Ragas

Almaz has the same DNA as Erba Pura but upgrades on it with better construction and scent development. For me Erba Pura is overly sweety fruit cocktail with great longevity and projection but can be too sweet for the summer heat.

Almaz has the same longevity and projection, however the initial spray is less sweet and the fruit is more complex. As it develops the fruit recedes, while never going away, and fain whiffs of caramel/brown sugar can be detected. The scent particularly on the dry down is very sensual.

I have been looking for a mild vetiver scent - I have Guerlain's Vetiver Parfum but it can be quite harsh, although the performance is outstanding. Someone recommended that I try Vetiveria - I ordered a 2 ml decant and the composition had me at first sniff.

Initially you are hit with citrusy/flowery scent which is quite effervescent there is no vetiver. The lack of vetiver is the opening notes is not a deterrent but on the contrary - the opening resembles youthfulness and freshness. As the scent starts to settle down and "mature" as it transitions and gentle slightly mossy vetiver bubbles up to the top. It is a beautiful transition and has a calming uplifting overall effect.

The longevity is good, projections is good but nothing spectacular, quickly after 2 hours it becomes 1-2 inch scent. Vetiveria is (while I hate this word) a true dumb reach summer daily scent.

I have heard amazing reviews of this cologne - old school vibe, Frank Sinatra signature scent, fit for true gentlemen etc. I was excited to try it. I was shopping in a local perfumery and they gave me several small 1.5 ml decants one of which was Bois du Portugal. When I went home I sprayed it on me and imagine my horror when I was struck with the overwhelming smell of mothballs. The smell of the small packets that my grandma used to put in the closet to kill/repel moths and preserve clothes. I thought I am imagining things but then my girlfriend came in the room and she also couldnt stand that smell. Had to wash it off. Initially I thought it is my skin chemistry but sprayed it on strip and it was the same experience.

I rarely, if ever give lower than 5 rating for cologne but with this one I draw the line.

Although the names of Sospiro can be a bit daft, the scents and the compositions are usually quite beautiful, Pasticcio is that type of a scent. Here actually the name make sense - this is a creamy citrus/flowery scent on its opening which transports the person in Vienna during the time of Mozart or Beethoven. This scent evokes the images of class and nobility.

As the scent dries down the flowers fade, but do not disappear, and the woodiness from the cedar and sandalwood comes to dominate. If Vibrato from the brand is epitome of the playful young individual, Pasticcio reminds of a the stable, and more mature brother.

This fragrance is not hyped and often criticized by the so called fragrance-reviewers. I always try to go against the grain and try the criticized scents as I noticed that primarily sweet scents are hyped up and while I appreciate the sweetness in the scent I cannot understand the fascination with scents like Althair. So I got a decant from a famous site and my attitude was "it must be good". Well to my chagrin it was not - it is a ginger and citrus scent, has the green vibe of Oud for Greatness (OFG) but not the smoothness. No hint of any oud, though I must confess I do not get oud in OFG. I must say that it would benefit by a touch of sweetness, I see vanilla in the notes but it is not detectable. Unfortunately this is a miss for me.