Il Mondo di Odore

Bitter Orange, Neroli, Pepper. Cardamom, Saffron, Olibanum. Patchouli, Leather, Woods. Versace's Oud Noir for Men is perhaps one of the more wearable interpretations out there; especially if the note gives you problems. Personally, I don't even consider this an Oud fragrance. Why, you ask? Because it's not an oud scent in any respect. Whatever is actually being passed off as oud performs softly, as does the entire scent from start to early finish. Oud Noir begins with a subtle, citrus and mild camphor. It's pleasant, innocuous and versatile. I can also say it's uninspired and I wouldn't be inaccurate. After 5 minutes or so, there's some spice. the suggestion of fruit and perhaps balsam. I don't experience genuine clarity in the accords and as Oud Noir is tuned at a low volume, this is simply a spray-n-go type fragrance. It may appear I'm bashing on Oud Noir a bit, but that's not my intention. There's a definitive place for scents ...

Lemon, Kumquat, Apple. Orange Blossom, Rose. Patchouli, Musk, Ambrette seed. This is one of those scents that, in spite of being directed toward the feminine persuasion, I own and find occasion to wear from time to time. On one hand, the sillage and longevity factors are found wanting. On the other, it smells interesting, pleasant and performs well in close quarters where strong presence isn't desirable. I can see this working well in an office setting or very romantic situations where subtlety is an asset. Versus isn't overtly feminine in aroma, but it does lean that way. It seems easier these days for men to pull off fragrances like this due to the ambiguity of numerous, current releases marketed toward men. I happen to think Versus is "shared", but others may differ. Released either 2009 or 2010, Versus blankets the skin ( for all intents and purposes ) fully developed. The success of Versus doesn't hinge on transitional stages. I used to be adama...

Sage, Lavender, Mandarin, Tobacco, Geranium, Carnation, Rose, Vetiver, Cedar, Tonka Bean, Fir. I suppose the thing I noticed most about Versace's The Dreamer is its inherent thickness. By that, I mean there's a dense, tight quality like that of Tiffany for Men. I only refer to the "feel" and not the smell between these two. They smell nothing alike, but they do share this quirk on my skin. It gives both a substantial aspect, albeit it is less pronounced in The Dreamer than the Tiffany. I also admit to liking The Dreamer more each wearing and am happy to have procured a bottle for my work rotation. The tobacco note that appears soon after application is a very enjoyable rendition. It blooms even more as the wearing ensues, yet doesn't overtake the composition. The intro of citrus and spice lean more toward accenting, while the floral and earth shades succeed in producing the greenish tobacco note that's at the core of The Dreamer. I do not know how th...

Lemon, Bergamot, Rosewood, Cardamom. Cedar, Tarragon, Sage, Black Pepper. Amber, Musk, Saffron, Ambergris, Woods. Talk about numerous reviews running the gamut from horrible to fantastic. It seems many people have at least sampled Versace Eau Fraiche, with the majority having a non-favorable opinion. I seem to fall in the middle due to Eau Fraiche's enjoyable start but lackluster finish. I say lackluster not because the base and drydown are inferior renditions, but because it's rather one dimensional with longevity issues. Imagine, if you will, a race ready to begin and the one you're focused on looks aesthetically fit and in shape. You expect performance from the visual, but you know that can be deceiving. Still, you're confident as your runner gets out of the gate fast and smooth like expected. The race is a set amount of distance and from what you've seen the first few minutes, the game plan looks like a winner. How surprising is it then when your run...

Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin, Aldehyde, Tarragon, Lavender. Jasmine, Carnation, Geranium, Rose, Cinnamon, Fir, Fern. Amber, Benzoin, Moss, Musk, Labdanum, Patchouli, Styrax, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Sandalwood. This Versace creation is little known outside of fragrance circles since its release in 1993. Marketing used Fabio as the face of the launch and even now, I find that rather appropriate. It would be safe to assume that, by the name of the fragrance, Mediterraneum would materialize as a lucid citric scent that morphs into a subtle oriental. That isn't the case however as Mediterraneum blankets the skin as a dense, spicy citrus that leans heavy. The orange is bold but good and the accents provided by lavender and green notes make for a very interesting opening accord. The floral heart is compact, but extremely fitting. On me, none of the floral components seem to fully open and realize their individual potential, but together function as a thick unit of aroma. There'...

Sometime last year, I picked up multiple bottles of this from an ebay seller. The price was excellent, so the blind buy wasn't a dangerous one whatsoever. What I got for my troubles was a very good floral woody that's suited for the female persuasion much more than for men. There are times I still wear it because it actually is relaxing, but my recommendation is that this is a feminine fragrance and a very pleasant one to boot. Time to Relax opens with a borderline strawberry and balsam with what I perceive as green apple. There is a listed avacado note and this may or may not be the reason for the green apple vibe I get, but it's of no great consequence. The accord is transparent and lends the composition a softness which is in keeping with the theme itself. Don't misconstrue "transparent" as a lack of presence. Time to Relax is an EDT and has more substance than that. There is soft woods here as well, lurking underneath and always remaining polite. The...

Black Jeans, like quite a few other masculines, has taken me multiple samplings to "get it". Any scent with iris seems to do that to me. One wearing simply wouldn't be enough to give an accurate opinion. It seems Versace has this thing for orange in the openings of his fragrances. I have to say that I don't mind a bit. The opening is semi-spicy citrus with lavender, but the iris is there as well, not willing to wait for the heart accord to begin. The floral heart of jasmin,rose and carnation are most assuredly secondary to the iris note and that's where Black Jeans either gains a fan or a detractor. I'm on the fence with this one, due to not being an iris lover by any means, but this Versace is still a viable fragrance. It's simply that damn violet. If only the rose was dominant with a nano-smidgeon of iris........oh well......... The base, as a whole, is a subtle spicy leather with a hint of wood. I cannot find tonka or vetiver in any of the wearing...

Basil, Bergamot, Green notes, Lemon, Petitgrain, Pimento. Carnation, Cedar, Cinnamon, Jasmin, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood. Amber, Labdanum, Leather, Moss, Musk, Tonka bean, Vanilla. Versace L'Homme is the only fragrance that my boss ( a woman ) compliments me on every time I wear it. Mind you that I wear scent every day and that she isn't exactly what you'd call an enthusiast. She has certain sensitivities to fragrance, but never does she give me a hard time about what I wear. I give her props because there are days when I wear some crazy !@#$. After initially wearing the reformulated version of this, I scored a bottle of the vintage in 2009 and have kept some ever since. None of the three versions that I know of are spectacular. That includes the original I'm reviewing, but I will say that there's that special something in this one that keeps me wearing it in cool temperatures. Intangibles have to count for something. Versace L'Homme opens with a ...