Luna Rossa Extreme Prada 2013

Anyone who has been involved with Parfumo knows that the community experience of many is very similar. Sometimes you buy way too many bottlings, then you discover sharing, exchange options and at some point the cupboard is way too full. I'm speaking from experience (as a quick look into my bottlings folder reveals).

Another action to which one is very easily tempted once one has really read into the matter is the blindbuys. Goddamn blindbuys. I confess, I've done a few myself. "Aqva Amara (Eau de Toilette)", "CH Men Grand Tour", and a few others. Especially in the beginning I regretted them, because I didn't know them very well and the scent pyramids didn't tell me anything. With many of them I was lucky anyway.

The Luna Rossa Extreme is one such fragrance. With him I had already read a little bit into scent pyramids and was sure that the scent corresponds to my preferences. In addition, there was the pressure of the production stop and before you know it, I had it in my hand.

With the first spray burst came the first great disillusionment. This can't be it, I thought to myself. A huge pepper shot, followed by a lavender-citrus mixture, which smelled somehow uncoordinated and, quite honestly, uninteresting. I had bought Jean Paul Gaultier's "Le Mâle Terrible" not long before and noticed quite strong parallels between the two fragrances. I was a little disappointed and regretted the blind buy
I put the bottle aside for the time being and devoted myself to my everyday tasks. With time I noticed that the fragrance became more and more pleasant. The pepper gives way to vanilla and then there is a certain velvety background. I liked it more and more, and it became more and more different from "Le Mâle Terrible". The fragrance becomes sweeter and warmer as it progresses until it fades into complete vanilla.

This is also the moment when I learned to give fragrances a little more time. Especially in the designer area, the top note is often very short and immediately gives way to the next scent, which is then either linear or only measures a few notes in drydown. With this fragrance the change takes a little longer and is really noticeable.

The scent is neither too strong nor too weak. I like to wear it especially on warm (not hot) evenings in summer, late spring and early autumn. What I find especially interesting about Luna Rossa Extreme is the contrast between the repellent and cool opening and the further inviting, warm scent.

For a fragrance from Prada it is really very interesting and could certainly pass for a niche fragrance under a different name. Hence my disappointment that the fragrance has been taken off the market. My assumption is that the fragrance could not sell so well because of the top note. Many potential buyers base their purchases on head note tests, often from the paper strip, and the Luna Rossa Extreme definitely doesn't inspire them. This has probably led to weaker sales figures.

Unfortunately there are no alternatives to this fragrance. "Le Mâle Terrible" goes in a similar direction, but measures the depth of the drydown, "Luna Rossa Black" has a similar DNA, but then is completely different.

At the end of the day I don't regret this blind purchase, but I have definitely become a little more cautious. Congratulations to those who still managed to get hold of the scent. One of the many hired jewels from the designer area.