The brand Sergio Tacchini, named after the Italian tennis player, first came to my attention when the villain Don Eladio in the series Breaking Bad wears a white-yellow tracksuit from the brand while meeting Gus and Max to discuss their "business relationships." To my surprise, when I found out that the brand also produces perfumes, I was immediately interested and decided to order and test "I love Italy" (link does not work because of the heart in the title).
Upon spraying, the scent starts off extremely fresh and citrusy, with the mandarin being particularly intense and fruity, but the bergamot is also clearly noticeable. As it develops, the fragrance becomes increasingly aquatic and fresh-spicy. "Sea water" is quite an accurate description, in my opinion. The rosemary adds a slight spiciness and gives it a bit more depth. In the base note, the Tacchini takes on a very nice green and soft direction. Moss and woods remain rather light overall and hardly complicate the scent. Instead, the musk takes over the base and keeps the perfume beautifully soft and gentle even in the dry-down.
When I smell the bottle, the scent strongly reminds me of "Acqua di Giò Profumo (Parfum) | Giorgio Armani," but on the skin, this association fades and the fragrance becomes much more independent. However, this DNA is noticeably referenced. In another review, there is a comparison to "Dior Homme Sport (2008) (Eau de Toilette) | Dior." All these comparisons likely stem from the combination of bergamot and rosemary that all three mentioned fragrances share.
Unfortunately, the longevity is a slight weakness of the fragrance, and its sillage leaves something to be desired. However, it will likely project much better in the summer. I’m not quite sure why I decided to review this summer scent today with snow outside my door.
The bottle is quite beautiful and features a heart-shaped Italian flag, which fits the scent very well. The cap is made of plastic but fits securely on the spray head.
Even though the name and the advertising campaign initially put me off a bit, I see the scent as a truly beautiful and authentic "Made in Italy" cheapie. This is a great option if you are looking for an affordable yet well-made summer fragrance that beautifully and versatilely embodies a familiar DNA.
