Jacomo de Jacomo Jacomo 1980 Eau de Toilette

April 1991. I land at the then domestic airport Domodjedowo coming from Perm, together with my future wife (now for 31 years). Time is tight. The embassy of the former GDR closes at 4:00 PM. I, a Trassniki, need a visa for my Russian girlfriend. I want to introduce her to my parents in Dresden. In all the hustle, I forgot my entire hygiene kit in Perm. Damn, and there’s nothing in the shops in Moscow.
Upon arriving at the hotel, a Valutki Magasin (Russian Intershop) has everything you might need. I quickly do some shopping. Among other things, I buy a perfume I don’t know. Some Jacomo. Sounds a bit gay, but in an emergency... we freshen up at the hotel and then it hits me. From the cute-sounding Jacomo emerges a loud, massively dark-smelling guy. Great.
Now, quickly to the embassy. As usual, and as I would encounter in the following years, the visa officer greets us with a slightly arrogant and condescending attitude. We sit across from each other. He doesn’t acknowledge my (to this day) exceptionally attractive girlfriend with a single glance. But he keeps looking at me. Suddenly he asks, “What are you wearing? You can’t buy something like that where you just came from.” I write the name down for him, and he then completes the paperwork friendlier than expected.
The next day we leave the hotel at 10:30 AM. In front of the building, there’s an Audi with diplomatic plates. Behind us, the large revolving door opens, and a staff member from the embassy comes out. In his hand, a full bag with the labels from the Valutki Magasin.
I wonder what he had in there?
For me, this scent is associated with many memories. Mostly, and fortunately, very good ones. Today, I wear the fragrance, which is only available online, mostly in the evening when we go out.
And even today, people occasionally ask me about the name of the perfume. Usually, no one knows it.