Neroli (1981)
by Czech & Speake

Czech & Speake Neroli does what it says on the label, and it’s all the better for it. It’s a bright, straightforward orange blossom fragrance that grows increasingly spicy with wear, and it’s absolutely beautiful. The indole, spice, and ethereal sweetness are perfectly blended and balanced, and the result is a remarkable olfactory illusion of living blossoms. Neroli is potent, with ample sillage and projection over a couple of solid hours’ linear progression. It does not alter character in its drydown so much as fade away, expressing orange blossom in all its purity until the very end. A simple pleasure.

While I have tried a fair number of scents with a neroli note, I think this is just the second one that could be considered "neroli centered". The other was Creed's Neroli Sauvage. I prefer Czech & Speake's offering. It is a very airy and bright: an uplifting neroli. Decent longevity. I think it would be especially nice on a lady. Definite thumbs up!

Neroli is one of the better offerings by Czech & Speake and is a lovely rendition of the star note. Light (but with adequate substance), fresh and not too sweet.

Quite a good Neroli fragrance. It is floral and slightly indolic but not so deep and rich that it crosses into feminine exclusive territory; it retains a little bite of bitter citrus which provides freshness and lightness. It is quite linear and focused, smells like the heart of a good traditional eau de cologne with its top notes removed. So good is this heart, it deserves to beat out its rhythm unaccompanied.

EDIT 21/09/09 The floral accord however, does suffer a bit of harshness if applied heavily and can descend into a slightly synthetic metalic quality as it dries. I suspect these are results of attempts to extend its longevity. Still very good and thumbs up though.

You could spray this on a lifelong bum and manage to make him/her smell clean... I'd have to say that this fragrance is a complete lesson in moderation. The neroli is a bit strong for the first few seconds but then sits down next to the rest of the class with its mouth shut but eyes open. There is definately a powdery note but it merely softens the acridity of the citrus without smothering it as so many powdery scents can. The floral note is substantial and yet subdued... the only comparison I can make is if a traffic stopping beauty barely brushed her lips against your cheek... there would be the slightest tinge of her lingering lipstick, but the memory of the moment would far surpass the tangible mark left behind. I can definately see this as unisex, but I'm unsure if I would rather smell this on my girlfriend, myself, or just a stranger passing by... A brilliant composition whereas although the notes display themselves with enormous identifiable personality, there is no ego-stroking statements by any... they simply work in unison to create a magnificent effort. A true gem.

Czech & Speake Neroli

Neroli is an Eau de Cologne, and as such is light and uplifting. On first application (from a dabber sample), it smells of bitter orange, neroli blossom and orange flower water. There is a sharpness to the blend that is vaguely powdery and bitter, and something here reminds me of leather. The neroli is quite indolic for a very short time, and the orange flower water gives the fragrance a very classic feel. The opening accord gives way to a synthetic mandarin orange accord which I have smelled in Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarin Basilic. The synthetic note has a bit of an edge that gives modernity to what first seemed like a very classic composition. Traditional colognes typically fade quickly and are valued most for their refreshing "burst" on warm days or after bathing. With this in mind, C&S Neroli seems almost a hybrid--the opening citrus and floral components blossom wildly in the first ten minutes, and then the rest of the fragrance rides out on a lingering citrus note, light florals and a sweet musk base, soft but much stronger than I would expect from a cologne. The sharp edge I sensed earlier continues as a subtle mid note, and has a quality about it that reminds me of the leathery tea accord which is used in Bulgari Eau Parfumee au The Vert. In the drydown, I occasionally catch whiffs of the neroli which is a tad soapy but mostly floral. I really love the quality of the neroli note--it is very similar to the gorgeous neroli in Abdes Salaam Attar Profumo Morning Blossom, but not featured nearly so well as it is in Profumo's composition. C&S Neroli can easily be worn by men or women, although the leathery tea-like quality and the musk base tilt it a bit toward the masculine.