Illusione Bottega Veneta 2019 Eau de Toilette

I discovered this fragrance at a tasting workshop in a small perfumery in Cologne. I still remember that we were exploring fresh scents and the hosting lady mentioned basil. Only that there is no basil in it at all! ;-) In the end, this was by far the best scent for me among perhaps 15 total (including brands like Comme de Garcons, Dolce & Gabbana, and Diptyque). That's why I quickly bought it, even without basil!

When looking at the creations by Antoine Maisondieu - doesn't that mean House of God? ;-) - I notice that this perfumer has a tendency towards using as few ingredients as possible, much like many star chefs advocate for their dishes.

Illusione leans more towards the citrusy than the woody direction, with the lemon coming across only gently sour. The cedar wood integrates subtly. Vetiver and tonka bean skillfully cushion everything and ultimately convey an earthy-sweet undertone. With a bit of imagination, I can even detect pine needles on the forest floor, surrounded by a balsamic aura. An illusion perhaps? ;-)

Long story short: Illusione manages to create a nature-inspired aura with just a few ingredients, which is quite linear, fresh-woody, and yet balsamic. Nothing in the top note is jarring to the nose, leaving behind a pleasant feeling that definitely reminds one of lemon balm, as found in some bath additives.

If fresh harmony is what you're looking for and synthetic bombs are off the table, this is an absolute recommendation! Unfortunately, the longevity and sillage are rather poor.