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Reviews
Detailed
Ropion’s Signature Spice Blend
If you’re familiar with Dominique Ropion’s spicy creations, you’ll catch a similar vibe in Papilefiko. Does that make it redundant in a collection? Maybe for some. But for me—not really.
Before picking this up, I was already enjoying Costume National Homme, also by Ropion. The openings? Definitely cut from the same cloth. But while CN Homme leans a bit synthetic and stays pretty linear, Papilefiko feels smoother and more dynamic—it actually evolves on skin. Plus, it wears lighter, making it more versatile.
Blazing Mr Sam comes to mind too—it shares that spicy kick in the opening. But Mr Sam opens heavier and dries down richer, which makes it more of a winter scent in my book. Papilefiko, on the other hand, works nicely in fall and spring as well. So yeah, similar DNA, but each one has its own lane.
Before picking this up, I was already enjoying Costume National Homme, also by Ropion. The openings? Definitely cut from the same cloth. But while CN Homme leans a bit synthetic and stays pretty linear, Papilefiko feels smoother and more dynamic—it actually evolves on skin. Plus, it wears lighter, making it more versatile.
Blazing Mr Sam comes to mind too—it shares that spicy kick in the opening. But Mr Sam opens heavier and dries down richer, which makes it more of a winter scent in my book. Papilefiko, on the other hand, works nicely in fall and spring as well. So yeah, similar DNA, but each one has its own lane.
Untainted Sea
Megamare smells like a memory — one that takes me back to my first visit to Saint Martin’s coral island in Bangladesh, back when it was still largely untouched by tourism. It evokes the quiet of late-night walks along the jetty, where the scent of the briny sea mingled with the musty, metallic notes of old boats and anchors.
Megamare captures that atmosphere with striking realism. It’s one of the most photorealistic marine scents I’ve encountered — immersive, raw, and deeply evocative. For me, it serves as a safe entry point into Alessandro Gualtieri’s world of conceptual perfumery, and it has definitely sparked my interest in exploring more of his creations.
Performance and longevity are no joke — this scent lasts for hours and projects with confidence.
As for presentation, Orto Parisi continues to impress with its distinctive bottle design and artistic caps. Megamare features a rusty metallic cap with mother-of-pearl top, adding a beautiful contrast to the minimalist bottle. The atomizer isn’t the best, but it gets the job done.
Megamare captures that atmosphere with striking realism. It’s one of the most photorealistic marine scents I’ve encountered — immersive, raw, and deeply evocative. For me, it serves as a safe entry point into Alessandro Gualtieri’s world of conceptual perfumery, and it has definitely sparked my interest in exploring more of his creations.
Performance and longevity are no joke — this scent lasts for hours and projects with confidence.
As for presentation, Orto Parisi continues to impress with its distinctive bottle design and artistic caps. Megamare features a rusty metallic cap with mother-of-pearl top, adding a beautiful contrast to the minimalist bottle. The atomizer isn’t the best, but it gets the job done.
Linear but not boring
If you know what you’re signing up for, the fact that this fragrance is linear shouldn’t be an issue for you. Now, I’m no fragrance expert—I can’t break down notes and accords, and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in that. So, based purely on how it wears on me, I’d say this smells straight-up like the leather interior of a brand-new car.
People often say Tom Ford’s Ombré Leather gives off that car seat vibe, but in my opinion, Irish Leather captures it way better. It’s got that leather scent, sure, but there’s also an aromatic, herbal twist—kinda like those fancy car air fresheners. It just ties the whole thing together perfectly.
So if that sounds like your jam, the linearity won’t bother you. But if you’re after something that transforms and takes you on a scent journey… yeah, this one’s not that deep. What you smell at the start is pretty much what you get till the end. An aromatic, earthy, slightly bitter leather fragrance that will last you a solid 7-8 hours with moderate to intimate projection.
As for the presentation, the bottles from this house are instantly recognisable thanks to the uniquely designed plaques on each one. The atomiser works—nothing to write home about. The cap isn’t too dense and slides in smoothly; I wouldn’t recommend picking it up by the cap, though. The box it comes in has its charm.
As for the pricing, I’d say the retail price for 75ml is a bit much. However, discounters offer great deals on this house’s offerings, so do check out your local discounters for better pricing.
People often say Tom Ford’s Ombré Leather gives off that car seat vibe, but in my opinion, Irish Leather captures it way better. It’s got that leather scent, sure, but there’s also an aromatic, herbal twist—kinda like those fancy car air fresheners. It just ties the whole thing together perfectly.
So if that sounds like your jam, the linearity won’t bother you. But if you’re after something that transforms and takes you on a scent journey… yeah, this one’s not that deep. What you smell at the start is pretty much what you get till the end. An aromatic, earthy, slightly bitter leather fragrance that will last you a solid 7-8 hours with moderate to intimate projection.
As for the presentation, the bottles from this house are instantly recognisable thanks to the uniquely designed plaques on each one. The atomiser works—nothing to write home about. The cap isn’t too dense and slides in smoothly; I wouldn’t recommend picking it up by the cap, though. The box it comes in has its charm.
As for the pricing, I’d say the retail price for 75ml is a bit much. However, discounters offer great deals on this house’s offerings, so do check out your local discounters for better pricing.
A Familiar Stranger
First Impressions:
Visited the Proad store in Bangkok planning to try a few Mith and Proad bestsellers like Mith Mystery Man and the Tea Collection. This new release was being prominently highlighted, and the moment I saw Ropion’s name attached, I had to try it. One sniff and I was hooked. It initially reminded me of Portrait of a Lady, but it quickly revealed its own personality.
Wear Experience:
There’s a strong sense of nostalgia in this scent — something vaguely familiar that I can’t quite place. Regardless, the overall composition is striking.
The inky rose, paired with boozy nuances from davana and raspberry liqueur, creates a dark, slightly gothic impression. The dry-down maintains that mood, with tobacco, vetiver, and oak wood forming a smooth, smoky base still tinged with faint booziness.
Projection is strong during the first couple of hours, then settles into a more moderate sillage. Longevity is solid — around 8 to 10 hours. Go light on the trigger; this one’s a definite room-filler.
Presentation:
I picked up the 60ml for around $120, and for that price point, I expected a better presentation. The matte black bottle is a fingerprint magnet and quite difficult to keep clean. The atomizer is solid and distributes a good amount of juice.
Note: the demon-shaped cap shown on some sites is a collector’s item and not part of the standard bottle. The regular cap is what you’ll get — and frankly, I preferred it. The Lucifer-themed branding felt a bit tacky and juvenile to me.
Visited the Proad store in Bangkok planning to try a few Mith and Proad bestsellers like Mith Mystery Man and the Tea Collection. This new release was being prominently highlighted, and the moment I saw Ropion’s name attached, I had to try it. One sniff and I was hooked. It initially reminded me of Portrait of a Lady, but it quickly revealed its own personality.
Wear Experience:
There’s a strong sense of nostalgia in this scent — something vaguely familiar that I can’t quite place. Regardless, the overall composition is striking.
The inky rose, paired with boozy nuances from davana and raspberry liqueur, creates a dark, slightly gothic impression. The dry-down maintains that mood, with tobacco, vetiver, and oak wood forming a smooth, smoky base still tinged with faint booziness.
Projection is strong during the first couple of hours, then settles into a more moderate sillage. Longevity is solid — around 8 to 10 hours. Go light on the trigger; this one’s a definite room-filler.
Presentation:
I picked up the 60ml for around $120, and for that price point, I expected a better presentation. The matte black bottle is a fingerprint magnet and quite difficult to keep clean. The atomizer is solid and distributes a good amount of juice.
Note: the demon-shaped cap shown on some sites is a collector’s item and not part of the standard bottle. The regular cap is what you’ll get — and frankly, I preferred it. The Lucifer-themed branding felt a bit tacky and juvenile to me.
