Onda Vero Profumo 2010 Eau de Parfum

I will attempt the feat of setting aside Profumo's commentary and expressing my own impression of this extraordinary fragrance in words.

What strikes me first is an incredible warmth. Not the kind we usually describe as warm with oriental or woody notes, nor the scent of sunny meadows, but rather a crackling atmosphere in twilight. I was in a very elegant casino 35 years ago. At one table, high stakes were being played, and the tension among the few spectators was almost greater than that of the players themselves. The room, with its sparse lighting that only illuminated the tables, rich velvet curtains, and elegantly dressed people, conveyed the mood that this fragrance gives me. Completely outside of the usual, almost silent but with an enormous presence.

To put it more simply, the amber note is quickly overlaid by the spices, but not covered. Basil and coriander are used in such a finely dosed manner that they are hardly recognizable. This unusual spice note works as a whole, telling a story, surely a different one for everyone. The ginger brings a certain sharpness, demanding attention, while vetiver and leather prevent the fragrance from becoming too heavy, allowing it to fade away comparatively slowly and calmly. But that takes hours.

Onda is an extraordinary fragrance. A scent that I would like to perceive every now and then, but for me, it is not a wearable perfume. It is like a novel that I can dream into, but do not want to (experience) live.