Frank4711

Recently, I had the pleasure of discovering and testing a Marzocco bottle. The fragrance name was inspired by the Florentine heraldic animal "Marzocco di Donatello": a lion, carved in sandstone as a copy of the original, which sits on a pedestal in Florence and watches over the city. The original, created by the sculptor Donatello in the 15th century, is now housed in the Museo del Bargello in Florence. Why the Marzocco tends to look down at the viewer in a somewhat depressed manner is unclear to me, but it can surely be found online (and perhaps serves as a comment? :) The bottle also reflects a Florentine style - in a very beautiful and warm violet, a color that is also very typical for Florence: you can find it, for example, in the club crest of AC Florence.

So much for the inspiration behind the fragrance and the packaging - I like the derivation and the story, and my inner sculptor evokes pleasant Italian associations when I hold the bottle in my hand - which is very helpful when, like me, you are looking out the window on a dreary German November day.

The fragrance:
I detect fruity and rather gentle, citrus notes of mandarin, lime, and lemon, which really last very softly for the first few minutes. Not sharp and absolutely no toilet cleaner associations. Following are jasmine and orange, but especially a noble vanilla that provides a subtle sweetness and makes up the main part of the fragrance.

The sometimes described "ice confection" or "sparkling candy" effect doesn't resonate with me as much, but I must say that I am very impressed by this fragrance. The subtle sweetness of the perfume is very pleasant and gives it a somehow very personal and benevolent note. Yes, it has something "good" about it :) Definitely not a bad-boy or macho scent. No, it has a discreet yet attractive character that immediately captivated me. I can't exactly say which delicate vanilla sweetness comes to mind when I smell the perfume, but it definitely reminds me of something I know and love. Perhaps the powder that goes into a vanilla soft-serve machine? It is a very caressing and familiar scent that quickly won me over.
The longevity of the perfume is okay, the sillage rather low. It is more of a fragrance for personal enjoyment and less to impress others - it is "for oneself" in the best sense.

So far, I have had bottles of 4 Rosso, 17 Rosso, and Azzurro. None of these three fragrances really appealed to me.
However, the Marzocco quickly captured my heart - and is welcome to stay :)

About three years ago, I wanted to try a new fragrance after wearing CK One exclusively for about 20 years. It could also be that my dear wife wanted to gift me "something new." So, we both marched into the D** at the main train station in Cologne and immediately encountered a somewhat overzealous consultant. Shortly thereafter, I had test sprays all over various parts of my body - from Bleue de Chanel to TF Noir, every fragrance direction was represented - until I had enough and we hurriedly left the store. At home, I then frantically tried to wash everything off... which didn't really go well.

A few days later, after I had recovered from that shock, my wife rummaged through one of her baskets and pulled out a small red 30ml perfume bottle. The logo and name of the perfume were worn beyond recognition. She handed it to me saying, "Fahrenheit. Back in the day, you often smelled this, and I thought it was so great that I bought it just to smell it every now and then for myself." I: "When, b-a-c-k then?" She replied: "Well, around 1991 or 92." I said: "Wow, I hope it hasn't gone bad. Well, at least it seems to have been stored in the dark all these 30 years." She responded: "No, it's in great shape, I can smell it. I know the scent. But you can forget about the new version. The old stuff is still really good and lasts longer."

"Well, okay. Let's give it a try." Off came the black curved cap, and on went the stuff (two sprays on my forearm). Tz, tz, ... sniff... wow ... it smells really strong of gasoline! Can you ignite this? And... of freshly cut grass! So strong, it really clears the airways! Doesn't that violate any EU regulations, and is such a thing even allowed today?

Since then, I have really taken a liking to Fahrenheit. However, I can only wear it in the fall and only on certain occasions (where only people aged 40+ are around), because somehow I feel so old-school with it that I prefer to spare younger people from it. My wife loves it on me, though. The scent itself (from 1991, as revealed by the batch code) is definitely a real gem, and I am amazed at how well the perfume has held up - probably they still used the "good old ingredients" back then - ingredients that are probably no longer allowed today. This also contributes to the very good sillage, which unfolds clearly and persistently with just one or two sprays.

Now, after about three years (and a few more fragrance experiences), I've used half of my 30ml vintage bottle and I enjoy just sniffing the bottle every now and then. It's a bit like standing at a gas station in a leather jacket and smelling the fresh gasoline (only much more pleasant), and I am still surprised every time at how intense and fresh Fahrenheit smells :-)