Pancaldi (1989)
by Hanorah

I find it very hard to tease out the individual notes in Pancaldi. The top notes are a mixture of herbal and coniferous qualities, but with a certain freshness, almost like fresh ginger, rather than a typically "bright" citrus top. The drydown is deep and green, a layer of moss giving it a velvety quality.

In terms of sillage, it starts strong but soon goes soft. However, the longevity is more than adequate.

Pancaldi is like peering through a castle window into a dark, moonlit forest outside; an intriguing mixture of a abstract and evocative. Definitely a classic that's sadly drifted towards obscurity.

28th January, 2010.

Overall, this is a nice scent. I’m not a fan of patchouli, but although it is present here I think it is used with restraint.
This starts with a beautiful citrus-green note. It quickly morphs into a slightly soapy and spicy chord. Cloves are the dominant spice, giving this an old-school barbershop character. Dusky green notes lurk at the edges. Moss and leathery notes start to appear. The patchouli hints at salt, leather, and tangy leaves. The dry-down is an aromatic, slightly acidic blend of patchouli and herbals.
I’m slightly more than neutral on this. I think it is well-made and classy in its late 80’s way. So the thumb points up – although I don’t think I’d seek it out for myself.

9th December, 2009.

Green oakmoss and florals. Leathery wood later on. Very interesting.

29th August, 2008.

I remember this one fondly. It is disappointingly impossible to find now. Pancaldi is truly worthy of a rebirth.

10th December, 2006.

Ummmmm. Smoke and green and leather in a dark abundancy. Pancaldi opens with citrus / green accord in which the green dominates — and a rich, luscious green it is — basil and juniper berry. This opening is one of the best I’ve found in fragranceland. The top notes continue for a long time gradually and smoothly moving into a floral / herbal / spice / conifer heart accord. The sage dominates to my nose ensuring an aromatic presence and the coniferous note is continued by means of the fir. Of course the smoke continues to tie the fragrance together. The florals of the middle do not really ‘bloom’ but rather provide an extra middle vibrational depth to the center, and at about this time, the extra depth is beginning to be needed: This heart accord has noticeably less passion and strength than the opening, and in some ways is a bit of a disappointment. The base is thoroughly masculine with its leather, moss, and patchouli, which darken the fragrance. Both the lack of lightness / sweetness and the smokiness have been the mark of the fragrance from the start. Unfortunately, the heart and base notes of the fragrance do not reach the quite same heights that the top did — that would be a very difficult thing to do because of the beauty and uniqueness of the opening. But the dry down turns into a more than acceptable subtle wood / leather combo. I find this an extremely desirable fragrance.

29th October, 2006. (Last Edited: 17th March, 2008.)

Strong masculine scent with a blunt grey opening that could be a milder cousin of Jacomo de Jacomo's first furious few minutes at the kipper factory. As Pancaldi develops, it seems to declare its affinities with two other creations of smoky masculinity - Vetiver de Puig and Trumper's Astor. Good stuff, the lot of them, to my nose.

2nd February, 2006.