Gold Regatta The Merchant Of Venice 2023

When I first read the fragrance notes, I couldn't help but think of one of my absolute favorite scents: Oud Minérale - algae, driftwood, it does this quite well and presents this program in a dark, mysterious, and very unique way (Disclaimer: I am referring here to the Oud Minérale from the Private Blend, which was unfortunately discontinued and then initially re-released in the form of the Resort Collection and later in the Signature Line).

Since the Oud Minérale has its (justified) fanbase, I ask for your understanding if I, as a big fan, keep drawing the connection to this masterpiece.

Masterpiece is indeed the right keyword - because the Gold Regatta is nothing less than that.

In the OPENING, the Gold Regatta starts off very overloaded and thus very expansive: driftwood, red algae, and something unrestrained come flying at me. It reminds me of a winter morning in Venice, where I was last December: The air is icy cold, it smells of sea salt, of algae, slightly fishy and somehow not very inviting or refined. And yet the scent, like Venice on a winter morning, has something captivating about it, as the sunrise can already be sensed on the horizon, and the fragrance builds anticipation for what comes next.

The distinctive notes of red algae and driftwood quickly recede but remain present: In contrast to the Oud Minérale, where the driftwood smells rough, dark, strongly algal, and boorish, as if it has just been freshly collected and thus carries a "moldy" note, the driftwood in the Gold Regatta is clearly already processed, polished, and refined: smooth and gentle, yet red algae, sea salt, and spray can still be distinctly sensed.

In the HEART NOTE, the sun slowly rises over Venice, the day breaks, and the first warm rays reach the skin of my frostbitten face.
And the Gold Regatta also unfolds into a masterful composition - where red algae, driftwood, and sea salt compete for dominance and create a bit of unrest, the red fig joins in, juicy-sweet and overripe, giving the fragrance an incredibly beautiful vibe. In the background, the straw flower adds the necessary warmth to the scent but never becomes dominant. Hints of saffron, curry, and other spices can be sensed thanks to the straw flower, creating a very subtle, beautiful warmth - like the sun leisurely illuminating the sky over the city of love on that December morning.

In the BASE, warming amber and bitter vanilla join the previously described composition, giving the fragrance a beautiful creaminess and providing a fitting accompaniment to the well-traveled driftwood. And yet, the Gold Regatta manages to maintain its unmistakable character, its edges and corners: sea salt, red algae, and driftwood remain present here as well, while the overripe and juicy red fig and the straw flowers add fruity sweetness and warming spice. Amber and vanilla are the warming sun on a December day in Venice: It never gets hot or really warm, but a touch of this sun brings a glow to the face and a feeling of bliss to the soul.

LONGEVITY and SILLAGE are excellent, with the scent truly lasting all day and the sillage particularly radiating clearly in the first few hours. On clothing, the scent is perceptible until the next wash, and it can still be sensed on the body the next morning.

In DIRECT COMPARISON to Oud Minérale, it can be said that both fragrances share the woody aquatic, the sea salt, the algae, and the driftwood, but in the heart and base, two completely contrasting programs are pursued:

Oud Minérale - here the driftwood is rough, dark, strongly algal, and boorish. It smells like freshly collected driftwood, where the sea salt, heavy oil, shell lime, and algae notes are still very present and also carry a slightly "moldy" undertone, making the scent very harsh and unconventional.

Gold Regatta - here the driftwood has already been processed and polished: smooth and gentle, yet red algae, sea salt, and spray can still be distinctly sensed. The fig brings a beautiful (and unexpected) vibe, while in the base, vanilla and amber bring out the most beautiful sides and accompany the well-traveled wood appropriately.