Marrakech Essenze e Spezie - Ambra e Zafferano Tesori d'Oriente

After being so impressed by "Muschio Bianco" from Tesori d'Oriente and having read almost only positive things about this Italian brand, I made another blind purchase with "Marrakech Essenze e Spezie - Ambra e Zafferano." And once again, I was pleasantly surprised.

The beginning is very spicy. From the start, this fragrance has the same note that also prevails in "Saffron" by Jo Malone for me. The scent is spicy, slightly woody-tarry-balsamic, smoky, and ethereal. Along with this, there is a light amber note from the very beginning, which intensifies towards creaminess as the fragrance develops. I don't find the scent sweet at all, and it reminds me a lot of the much more expensive "Saffron." Of course, it's not a scent twin, but the fundamental character is very similar in both.

I personally associate this fragrance not with Marrakech, but with Venice. And not the summery-warm and friendly Venice, but the autumnal, foggy one. This gloomy, morbid atmosphere is reflected in this scent for me. I have visited Venice not just in summer but also in November, including the Doge's Palace. Somehow, I always think of that when "Marrakech Essenze e Spezie - Ambra e Zafferano" wafts into my nose... The longevity is astonishing. Whenever I think after 3-4 hours that it's gone, the fragrance kicks back in and suddenly reappears. I only need to reapply after 5 hours, which is not bad considering the low price. The sillage is moderate, and I find that pleasant. Often, comparable fragrances have a sillage that is far too strong for me, even if I would generally like them. Thus, this fragrance can easily be worn all year round.

I find the plastic bottle quite pretty, but I'm not entirely sure how long a fragrance can last in a plastic bottle, as it is by no means as airtight as a glass bottle or the aluminum bottles of most Oriente d'Tesori fragrances.

For me, this is my second Tesori, and there will surely be more to come. However, what this fragrance has to do with that pink Cacharel, which is supposed to smell like cherries, is a mystery to me. The closest scent twin that comes to mind is Saffron by Jo Malone. Both smell almost identical, though the Malone lasts longer. But it also costs much more. ;-)