Onda Vero Profumo 2010 Eau de Parfum

Onda Edp opens with a very brief and somewhat subtle bergamot and citron tandem before quickly moving to its early heart. Upon reaching the early heart the early citrus quickly dies, replaced by a powerful animalic and floral-like passion fruit and slightly sweet honey tandem that dominates, supported by clay-like coriander spice. During the late dry-down the composition turns even more animalic as a strong leather and musk-laced vetiver begins to dominate, as the passion fruit and relatively dry honey slip into a supporting role. Projection is excellent and longevity outstanding at 15+ hours on skin.

Onda EdP is touted by many as easier to wear than the original extrait. That said, I think while it is indeed different smelling early-on it is no less aggressive and challenging, just in a different way. The EdP composition substitutes passion fruit and honey used early-on in a very innovative way featuring the combination's more animalic and floral facets, and at times it even could almost be mistaken for dulled dark rose. That combination may be a lighter way of transitioning to the leathery musk-laced vetiver driven base of the original extrait but it is no less challenging and interesting, just different. The real question is which challenging aspects of Onda you prefer since lighter or darker transitions, neither composition compromises and can be equally polarizing... and fascinating. The bottom line is Onda Edp at $200 per 50ml bottle is far from inexpensive and is not going to appeal to the "crowd pleaser" crowd in all likelihood, but Vero Kern's outstanding skill coupled by the use of top-notch ingredients make this composition every bit as good as the extrait but different enough to justify owning both, earning an "excellent" to "near-masterpiece" rating of 4 to 4.5 stars out of 5 and a very strong recommendation.