N.1 Vinaccioli e Spezie

Itinerario Olfattivo I

Acqua del Garda 2015

It is still early in the morning, the sun shines from a cloudless sky. The thunderstorms from yesterday are forgotten and seem to have washed and cleansed everything. The air is still cool, but the heat of the day is already present within it. A hint of blossoms and citrus fruits lingers in the air.
First, the path winds through the forest. Spicy needles cover the ground and resins drip from the fresh wounds inflicted by yesterday's storm. Soon it steeply ascends the mountainside; the chapel is already visible, but still high above us. It shines bright white over the lake. The closer we get, the more pronounced the scent of incense becomes. Yesterday was Easter Sunday, and the remnants of the procession still hang in the air.
It is becoming increasingly dry and warm, and when we reach the chapel after an hour, the scent of incense is as clear as it was the day before. It mingles with the last dew in the bushes - fresh and inviting for contemplation at the same time. We pause and look over the lake far below. It is slowly awakening. The hustle and bustle on the promenades will soon begin, but here there is only tranquility.

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The Vinaccioli e Spezie by Acqua del Garda is a fine and subtle incense fragrance. It starts with a slightly bitter bergamot, which gains a more fruity note from the orange blossoms. However, these are merely supporting characters; the main character is the incense. Dry, resinous, and smoky in equal parts, it is present from the very beginning and remains until the end. Spices are certainly included, but I couldn't say which ones. Dry woody notes are still perceptible, making the scent quite linear. Grapes or their seeds are not present.
In the middle part, the incense reminded me of a church, but a bright, friendly one. There is nothing gloomy or dark about it. Later on, however, that changes. Here I feel that something patchouli is added, making it a bit "moist." Oud? At most as dry wood.
Thus, the scent fades away. The sillage is rather restrained from the start. The longevity is quite good; you can enjoy the tranquility for 6-7 hours.

The chapel does indeed exist; the Chiesetta di Santa Barbara is located west of Riva del Garda at halfway up the Cima S. A. T., which is accessible via a nice little via ferrata, the Via Ferrata dell Amicizia. Easter is a good time for this; it doesn't go too high up, so it quickly becomes snow-free, and in the height of summer, you wouldn't necessarily want to traverse the exposed west face...

Thanks to Cafeliberte for the great hiking letter!