Mandarino Laboratorio Olfattivo 2020

When asked how I envision a perfect vacation day, my thoughts quickly turn to: South Seas, white sandy beach, gentle sound of the sea, a sun lounger, a few good books, and the pool boy regularly bringing chilled drinks according to a predetermined schedule. However, I could just as easily spend the entire day in a nice trattoria in a small town in northern Italy, sitting in the shade, enjoying simple yet delicious food and drinks, and spending the whole lovely day people-watching and imagining their stories. Alternatively, I picture a sun lounger or a hammock strung up in a citrus grove somewhere along the Amalfi Coast, with a view of the green mountains and the blue sea, surrounded by the indescribably beautiful, soothing scent of citrus trees with their ripe fruits.

Laboratorio Olfattivo captures this Italian way of life very well. A simple orange box with a brass plaque and plain typewriter letters. An equally simple but solid, deep green glass cylinder with a golden cap and black label. Laboratorio Olfattivo makes beautiful, simple bottles that I enjoy holding.

With the first spray, the mandarin is immediately present. It should not be confused with the mundane discount clementine, which is a hybrid between the Italian mandarin and the orange. The actual mandarin is nowadays only rarely found in well-stocked delicatessens or very rarely at fruit markets. With the first spray, the mandarin is right there, the sweet fruit, the bitter peel, the green nuances of the leaves, the zesty citrus notes. There is nothing artificial about it: Place a freshly peeled mandarin next to it and bite into a segment ... 1:1 identical. And unbelievably delicious. It warms the heart. They even throw in a few juicy black currants, just as juicy but sweeter and also sour, differently bitter, but not citrusy. Mandarin and currant make a lovely pair; they go well together, they understand each other, and there’s no conflict. I have to make a real effort if I want to pick out the musk from the pyramid. In the base, there is something soft, warm, noble, which I do not want to name, because my nose belongs only to the mandarin.

Actually, "Mandarino" is less of a perfume and more of an aromatherapy. Nevertheless, it is an extremely pleasant companion for the day if you do not plan to leave the house. It is also comforting to know that with such a monothematic scent, you can confidently reapply it. Because the longevity is unfortunately only 4-6 hours, depending on the day’s condition, which is not suitable for a day at the office. But for such a natural, citrusy fruit scent, that is quite OK. The projection is also quite decent; you perceive yourself well throughout the day.

"Mandarino" is also good for layering if you want to give a classic, warm men’s fragrance, which has hardly any fruit, like geranium, garden carnation, tobacco, or leather, a fruity freshness kick. For me, it works quite well with "Bel Ami (Eau de Toilette) | Hermès," "Equipage (Eau de Toilette) | Hermès," or "Moods by Krizia Uomo (Eau de Toilette) | Krizia."

The mandarin is a beautiful fruit, a delicious fruit. It’s a shame that it is so rarely available here. I need to travel to Campania again. Or apply some "Mandarino."
By the way, the mandarin only arrived in England from China and Japan about 200 years ago before it became established in the Mediterranean region. The equally delicious orange then emerged from a relationship between the mandarin and the pomelo. I’ll head to the kitchen now and see what fruit we have left. Maybe some raspberries or some watermelon. Unfortunately, all the strawberries are gone ...