Gioiello - Smeraldo Paolo Gigli 2010
Helpful Review
Suitable for the Executive Floor
There are fragrances that are "office-appropriate" - Smeraldo is more than that, Smeraldo is "executive floor-appropriate." And I don't envision the secretary as the wearer, but rather the female CEO (or is it called Mrs. Executive Director today?).
The description of the notes might lead one to assume that Smeraldo is a sweet-fruity concoction with a few flower petals in it. But Smeraldo is far from that, as Kankuro's wonderful description shows. The top note also reminds me of old classics, but I thought more of Madame Rochas with its aldehyde opening.
The fruits in Smeraldo are very subtly dosed and not sweet, artificial, or sticky at all. The flowers play a much larger role than the list above (only the iris appears in the heart note) would suggest.
Even the base is not sweet, and amber and vanilla do not change that (the most subtle vanilla of all time). Smeraldo remains unsweetened until the end, almost a hint of herbaceous-chypre, with a thin layer of iris powder. Nevertheless, I perceive Smeraldo as a feminine fragrance, as moss and herbal notes that could remind one of typically masculine scents are absent.
Smeraldo stands out significantly from the current prevailing fragrance preferences and trends in the women's sector. The aura of the fragrance is hard to describe. It is certainly feminine, but in a subtle way, without sweetness and without flat eroticism. It is elegant, but not for evening wear, rather fitting for a business suit made of the finest fabric. It is not playful, but very complex. And ET is right, it really does smell "expensive and good." Whether one wants to invest 150 euros in the 50 ml bottle is a matter of preference and budget. A more affordable alternative could be, for example, Prada's Infusion d'Iris.
Thank you ET (and Kankuro) for the sample!
The description of the notes might lead one to assume that Smeraldo is a sweet-fruity concoction with a few flower petals in it. But Smeraldo is far from that, as Kankuro's wonderful description shows. The top note also reminds me of old classics, but I thought more of Madame Rochas with its aldehyde opening.
The fruits in Smeraldo are very subtly dosed and not sweet, artificial, or sticky at all. The flowers play a much larger role than the list above (only the iris appears in the heart note) would suggest.
Even the base is not sweet, and amber and vanilla do not change that (the most subtle vanilla of all time). Smeraldo remains unsweetened until the end, almost a hint of herbaceous-chypre, with a thin layer of iris powder. Nevertheless, I perceive Smeraldo as a feminine fragrance, as moss and herbal notes that could remind one of typically masculine scents are absent.
Smeraldo stands out significantly from the current prevailing fragrance preferences and trends in the women's sector. The aura of the fragrance is hard to describe. It is certainly feminine, but in a subtle way, without sweetness and without flat eroticism. It is elegant, but not for evening wear, rather fitting for a business suit made of the finest fabric. It is not playful, but very complex. And ET is right, it really does smell "expensive and good." Whether one wants to invest 150 euros in the 50 ml bottle is a matter of preference and budget. A more affordable alternative could be, for example, Prada's Infusion d'Iris.
Thank you ET (and Kankuro) for the sample!
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1 Comment
FrauHolle 15 years ago
But there's a nasty galbanum in the Prada, doesn't that bother the iris too? :)
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