Macchia Mediterranea Monotheme

Currently back home on Pitcairn (South Sea). Stop. Arriving in Germany mid-June. Stop. Important advance notice about a fragrance. Stop. Affordable Monotheme reminiscent of expensive Cartier. Stop.

Dear perfume community! Since summer in Germany is currently far too changeable, I decided to return to my home island of Pitcairn in the Pacific Ocean (eastern South Sea). I brought along a very affordable fragrance for an extensive test when I set sail from Venice. In Venice, the mother of all cities, there is a fine, consistently affordable Italian fragrance manufacturer (Monotheme) that was recently honored in detail here on Parfumo, partly thanks to my predecessor Fittleworth, but also by TrialError, Angua, and Delidazo87, as well as a few other upright individuals who have made it their mission to shed light on the incredible abundance of scents from this brand.

Parfumo lists 60 Monotheme fragrances; I have only tested a few so far and will soon receive another batch of samples from a dear Parfumo member.

However, I couldn't resist one: Monotheme Macchia Mediterranea was a blind buy. The fragrance notes, the comments, and the price spoke for themselves.

Since this morning, I have been the owner of the fragrance and I am astonished. The price-performance ratio is simply incredible, especially when you can determine from the first tests that this fragrance coincidentally resembles another one that I commented on a few days ago, whose pricing is a challenge to the wallet: Cartier's L‘Heure Brilliant (VI).

Although the duel between the two fragrances remains unequal, as L‘Heure Brilliant captivates the wearer more, possessing that touch of perfection that Macchia Mediterranea lacks, considering the price difference (75 ml L‘Heure Brilliant for nearly 250.00 euros; 100 ml Macchia Mediterranea for 17.50 without shipping costs), my conclusion is as follows: L‘Heure Brilliant is, in my opinion, close to 100%, but due to its exorbitant price, I only give it 90%. Macchia Mediterranea might be more of an 80%er, but given its fair price-performance ratio, it earns a 90% from me. For those who find this not objective enough, let them remember that fragrance impressions are subjective anyway. 10% more or less: Who can really say?

About the fragrance itself: A comparison of the fragrance notes of both scents leads nowhere. While Cartier relies entirely on delicate restraint with L‘Heure Brilliant and lists only three components (aldehydes, gin, lemon), Monotheme lists a whole array of notes: various citrus fruits, green notes (presumably also the specific green aldehydes like in L‘Heure Brilliant, which could explain the kinship), fruits (especially fig), and bases like woods and the clearly recognizable musk from my perspective.

Apparently, everything revolves around the green notes from aldehydes in Monotheme's Macchia Mediterranea as well, which were integrated more skillfully by Cartier and contain a longer sour-bitter note (especially the gin-vermouth note). In Monotheme, after a short pleasantly sour opening, a pleasant green tone quickly sets in (which, similar to L‘Heure Brilliant, suggests a note of pistachio ice cream), but it quickly becomes flatter, appears less complex, and remains sweeter because the consistently bitter note of vermouth is missing; bitterness is only briefly taken over in the top note by grapefruit. This may be a weakness of the fragrance, but it could make it easier to wear for women, actually giving it a distinct unisex note, even though the fragrance is marketed by the manufacturer - and consequently also by Parfumo - as a men's fragrance.

Another small flaw of the Monotheme fragrance might be the poorer longevity and sillage, but a highlight is the incredibly beautiful, high-quality round bottle, which stands out pleasantly from the monotony of many other brands on one hand and the exaggerated glitter world of the mainstream on the other.

And now I also consciously see the introductory sentence from Apicius, who already hit the nail on the head in the first comment on Macchia Mediterranea: This beautiful fragrance "quotes expensive niche fragrances." There is really something to that.

Now I urgently need to take care of my property on Pitcairn. The last tropical storm has devastated everything again. As I heard, it is hardly better for you in Germany.

End of the telegram: Give Monotheme a chance. Stop. The brand deserves more attention. Stop.