Misterioso Sospiro

After unexpectedly adding a full-fledged gem like Erba Pura to my collection, I was, of course, very curious about the other fragrances from the house of Sospiro. I have been able to test some of them by now - some convinced me, others less so, but a pomegranate touch like the rare Indian herb was - how else could it be - still not included. Could Misterioso perhaps repeat the triumph of Erba Pura?

Well, the top note is initially not of the kind that makes me break into enthusiastic dances. Misterioso starts off very dark and expansive. My nose detects a lot of dark, dry, yet unidentifiable wood, extensively incense-laden, along with a hint of patchouli. Gradually, sandalwood asserts itself as a scent note and dominates the fragrance experience on my skin for the next three hours in conjunction with incense. The scent seems quite harsh and strict to me, very dark and not friendly at all, and I wonder why Misterioso is explicitly designated as a women's fragrance. This is more suited for real Marlboro men! Since I am not a pronounced sandalwood fan alongside my bewilderment with this very dark duo, this rather one-dimensional phase in the fragrance progression annoyed me quite a bit.

But a light appears at the end of the tunnel, as after the first three rather gloomy hours, it has finally settled into sandalwood, and I almost immediately have a very beautiful dry, almost completely unsweet amber scent before my nose, which seems to have nothing to do with the previous fragrance. Delightfully balsamic amber with a small fresh cedar tip in the background, gradually becoming softer and warmer, yet never sweet. In this long-lasting phase, I find the scent extraordinarily pleasing, and I can comfortably lay down to sleep wrapped in clouds of amber.

When the scent takes its next turn, I cannot say. In all my test runs, I applied it in the early afternoon and was happy and satisfied with my not spectacular but still extraordinarily pleasant amber scent until bedtime around midnight. However, when I got up around four in the morning, I had to ask myself every time what kind of fragrance I had applied the night before. It could not possibly be Misterioso - no wood, no incense, no amber in sight, but rather a strong, very soft, almost creamy musk base that leaves me, as a musk fan, quite taken.

Perhaps Misterioso got its name from this unusual fragrance progression that was unknown to me until then, as it is completely unclear to me how a fragrance can change so much that one would think they had applied three different scents. Misterioso accompanied me on many evenings, partly in the hope that the harsh sandalwood phase might mysteriously transform into a friendlier scent, and partly to see if my nose had played a trick on me regarding the very different subsequent scent experiences. It did not: phase one remains an exhausting sandy experience, while amber and musk in phases two and three do not change either.

What do I make of this now? Somehow, Misterioso leaves me with the impression of a three-in-one product from the skin and hair care department - shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner in one. While this is quite practical, saving additional bottles in holiday luggage and doing its job … it somehow cannot really excel at any of the three intended tasks in a lasting and satisfying way. Just as I definitely do not want a conditioner with every hair wash, I do not want to smell like sandalwood too often and for a rather long time. If I want an amber scent, I reach directly for one of my favorites in this category and do not have to wait long hours for it to finally arrive. And if I want musk - then I want it right away. Thus, Misterioso is for me, aside from the sandalwood phase, a very pleasant, well-made scent with a strong yet not overpowering sillage, but not one that I would use regularly and long-term.