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Nero 2014 Eau de Parfum

8.2 / 10 246 Ratings
A popular perfume by Mazzolari for men, released in 2014. The scent is fruity-fresh. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Fruity
Fresh
Citrus
Woody
Smoky

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
PineapplePineapple BergamotBergamot AppleApple BlackcurrantBlackcurrant
Heart Notes Heart Notes
BirchBirch JasmineJasmine PatchouliPatchouli RoseRose
Base Notes Base Notes
MuskMusk AmberAmber VanillaVanilla
Ratings
Scent
8.2246 Ratings
Longevity
7.6204 Ratings
Sillage
7.1203 Ratings
Bottle
7.1198 Ratings
Value for money
7.443 Ratings
Submitted by Labormaus, last update on 11/04/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Aventus by Creed
Aventus
L'Aventure by Al Haramain
L'Aventure
Nero (Essenza in Olio) by Mazzolari
Nero Essenza in Olio
Royal Vintage by M. Micallef
Royal Vintage
Supremacy (Silver) by Afnan Perfumes
Supremacy (Silver)
Insurrection II Pure by Reyane Tradition
Insurrection II Pure

Reviews

10 in-depth fragrance descriptions
ColinM

516 Reviews
ColinM
ColinM
2  
When niche goes wrong
The opening of Nero is quite odd at first, you basically have this green lime and fresh minty herbs blended with something warm, fruity and tropical, which kind of reminded me of Azzaro Chrome at first. It's the pineapple – a note which I personally do not really get, this meaning I don't get its point in perfumery and I always (always!) find it out of place and stinky, but that is a matter of personal taste. Here, pineapple results in a sort of warm, bread-ish, sweetish and a bit sickening note halfway ginger, pollen, resins, with this "tropical" juicy heart and also some "vegetable" hints, like the smell of red pepper. I honestly almost get no patchouli at all at first, except for a green-hearty feel at the very base. As minutes pass and the horrid fruity note(s) vanish Nero gets a bit better, finally ending on a decent herbal patchouli accord, dry and a bit generic, with a sweetish-metallic breeze all around (same depth, feel and quality of most low-mid masculine designer scents in my opinion). Persistence is great at least, but apart from that, sadly a "no" for me.

4,5-5/10
1 Comment
DaveGahan101

535 Reviews
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DaveGahan101
DaveGahan101
Top Review 33  
Nerontus
Once again something from the popular series "how to find a fragrance that resembles Aventus but costs only half"! Today I would like to introduce you to a new challenger in the red corner... Nerontus the Secondborn. Nerontus resembles its great English counterpart so much that you might want to ask Mama Aventus if she spent "too long" in Italy on vacation... you know... vacation flings and all...;-).
Milan's most beautiful son (after Roberto Baggio and Pippo Inzaghi) is a somewhat harsher, more masculine, and more classic representation of the Black Knight. This can mainly be noticed from the end of the heart note and becomes increasingly pronounced in the base. However, it does not smell like an independent fragrance... but rather like a variant of Aventus... more like a "bad" batch, if such a thing really exists!? I like all variants... no matter who they come from, as long as they are not from La Martina.
Who decides on which fragrance is up to each person's choice... my ranking looks as follows:

1) Aventus "the Original", does everything right, cannot be improved, high price
.
.
2) Nero "the Rough and Rugged", comes close to the original, attractive price
3) Cedrat Boise "the Fruity", also very close to the original, attractive price
4) Royal Vintage "the Fine and Noble", still the most independent, somewhat its own DNA, high price!
.
.
5) Tierra del fuego "Aventus for Beginners and Bargain Hunters", good fragrance but has little to do with Aventus, low price for a solid fruity and smoky scent, but neither makes an Aventus out of it!

Have fun comparing or also skipping this comment and its topic in annoyance!
15 Comments
Achilles

83 Reviews
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Achilles
Achilles
Top Review 34  
The Emperor with the Worst Press
The historical Nero, as a well-known emperor, certainly has the worst reputation; he is regarded as a criminal, the destroyer of Rome and a murderer, a narcissist and a madman. Who does not know the image of him crazily singing and playing a lyre while Rome burns? Labeled as an arsonist, he has been given a reputation that he will likely never shake off.
In fact, assuming one takes a nuanced look at the sources, this is not the case at all. Hollywood creates a myth-making that is unparalleled, and that is simply a fact.

A critical engagement with the real person of Nero absolutely exceeds the scope here, but it also fits well with the fragrance:
If you approach it as I do, you initially think: Nero, I studied you for a long time, it feels as if I know you. Humanly, slanders also linger in memory, and I expect a smoky component in the perfume that bears your name. Niente, nada. Nothing smoky, you are not an arsonist; I also believe that according to the sources, at the time of the fire in Rome in 64 AD, you must have been 50 km away in Antium, at your summer residence (perhaps even bathing and anointed with aromatic oils and indulging in splendid ripe fruits from the imperial gardens and sweet wine. No, definitely so.)
In the judgment of posterity, depending on reception, Nero generally does not come off well and evokes few positive memories. Without condoning any crimes, let us focus on the positive aspects, for there are only these in the fragrance.

The perfume has only loose, cheerful, and fruity, aromatic-spicy accords. Apple, pineapple, and currants served on a cold, silver platter, ice-cold and wafted by birch, a little vanilla and amber, with durability as successful as in projection and sillage. Let’s say the good associations have been perfectly incorporated here, or rather, only Nero’s good sides are reflected in the fragrance. The beauty of the work had also been utilized by Nero himself; yes, he indeed played the lyre, acted in theater, raced chariots, wrote poetry, and wanted to compete artistically - an unusual depiction of an otherwise rather virile and martial princeps. Mazzolari apparently has no trouble dealing with smoky and fruity batches.

The “legend-making” of this fragrance is further supported by the fact that we have the identical twin of Aventus before us, and it is true. They differ at most in the top note, and even there only slightly; someone who does not know WHAT they are wearing would guess Aventus, the more famous one. As if the perfumers knew that Nero was not a heavy, cumbersome powerhouse, but rather composed a more cheerful and positive fragrance with his name. Or, and I believe this more, it was a response and reference to the ancient “Aventus” and its scent from Creed - the one that “arrives,” not only with women but indeed “arrives” (advenire, Advent, an “A(d)ventus” was a ruler who “arrived” back to his people, usually from a successful battle).

Nero is a relaxed yet also demanding fruity fragrance full of masculine zest for life, just like the emperor himself, active, broadly interested, universally bouncing around at every celebration, making his mark, memorable, charismatic, and Nero has that too - a fascination that one simply cannot deny, even despite the predominantly bad press.
14 Comments
8.5Scent
Jas0N

61 Reviews
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Jas0N
Jas0N
Top Review 32  
Duuupe Duuupe a clone is here!?
Or maybe: Perfumes: Attack of the Clones?

-Ach jas0N don’t write such nonsense.

Yeah, okay, I apologize. I’m once again having a monologue with myself in my mind.

Aventus. Mhm... Yes. I should start with that. Nero is said to be another clone. There’s even a claim that Creed created it and sells it under various labels.
Ah, the eternal batch discussion...

-Jas0N...? You’re supposed to describe the scent, not ramble on and tell stories that no one cares about.

But I am doing that!
Because it has to be done.

We perfume lovers are completely crazy. We test and buy. Find a twin or even a clone. We test that too. Realize: Ohh, that’s good. Smells similar, has minimal differences, and gets bought. I don’t need to go on. Maybe a third one will end up in the collection. AND THAT despite only minimal differences appearing.
Now comes the best part from my perspective: This not only drives us crazy but also makes us unique. Many smell a fragrance, find it too similar, and dismiss it!
Here it’s different: We have a love for detail and that’s why our wish lists, collections, etc. explode. That’s why this platform offers a solid fragrance source.
Also a sign of my gratitude!!

Back to Nero and Aventus. I love Aventus. No clone has ever convinced me enough to be worth replacing Aventus. And yes: Even if my own perception of Aventus is low and every spray is a financial stab to my heart: I can’t do without Aventus...

-Jason! Stop rambling and get to the point. Finally write contextually.

Okay, you’re right.
Nero. Another clone. Wrong! The better Aventus? Wrong! A fragrance with references, but with its own right to exist? Right!
Met through roundabout ways. Tested and thrilled.
It’s moving in with me. Next to Aventus. Not as an alternative. But as another main character.

Nero starts fruity. But with an ensemble of fruits. Unlike Aventus. There, the pineapple takes the lead. Nero has many performers. All seem equally balanced and none is dominant. Well done. The only difference. But it is significant and sufficient.
In the base, it’s the wonderful Aventus DNA. However, not quite as smoky. A bit fruitier, also perceiving some vanilla.
Here I prefer the smoky, but the fruity is great too.

Both are classy. Both should coexist. Both will soon be in my collection.

Anyone who likes Aventus should test this. It’s worth it!

-Thank you, jas0N. That would have been enough without the preamble.

Oh head, be quiet...:))
5 Comments
Turbobean

103 Reviews
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Turbobean
Turbobean
Top Review 17  
Is he even allowed to do that?
Nero by Mazzolari is more than just a reasonably well-made dupe of Aventus... Nero is a faithful representation of this wonderful fragrance. Or at least, Nero could be one of the various Aventus batches.

I extensively compared several Aventus batches with Nero. And to avoid fooling myself, the comparisons were done blind:

Four small plastic bags were filled with a sprayed cloth, along with a folded note indicating the product. The bags were sealed and opened in random order each morning over a period of two weeks, sniffed blindly. The contenders were:

1. Aventus from the 2013 version, with smoke, tar, and pineapple.
2. Aventus from the 2015 version, with bergamot, red berries, and pineapple.
3. Aventus from the 2016 version, also with bergamot, red berries, and pineapple.
4. Nero, with green, unripe pineapple, bergamot, red berries, and a hint of vanilla.

These descriptions refer to the top note. The base note of all four candidates is identical. They all have that incomparable Aventus elegance with a slight hint of tar and damp stone (my association) on a musk base.

Honestly: I am very grateful to the manufacturer Creed for creating Aventus (as well as some other fragrances). It is a great pleasure for me to wear this scent. Accordingly, I also feel a bit of outrage that another manufacturer has copied this fragrance almost 1:1.

As a legal and fragrance novice, I wonder about two things:

1. Is it actually allowed to copy a fragrance so directly?
2. Is it really that easy to copy a fragrance so similarly?

Maybe other perfumers can answer these two questions for me. Until clarification, I allow myself to continue feeling outraged. (But perhaps both perfumers are friends and Olli lost the formula while gambling.)

Let’s return to Nero:

The bottle is simple, but I like it very much. It fits well in the hand and looks neat. Not too extravagant, but simple and elegant. In case of need, the bottle could also be stacked better ;)) Additionally, the sprayer is better for dosing, as it does not dispense as large amounts as the newer Aventus bottles do.

The top note is characterized by green pineapple, making it feel a bit fresher, more aggressive than the original. Somewhere there is also a hint of vanilla. Then the fragrance transitions into the well-known, beautiful, elegant Aventus base. For me, this remains a century-defining fragrance composition. Overall, I find Nero to be a bit richer in scent. It carries a bit more weight, or conversely, Aventus feels more ethereal, clearer, and more transparent to me.

There is a realistic possibility that in the end, after many self-experiments, I might even prefer Nero. We shall see.

I can warmly recommend Nero, even though I choose the original out of loyalty. If there were a significant price advantage (which currently does not exist), then Nero would truly be a good, high-quality alternative to Aventus.
8 Comments
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Statements

49 short views on the fragrance
4
The opening is fruity with citruses and blackcurrant. The birch gives it a smoky facet. The drydown is woodsy and musky. Similar to Aventus.
0 Comments
4
Beautiful parfume. People say it's Aventus clone but even though it's a little bit similar for me much better than Aventus.
0 Comments
12
1. Reaction: Hmpf, Aventus. 2. Reaction: oh, there's actually more......whoa, this is good! 3. Reaction: waiting for the mailman is so annoying!
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0 Comments
8 years ago
10
5
A bit darker and a bit fruitier than Aventus.
Same scent lines, differences at most in the per mille range.
Nose tip before Aventus.
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5 Comments
10
Creed and Mazollari have teamed up. They are now catering to those who don’t like Aventus but still want to smell like it.
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0 Comments
8
4
Aventus is heavy, mature, and high-quality. The A. starts off fresher but fades away quickly. The Nero has amazing performance!
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4 Comments
8
3
Somehow, it's not my thing. Pepper, fruity acidity, and stale smoke. Although I like the Mazzolari even better than the Creed.
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3 Comments
5 years ago
7
A successful interpretation of Aventus that can only be distinguished in direct comparison. However, the top note doesn't quite reach the original.
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0 Comments
7
Despite more fruits on the mind, a bit deeper in the base. Probably like an Aventus batch from its younger years. Differences in alcohol content.
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0 Comments
7
1
Simply Aventus... I can barely tell the difference after an hour! 99% twin (1% the price)
Incredibly well done - WOW! Question: WHERE TO GET THAT?
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1 Comment
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