The scent of heavy, soul and belly-warming spices, dishes, and drinks still lingers in the rooms; we wait, satisfied and expectant, for the things this Christmas holiday will bring us. The lavish breakfast is on the table, Mom's roast with the delicious sauce is already in the oven, and Aunt Frieda is on her way with her universally beloved cream cake: Oh, what a feast this will be!
Who doesn't know that feeling?
Only I knocked over a package of samples, they spread out on the carpet, rolling around and making themselves hard to find: Why is that still sitting there?
And while I was putting everything back, my gaze fell on the inscription "Orangerie Venise" from the Armani Privé line.
Currently, Giorgio Armani's charisma is a welcome, frequently worn guest on my skin; his and my great fragrance, the classic "Armani" Eau de Toilette from 1982, has taken residence with me thanks to the generous gift of a very dear perfumer in a nearly full 100 ml bottle, and I am reveling in it.
Almost, this spicy chypre fragrance would have accompanied me today as well.
But as I said: I knocked over the package ...
The curious nose is craving a sample of orange scent; it has already had too many spices:
Well, I follow its suggestion for a short vacation in the Venetian sun and enter an orangery, filled with various wintering citrus trees, all carefully stored in pots and smelling of summer and sun, cheerfulness and relaxation:
What a joy for the senses and the nose!
As I stroll through this green-leaved, fruit-bearing grove in what must be a very old cloister with harmonious pillars, arches, and openings, I feel accompanied by an elegant gentleman whose very personal flair seems to blend with the existing citrus scents.
For the familiar aromas of bergamot, spicy yet slightly scratchy petitgrain, the hodgepodge of scents from all parts of the pomeranze, and the heart and soul gently caressing with delicate floral fingers of neroli resonate here in a very special way.
There is also a hint of black pepper over it all. Will this work out between us, or will eyes and noses water again?
No one is to be seen, only very clearly felt: Soft, fine, musky steps playing around on green, damp moss, a fleeting touch from slightly weathered, historically rich garden furniture made of already silvery, silky-smoothed, spicy-scented cedar wood.
"Orangerie Venise": A fragrance creation cultivated and stylish, unmistakably Italian and far removed from many of the well-known, beloved, and often so cheerfully chattering citrus scents in their summery liveliness.
Sillage and longevity confirm this impression: The fragrant, floating lightness of the moment unfolds before me, develops with graceful elegance, and leaves a longing in which a smile resonates: Home?
(By the way, even the pepper behaved gentlemanly towards me!)
It is known that I have often had difficulties with many of the fragrance works from the house of Giorgio Armani that follow my so special favorite scent:
I usually lacked access to them; I didn't understand them, therefore I avoided them later or tested them half-heartedly: Perhaps I was secretly comparing them to "The Special One," without consciously realizing it!
Today, however, before indulging again in warm, heavily spiced delicacies of all kinds, I seem to be ready for an unexpected rendezvous.
Ready for a short trip to a country I have often longed for; in the "Orangerie Venise," not only do lemons and many of their relatives bloom, but a part of my seemingly Italian soul also resides there.
Have I found it after all; is this my personal Christmas miracle?
Incredibly beautiful 😍