Fico d'Elba Erbario Toscano

Whenever I write a comment, it usually involves something about Italy, southern France, or something Mediterranean. This is because I am an extraordinarily good daydreamer and have perfected it, creating my dream world from all my travels, memories, souvenirs, and photos. And at some point, I won't need to daydream anymore; I will finally have the sea close by. At least, that's still my plan.

On one of those trips to Tuscany in the summer of 2018, which I also documented in the blog as a little perfume guide, I visited an Erbario Toscano shop for the first time. It's a chain, but one that I personally find appealing, as I like the presentation of the shops and the products. So, in Lucca, I found myself in one of these shops, and I was in an absolute fig scent discovery phase; how could it be otherwise? Philosykos was my gateway drug, and with the awareness that the green fig and its foliage were very much my thing, I had to test every scent that had Fig-Figue-Fico in its name.
Fico D'Elba was waiting for me here, the product line presented in shades of green.
I discovered a fragrance that convinced me after the first spritz on my wrist, and I could indulge in the 10ml travel size at a small price. I also received a few samples, a lovely little bag, and for some days during this beautiful vacation, I smelled of figs from the island of Elba, even though I was right in the middle of Tuscany. I have never been to Elba and don't believe that the figs there smell like this, but that doesn't bother me at all, as the scent with its refreshingly green note conveys exactly the Mediterranean feeling that I enjoy so much.

I suspect that many who perceive the coconut so distinctly in Philosykos also detect it in Fico D'Elba. Personally, I don't feel that way; I know what is meant, but for me, the green fig prevails in both scents. I find the creamy base in Fico D'Elba to be a bit stronger, creamy and slightly woody due to the sandalwood, with the prominent young green figs and leaves. A refreshing scent that, like most fig fragrances and my Mediterranean associations, I feel suits early spring and summer temperatures better, but I also enjoy wearing it in winter (because with scents, daydreaming is even better).
It doesn't quite reach my ultimate fig fragrance Ichnusa ($$$-sigh), but it is a beautiful, harmoniously composed fig scent that bears a resemblance to Philosykos but is considerably cheaper.

So, I bring my little scent souvenir home, unpack my cosmetics bag - and the fragile little spray bottle slips from my hand and shatters on the bathroom floor.
What I didn't know at that moment was that I would embark on a two-week journey all alone through Italy in the fall of the same year, land in Florence, stroll by Erbario Toscano on a rainy day, repurchase the perfume, and simply bring the souvenir home from a different place and a different trip.