Roma (1988)
by Laura Biagiotti

I could swear Roma had some Meditteranean herb among the topnotes - I recognize it from what you'd smell on the air on a Greek isle or something, yet I couldn't place it... I keep thinking maybe oreganon, but that's not quite it, it's grassier, citrusier, more bracing...? But I guess that hauntingly familiar yet in perfumery strikingly original herbal note is just an illusion created by the mint, blackcurrant leaf and bergamot together... Anyway, it sits on top on a very sweet and creamy base - the effect is like having a main course with green herbs and a vanilla pudding for dessert all mixed up on the same plate. Not entirely appealing. And after the herbal topnote is gone it's just that rather boring and generic creamy sweetness forever and a day.

One of my favourite women's perfumes along with Chanel No. 19. Roma opens with an astounding fresh mint array. It then deveopls ever so smoothly into a flowery mid then what seems like an ambery base note. This fragrance is like waking up on a spring morning, having breakfast on a balcony of your Marrakech riad with the breeze wafting the fragrance of fresh mint, flowers and musks and ambers of the souk into your face. Sublime!

In the late 80s and 90s, this was my signature scent. I loved how it bloomed, that it was never loud, and that it stayed in my clothes. I dropped a scarf once, and a woman picked it up and crushed it to her cheek. "Lovely!" she said. "I knit it myself," I said proudly. She took the scarf from her face and handed it to me. "No dear, not the scarf, the fragrance." It still is. I know it's and oriental, but to me, it will always be the embrace of someone who believes in you.

I have worn this scent for several years back in the late 80´s and early 90´s. Love this one! I have a bottle again, and I wear it quite often. I find this one fresh and light, even if it is an oriental, and that is really fun! It´s quite loud, but the freshnes makes it very wearable. It has really great personality!

This is a lovely light scent with lots of neroli. I didn't detect the mint, but the lovely fresh citrusy topnotes (not at all harsh) mellow into a sweet, orange-tinged vanilla (not too sweet). The civet is there but very subtle. My only complaint is that the EdT does not last very long on me, and it costs a bundle in Europe. I'd buy it again at American prices, though....

I chose Roma as my wedding fragrance in '95. The quest was one of those 'I'll know what I'm looking for when I smell it' situations and when I found Roma I just knew it was perfect. Romantic, sunny, highly individual and not worn by everyone else, it ticked all the boxes. An ideal fragrance for a special occasion.