Top Notes 
Pink pepper
Bergamot
Juniper
Ginger
White iris
Heart Notes 
Blue iris
Iris
Magnolia
Ambergris
Tuscan leather
Base Notes 
Tonka bean
Vetiver
Cedar
Sandalwood
08/29/2024
Mairuwa
34 Reviews
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Mairuwa
Very helpful Review
7
ß-Cassiopaiae
I would probably never have been interested in this fragrance on my own initiative, and so I must first of all thank the forum and the inspiring contacts that result from it, which from time to time are also reflected in unexpected sample gifts in mailings - in this case, thanks go to Mightynaf by name. At first glance, I would have left this extrait to one side and dismissed it as harmless at best, fresh and floral with a woody, leathery, apparently vetiver base. Still, probably nothing special, and for my taste probably a little too polished and not enough in line with my preferences. After the sample unexpectedly fell to me, I was taken aback when I looked at the classifications here in the forum: comparisons were repeatedly made with "Irish Leather", which I really like. My curiosity is piqued.
The comparison is not entirely far-fetched: the similarity is definitely there due to the juniper in combination with leather and it really does crystallize quickly after the bergamot has faded. But "Kaff" is much brighter, fresher and therefore also more pleasing and less edgy. In its Internet presentation, the House of Terenzi boasts that the fragrance shines as brightly as the star after which it is named. This radiance should therefore be around 2.27 mag, because according to my research, the namesake should be β-Cassiopeiae (aka Caph). But does the fragrance live up to this high standard?
The mystery of the name has been solved, but not yet the somewhat puzzling spelling, which is also not common in Italian. The information on the name reference is already exhausted and the rest of the advertising text is more of an emphasis on the special luxury that the fragrance represents rather than being helpful for classification. Nevertheless, it can be said that the Terenzis seem to have a special affinity with astronomy (or probably astrology). "Kaff" is part of a "Lunar Stars collection" - apparently all named after celestial bodies - and the cap of the bottle is also adorned with the phases of the moon and the signs of the zodiac. Something like that is sure to boost sales.
Be that as it may, perhaps the comparison with the French Irishman is not entirely fair. If not a fragrance from another planet, "Kaff" is more than a memo light with a somewhat lighter disposition. It soon develops a remarkable spiciness, which begins with a peppery tingle in the top note and is then carried by juniper. However, floral notes provide a floral-powdery counterbalance, and a rather beautiful, unsweet citrus really makes the fragrance seem very lively and fresh for a while, so that it is a pleasure. It could, indeed it could almost win me over if this first impression lasted longer and if there wasn't soon a somehow disturbing, very synthetic-sounding component that is probably supposed to represent the woods in the base, but seems as if it were largely based on Iso-E-Super. A disappointing turnaround. This aspect is then present for a considerable period of time, increasingly overshadowing the interesting impressions of the beginning and is thus unfortunately also what is ultimately remembered as the overall impression. Now I can understand the occasional vilification of Tiziana Terenzi as a fashionable fragrance house for the nouveau riche. It's a shame really, it started off quite promisingly.
If I'm looking for a star fragrance, then perhaps I'll try "B-612" by Nishane. I'm generally better with the Little Prince than with horoscopes.
The comparison is not entirely far-fetched: the similarity is definitely there due to the juniper in combination with leather and it really does crystallize quickly after the bergamot has faded. But "Kaff" is much brighter, fresher and therefore also more pleasing and less edgy. In its Internet presentation, the House of Terenzi boasts that the fragrance shines as brightly as the star after which it is named. This radiance should therefore be around 2.27 mag, because according to my research, the namesake should be β-Cassiopeiae (aka Caph). But does the fragrance live up to this high standard?
The mystery of the name has been solved, but not yet the somewhat puzzling spelling, which is also not common in Italian. The information on the name reference is already exhausted and the rest of the advertising text is more of an emphasis on the special luxury that the fragrance represents rather than being helpful for classification. Nevertheless, it can be said that the Terenzis seem to have a special affinity with astronomy (or probably astrology). "Kaff" is part of a "Lunar Stars collection" - apparently all named after celestial bodies - and the cap of the bottle is also adorned with the phases of the moon and the signs of the zodiac. Something like that is sure to boost sales.
Be that as it may, perhaps the comparison with the French Irishman is not entirely fair. If not a fragrance from another planet, "Kaff" is more than a memo light with a somewhat lighter disposition. It soon develops a remarkable spiciness, which begins with a peppery tingle in the top note and is then carried by juniper. However, floral notes provide a floral-powdery counterbalance, and a rather beautiful, unsweet citrus really makes the fragrance seem very lively and fresh for a while, so that it is a pleasure. It could, indeed it could almost win me over if this first impression lasted longer and if there wasn't soon a somehow disturbing, very synthetic-sounding component that is probably supposed to represent the woods in the base, but seems as if it were largely based on Iso-E-Super. A disappointing turnaround. This aspect is then present for a considerable period of time, increasingly overshadowing the interesting impressions of the beginning and is thus unfortunately also what is ultimately remembered as the overall impression. Now I can understand the occasional vilification of Tiziana Terenzi as a fashionable fragrance house for the nouveau riche. It's a shame really, it started off quite promisingly.
If I'm looking for a star fragrance, then perhaps I'll try "B-612" by Nishane. I'm generally better with the Little Prince than with horoscopes.
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