InFlora Bottega Profumiera 2016

This is very, very similar to Stella by Stella McCarthy, but a more sophisticated, polished version. It has the same sweet, fruity Bulgarian rose blended with juicy orange. There are a few differences though. There is no peony here as there is in Stella, and the freesia is adding a little lift and sparkle to this composition, which is a note I normally don't like because it is sometimes too sharp, but here it is tempered and softened by the musk. The barely perceptible Lily of the Valley gives just a touch of aquatic freshness keeping the fragrance from being flat or too sweet. It isn't as strong and as projecting as Stella, but to me that works in its favor. I love Stella and have it in both the eau de parfum and eau de toilette, but it is a big fragrance. Sometimes you don't want to shout. This is nice for those times when you don't.

As to this brand, I cannot rave about it, or the perfumer, Maurizio Lembo, enough. I have three different fragrances that he created, and despite having another rose fragrance from this house (Rose Poudre), they are as different as different can get, and both wonderful to me. If I had to pick just 3 favorite perfumers, he would make that list.