Mondo di Odore

Bergamot Oil, Orange Blossom, Sandalwood, Incense. Easily the most simplistic of the Terroir releases, 38°N 16°E is all about Bergamot. Dedicated citrus fragrances aren't for everyone and in spite of the listed Blossom, Sandalwood and Incense, this creation is, at least on my skin, an experience of straight up Bergamot. The opening is a beautiful rendition of Blossom and Bergamot, but within 3 minutes the Blossom winds down and allows Bergamot front and center position. I've said it before and will reiterate that Blossom has a tendency to gain momentum and take over a large portion of a composition. Not so with 38°N 16°E. The vibrancy of the top accord, although fleeting, is one of the things that keeps me sampling manifold fragrances. It's so bright and succinct that, whatever follows it is destined to be ( at least ) a slight disappointment. What the wearer has to understand is that 38°N 16°E is an uncomplicated citrus creation. This genre is not known for other...

Ylang-Ylang, Mandarin, Pink Peppercorn, Cocoa, Vetiver, Vanilla, Roasted Corn. A cacophony of bitter and sweet spiciness wash over you as soon as you apply 14°S-48°E. The combination of what must be Mandarin peel integrated with Ylang is an extraordinary aroma. I can't say it's the most pleasant accord I've smelled, because it isn't. However, it sure is interesting and after 5 minutes, the insertion of vetiver into the transition enhances that feeling. The opening accord is a bit Lutenesque on my skin, but 14°S-48°E evolves quickly enough that my comparison is a fleeting memory. These are earth tones implemented well, but unless you have a proclivity for these elements, this may only garner your respect. At its very essence, 14°S-48°E is a vetiver fragrance that attempts to appeal to the sensibilities of both genders. To me, it still leans masculine, but it's not as overtly so as others featuring this note. There's a smokiness that almost gives the illus...

Lavender, Chestnut, Pine, Juniper, Vanilla. I cannot help but be reminded that this smells like something that Caron could have created. It has a classic vibe to it, due to the combination of Lavender and Vanilla. It wears like you'd expect a well made scent to do and leans a bit dense. The first few minutes are invigorating and I can almost smell the stones in the fragrance description. Evolving effortlessly from that is the herbal quality accented with pine. I can imagine a hillside, sloping upwards, with jutting rocks, boulders, shrubbery and lavender, with pine toward the skyline. This accord basically unravels at once, with Vanilla clawing its way into the sunlight. Word has it that Andy Tauer is the nose behind this creation and as we all know, he is very talented. On one hand, there's nothing new here yet 44°n-3° is an enjoyable wear. I don't feel as if I'm wearing a dated fragrance like others in this category can do. I'm not quite sure why that is...

Pine, Gentian, Lichen, Campfire. 46°N 08° opens with a very nice, aromatic blast of what reminds me of green and whiffs of smoke on a breeze. It's a lucid top accord that settles quickly, while maintaining a biting green and smoky character. I use the term biting in place of bitter because it's not quite that. It's somewhere between biting and bracing and this aspect of the scent is tuned well. The smoke, at least on my skin, evolves into more of an incense rendition within a few minutes. I believe it's this, in addition to Gentian, that keep this a little edgy. 46°n-08° also wears linear on me after the first few minutes. What develops, then remains is an aloof incense with intermittent green woven throughout. As simple as 46°n-08° really is, I find it a pleasant wear, although not terribly exciting. It would be fitting if you were in the mood for an aroma like this and simply wanted to spray and go. There's nothing bold, offensive or groundbreaking prese...

Gardenia, Orchid, Rose, Hyacinth, Lily, Arabic Coffee. First, a big thanks to Mia Von Trost from Parfumo for sending me samples representing the Terrior perfumes from this house located in Switzerland. Just a casual sniff of the sprayer had me intrigued. Out of the 5 representative fragrances, I decided on this one first for no particular reason. Jumping the gun a bit, I have to say I love the "coffee note" in this. For me, I always seem to experience the suggestion of such notes and rarely ( if ever ) a literal interpretation. This rendition however is right in my wheelhouse and is the perfect counterpoint to the Gardenia. I am persuaded that it consists of spices and wood; namely sandalwood. It possess similarities to the version in my vintage Santal Noble by MPG. Now, please don't misinterpret that I'm claiming this is a Santal Noble clone. What I am stating is that if you miss the coffee note in the original et Gantier, this version may just satisfy your...