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Coconut with a touch of vanilla
When I first sprayed Coccobello, I was reminded of a particular suntan lotion from many years ago. Coconut, and something slightly green.
And that is pretty much what Coccobello remained throughout -- a very linear coconut, with a touch of fresh greenness up front, and a touch of vanilla at bottom. But mostly coconut.
And that is pretty much what Coccobello remained throughout -- a very linear coconut, with a touch of fresh greenness up front, and a touch of vanilla at bottom. But mostly coconut.
Cardamom and Incense
The listed notes of Blue Encens seem like a personal invitation just for me, and predictably, I enjoy this cardamom and incense blend. I just wish this had some sillage!
The cardamom and incense are practically seamless from the outset, and overall, this is a somewhat linear, very easy-to-wear fragrance. It is competently done, and quite nice to inhale. But honestly, this just wears too close to the skin for me.
Those of you who don't want your incense and cardamom fragrance to be too obtrusive might be extremely happy with this one.
The cardamom and incense are practically seamless from the outset, and overall, this is a somewhat linear, very easy-to-wear fragrance. It is competently done, and quite nice to inhale. But honestly, this just wears too close to the skin for me.
Those of you who don't want your incense and cardamom fragrance to be too obtrusive might be extremely happy with this one.
Abstract fresh floral with incense underneath
This is an interestingly abstract floral underpinned by a recognizably-CdG incense base.
The "wisteria" here is like a faceted gem that includes lilac, freesia, and rose, but my floral impressions are just that -- impressions. The floral notes are not truly distinct, but instead, they come together in an abstraction of a clean, fresh flower that does not necessarily exist in any garden.
The incense base is typical of CdG, I think, but it also reminds me in its cold, mineral-like way of Lutens L'eau Froide.
Wisteria Hysteria wears close to the skin, and so would be a good choice for daytime or for the office.
The "wisteria" here is like a faceted gem that includes lilac, freesia, and rose, but my floral impressions are just that -- impressions. The floral notes are not truly distinct, but instead, they come together in an abstraction of a clean, fresh flower that does not necessarily exist in any garden.
The incense base is typical of CdG, I think, but it also reminds me in its cold, mineral-like way of Lutens L'eau Froide.
Wisteria Hysteria wears close to the skin, and so would be a good choice for daytime or for the office.
Milky White
There's a milkiness to this fragrance that I really did not expect. It opens with cardamom and almond, very milky and sweet. Then I get some iris, but not the clean, crisp iris one usually experiences -- instead, this one is creamy. This fragrance dries down to cedar, but with that persistent milkiness.
It seems that "white light" is almond milk in this interpretation.
It seems that "white light" is almond milk in this interpretation.
Lightly spiced fruit and wood
I don't remember where, but I once read that Pierre Bourdon submitted one of the early drafts of Shiseido's Féminité du Bois (which he composed with Christopher Sheldrake) to Dior, and it resulted in Dolce Vita.
Whether true or not, it makes sense. The relationship between the two is clear. And though Dolce Vita is a bit more mainstream, and a bit, oh, I don't know, sunnier, I think it's brilliant, too.
Dolce Vita's luscious creaminess is a result of Bourdon's artful blend of spices, fruits and woods. While I do like the opening (a rosy florality is always noticeable to me on first application), what I really love is the rounded fruitiness of the peach/apricot heart, spiked with cinnamon and cardamom, that leads right into that deep, delicious woody base. Most everyone identifies sandalwood as the primary note there, but I smell cedar, and lots of it. (Perhaps it's that Australian sandalwood? I don't know.) So yes, it's quite cedary to me, but there's also a dollop of vanilla there, and some sweet heliotrope.
This is my very favorite from Dior, and I wear it quite regularly as a daytime scent. People smile at me on elevators when they detect it.
Whether true or not, it makes sense. The relationship between the two is clear. And though Dolce Vita is a bit more mainstream, and a bit, oh, I don't know, sunnier, I think it's brilliant, too.
Dolce Vita's luscious creaminess is a result of Bourdon's artful blend of spices, fruits and woods. While I do like the opening (a rosy florality is always noticeable to me on first application), what I really love is the rounded fruitiness of the peach/apricot heart, spiked with cinnamon and cardamom, that leads right into that deep, delicious woody base. Most everyone identifies sandalwood as the primary note there, but I smell cedar, and lots of it. (Perhaps it's that Australian sandalwood? I don't know.) So yes, it's quite cedary to me, but there's also a dollop of vanilla there, and some sweet heliotrope.
This is my very favorite from Dior, and I wear it quite regularly as a daytime scent. People smile at me on elevators when they detect it.
