Ginepro Nero L'Erbolario 2016 Profumo

Juniper and alcohol when you Just buy It, juniper infused in alcohol after some months, straight gin After One Year. I had It for a year, the last 20 ml felt like a torture. I only used It in hot days, It used tò give me lots of Energy feeling It on my sweat. Considering I got It for 18€ (100ml) I think It perfectly did Its job, but thats it now its over and I am over it. Forgettable.

Ginepro Nero - a fragrance from the nature-oriented brand L'Erbolario based in Northern Italy - is for me an example that one can always find small, hidden treasures that sometimes fall (too) quickly into the category of "smelled that before" and then unfortunately often disappear under the radar. In the case of Ginepro Nero, this is especially true because the general fragrance direction it is often compared to was paved by a more or less iconic hype of the 2000s - Terre d'Hermès. However, I would like to take this opportunity to describe why I believe Ginepro Nero is a valuable interpretation of the theme with an interesting character.

If one wants to derive the Italian fragrance in the matte black bottle from more well-known scents, one can imagine Ginepro Nero in a triangle, with the outer points formed by Terre d'Hermès EdT, Terre d'Hermès Parfum, and Montale Red Vetiver. Generally, one could say that Ginepro Nero leans a bit more towards the Hermès side and is somewhat closer to Terre d'Hermès Parfum; however, that would not capture the full picture. When considering the fragrance in a more nuanced way, one can sense individual elements of Hermès' EdT, which are oriented towards the deeper base tone of the perfume and have been implemented with somewhat more moderate, rugged citrus notes that tend towards the Montale direction. After this very rough classification based on the mentioned references, I would like to emphasize that L'Erbolario has not produced a scented equivalent to Dolly the (clone) sheep, but rather an independent fragrance that shows it follows a well-founded concept and has been crafted with dedication.

For those unfamiliar with the aforementioned fragrances, the citrus notes should not be imagined as a typical, citrus-fresh scent. The bitter orange is flanked by grapefruit peel and forms a rather rugged citrus component in conjunction with bergamot, which is skillfully woven together with the other fragrance types. In the heart note, the juniper berry is particularly present, but without playing a solo role. The cedar seamlessly transitions into the overall woody composition, linking it to the natural vetiver in the base note, which, along with subtle oak moss and a hint of patchouli, adds green and earthy tones without coming across as musty. The image of deep, resinous notes is completed by elemi resin and benzoin, rounded off by moderately balanced pepper that contributes to the overall fresh-spicy elements.

Measured against a realistic expectation, the quality of the blend is remarkable. While L'Erbolario's Ginepro Nero does not quite reach what the high-priced niche can sometimes achieve, it clearly leaves behind the often somewhat loveless average performances that some renowned designers manage. For a fragrance in this segment, I am (very) positively surprised.

In the end, we have a dark-tinged, woody-citrus juniper scent with depth and character. Since the "dark" aspects of fragrances are often somewhat subjective and usually hard to describe, I try to express my associations as vividly as possible. To be precise, the somewhat darker aspects of Ginepro Nero do not strike me as oppressively dark, but rather like diffuse light in a slightly darker scene, laying like a protective cloak over the silhouettes of the surroundings. However, not cold and not in pale white, but rather a bit warmer and in soft tones of terracotta and brick red. I like it very much.

PS: Lastly, a hopefully objective note that the fragrance may not meet everyone's expectations. Demographically speaking, I would say it tends to be more of an Ü30 fragrance (though it could likely also be worn in one's mid-20s). Those who already have the complete Hermès portfolio on their shelf may not necessarily need Ginepro Nero, and those who could find nothing appealing in the fragrance direction and the general Terre d'Hermès "vibe" might be able to skip it.

Personally, I really like the fragrance :)

Born from a passionate love for nature, L’Erbolario, the Italian company based in Lombardy, has developed from its first bold steps in 1978 to a renowned and internationally recognized producer of "plant cosmetics" and "green beauty."

The dream of making beauty accessible to everyone ultimately led to the release of a variety of products under this name, all of remarkable high quality. In doing so, it has succeeded in offering natural cosmetics at an excellent price-performance ratio.

The delicate fragrances of L‘Erbolario in attractively designed packaging (8/10) are a trademark that the manufacturer can rightly be proud of. "Ginepro Nero," or for those who prefer Anglicized names, "Black Juniper," is one of many exemplary fine perfumes from this extraordinary brand.

The noble EdP is a long-lasting (8/10), fresh-spicy men's fragrance that energetically, yet pleasantly discreetly, celebrates its Mediterranean origin. Bittersweet citrus notes and herbal juniper have been masterfully arranged with some warm woods and very stylishly used pink pepper into a distinctly projecting (6/10), highly appealing, finely resinous scent composition.

"A Mediterranean fragrance of great life energy that tells of the emotions of a wonderful hike with a view of the sea."

Absolutely remarkable is the price-performance ratio (9/10). The fact that the manufacturer also promises to handle natural resources gently, to use predominantly natural ingredients, to pay special attention to health aspects, and to completely refrain from animal testing demonstrates a remarkable idealism that the appreciative customer acknowledges with a tip of the hat.

For years (it must be around 10 by now) I have been searching for a fragrance that resembles a certain shower gel. I'm talking about "Kneipp - Männersache 2.0".
The scent of this shower gel is described only with blood orange & black pepper.

After some time of unsuccessful searching, I had to broaden my search field and generally include citrus and pepper notes.
Additionally, I came across an older post in the forum where a user had almost the same search problem. The answer (I believe it was the only one) to his question was Ginepro Nero Profumo.

I wasn't familiar with L'Erbolario, but I approached the matter with mixed feelings, as I had previously had rather mediocre experiences with fragrances from natural cosmetics manufacturers, especially regarding longevity and sillage. Fortunately, there are small 15ml bottles of the fragrances, which are perfect for blind purchases.

But now to the scent:
The fragrance pyramid contains neither blood orange nor black pepper, but the namesake juniper seems to come quite close to this blend.
Right after spraying, the scent presents itself as resinous; the citrus notes are, depending on the temperature, relatively hard to detect and rather short-lived.
Instead, the juniper berry dominates. Anyone who has ever bitten into one for fun knows its herbaceous-bitter, woody character.
Cedar, vetiver, and oak moss do not make the scent any softer, which is absolutely meant positively.
The remaining fragrance notes are less dominant or not detectable at all (at least not by my moderately trained nose).

If I had to describe the scent with an image, I would say it reminds me of a finca on a Mediterranean island. Dried grass, gnarled (olive) trees, an old natural stone wall covered with vine leaves, and a small, curvy bench at the entrance.

H/S is in the upper midfield.

Conclusion: If you like dry, creaky, spicy scents, you should definitely give this a try.

P.S.: My search continues, even though I am already quite close to the goal. Until then, I consider this a small success, and the scent will be my interim signature.

I have no idea where I picked up this saying in my childhood. It was probably used mockingly in sports or a teacher commented on a wrong answer with a smirk.
However, I can't recall this phrase ever being used in a positive sense, when someone successfully navigated an obstacle, like not stepping in dog poop.

Ginepro Nero was an impulse buy; after not having the chance to test it in its homeland, I purchased it in a store specializing in herbal products after a quick spray.

The scent starts off herbaceous-citrusy with a bitter orange/bergamot direction. Strong spicy notes join in early on, prominently featuring peppery elements, kitchen herbs, a hint of vegetables, resinous, woody, and even slightly salty nuances. This character remains relatively consistent.

Initially, I was a bit disappointed as it felt too herbal for everyday use.
However, upon further reflection, the scent has grown on me - as a fantastic outdoor and vacation fragrance that fits beautifully into various settings, by the sea, in the forest, in the mountains. It has a somewhat maritime quality, reminiscent of a southern cypress or cedar forest, or spicy shrubbery. Somehow, I can't help but think that this scent could also be a worthy successor to Caractere. Spicy, natural, down-to-earth - without smelling directly similar. The price in Germany is already very good, and in Italy, it's top-notch. Additionally, there are interesting items in the series, such as room fragrance, deodorant cream, soap, and more.

Only after I gradually, but permanently, warmed up to the scent did I make the obvious comparison to Terre des Hommes EdT. The opening is very similar, if not almost identical. Then, with TdH, what comes into play is what I found to be the killer in Dunhill Icon (see comment) - that sweet, tarry, slightly floral note that gives Icon and TdH a somewhat "salon-like," contrived quality after the lovely opening, while TdH fortunately has a slightly weaker, sour retreat, whereas Ginepro Nero simply continues to work fresh and cheerfully spicy.

If TdH was the model, I can only be glad that it hasn't turned into a 1:1 clone, but rather the likable, natural yet still contemporary, spicy, uncomplicated brother. Close but no cigar is indeed fortunately also over.