Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
08/28/2023
Elysium
817 Reviews
Elysium
2
Delicate Mineral Aromas Of Stones and Gravel
The expressions “delicate mineral aromas of stones and gravel, mineral hints of dolomitic rocks, mineral perceptions of siliceous acidity” are familiar to many of us. But however fascinating and compelling these descriptions may appear, using the adjective mineral as a descriptor of the fig accord has never been more appropriate than in this perfume. Gypsum is an example of a mineral aroma, but in reality, the family of mineral aromas that can be found is vast: chalk, wet stone, flint and volcanic rock.
In all parts of the tree, that of the fig is a note, or accord, that I adore very much, both in real life and in fragrances. We can feel its lactonic and mineral nuance in the air on the hottest days of summer. Mostly when the scorching sun beats down on the leaves, so much so that we can sense the presence of the plant even if we are not under it. In Italy, the country where I live, in its islands, and in Greece, but throughout the Mediterranean maquis, this plant grows spontaneously anywhere along the road, in the fields, or the gardens. Just after mid-August, the fruits become ripe, the yellow-green ones with honeyed golden hearts and the black-purple ones with reddish hearts. In this case, the fruits drown the mineral notes in sweet and gooey undertones.
Fico is nothing but a chalky bomb. So mineral and stoney. From the first whiff, the scent is figgy and leafy, but not as sweet as the ripe fruits, but dry, pungent, and stoney as the tree and the leaves. The lactonic nuance oozes from the sprayer. Upon spraying, a blast of dry, milky, and stoney accord fills my nostrils. Strangely, there are no sour or citrus notes, and citrus is not part of the recipe. If there were even the slightest bit of bergamot, it would be powdery. In addition to the fig, the smell has anisic and minty nuances, drier and dustier due to the anise hyssop (or anisata) and far from the scent of wild fennel. Besides, a robust greenish component of fresh vegetation comes from the sap's foliage and essence. The impression I get every time I spray is that of the mineral smell of stones exposed to the sun along the bank of a dry river, slightly soiled with silt, mud, and dry moss.
It takes quite a long time, nearly an hour, before Fico takes a twist, entering the heart phase. Floral nuances of violet, pink and purple flowers emerge from the mineral layer, like flowers blooming in the middle of concrete, resulting in a beautiful fragrance. Earthy cyclamen and dewy rose to add deepness to the mineral facet, while pristine lily and jasmine are barely subdued and in a back row.
What unexpectedly lasts for a long time is a veil of woody, earthy, and musky nuances. The salty amber is not overpowering, and the dry-down has a mossy and musky slant. The mineral and lactonic edges are always well-balanced in all the phases, intertwining with green, floral, and loamy accords. It never takes sweet, fruity, or oriental nuances. Instead, from time to time, powdery and salty aspects pop up from the mineral surface.
I am so damn happy that I came across this fragrance, by accident, while on vacation in Marina di Maratea. A small shop selling local handicrafts had a display case with all the brand’s perfumes. It doesn’t look like any of the fig perfumes I have in my collection; it’s the first one I’ve smelled and has bewitched me. Its dry, green and shady character makes it ideal for summer days and nights. Okay, for the spring and autumn seasons, but in the summer, it is elegant and seductive during an outdoor dinner, a walk on the seafront, and all the evening events. When I wear it, people stop me to tell me how good I smell. Carpentieri makes precious perfumes with good ingredients and low cost, with quality at their core. I was pleasantly surprised, I admit it.
I'm writing my impression of a bottle I've owned since August 2021.
-Elysium
In all parts of the tree, that of the fig is a note, or accord, that I adore very much, both in real life and in fragrances. We can feel its lactonic and mineral nuance in the air on the hottest days of summer. Mostly when the scorching sun beats down on the leaves, so much so that we can sense the presence of the plant even if we are not under it. In Italy, the country where I live, in its islands, and in Greece, but throughout the Mediterranean maquis, this plant grows spontaneously anywhere along the road, in the fields, or the gardens. Just after mid-August, the fruits become ripe, the yellow-green ones with honeyed golden hearts and the black-purple ones with reddish hearts. In this case, the fruits drown the mineral notes in sweet and gooey undertones.
Fico is nothing but a chalky bomb. So mineral and stoney. From the first whiff, the scent is figgy and leafy, but not as sweet as the ripe fruits, but dry, pungent, and stoney as the tree and the leaves. The lactonic nuance oozes from the sprayer. Upon spraying, a blast of dry, milky, and stoney accord fills my nostrils. Strangely, there are no sour or citrus notes, and citrus is not part of the recipe. If there were even the slightest bit of bergamot, it would be powdery. In addition to the fig, the smell has anisic and minty nuances, drier and dustier due to the anise hyssop (or anisata) and far from the scent of wild fennel. Besides, a robust greenish component of fresh vegetation comes from the sap's foliage and essence. The impression I get every time I spray is that of the mineral smell of stones exposed to the sun along the bank of a dry river, slightly soiled with silt, mud, and dry moss.
It takes quite a long time, nearly an hour, before Fico takes a twist, entering the heart phase. Floral nuances of violet, pink and purple flowers emerge from the mineral layer, like flowers blooming in the middle of concrete, resulting in a beautiful fragrance. Earthy cyclamen and dewy rose to add deepness to the mineral facet, while pristine lily and jasmine are barely subdued and in a back row.
What unexpectedly lasts for a long time is a veil of woody, earthy, and musky nuances. The salty amber is not overpowering, and the dry-down has a mossy and musky slant. The mineral and lactonic edges are always well-balanced in all the phases, intertwining with green, floral, and loamy accords. It never takes sweet, fruity, or oriental nuances. Instead, from time to time, powdery and salty aspects pop up from the mineral surface.
I am so damn happy that I came across this fragrance, by accident, while on vacation in Marina di Maratea. A small shop selling local handicrafts had a display case with all the brand’s perfumes. It doesn’t look like any of the fig perfumes I have in my collection; it’s the first one I’ve smelled and has bewitched me. Its dry, green and shady character makes it ideal for summer days and nights. Okay, for the spring and autumn seasons, but in the summer, it is elegant and seductive during an outdoor dinner, a walk on the seafront, and all the evening events. When I wear it, people stop me to tell me how good I smell. Carpentieri makes precious perfumes with good ingredients and low cost, with quality at their core. I was pleasantly surprised, I admit it.
I'm writing my impression of a bottle I've owned since August 2021.
-Elysium
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Elysium
