Reviews of 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.

Damn! I must be getting better at this. After three day's wear I sat down to write this review, and I see that all of I wanted to say has been said before! By BN members whom I hold in high esteem, no less.

Yes, the adjectives clear, pure, simple, sharp and light are true, and yet the fragrance does have depth and substance; this is one serious neroli for such an uplifting and cheerful scent. Perhaps that's also how the masculine feel is achieved?
Then I had the brilliant thought that this should wear better in Spring, Fall or Winter, rather than the ususal citrus recommendation for high temperatures in Summer. Oops. Already stated!
C&S may be one of the most underrated houses around.

I dislike this one with an intensity that surprises even me. Like No.88, it strangely reminds me of a visit to a Chinese temple- smelling of the wilting flowers and fruits at the altar (in this case, stale orange). The drydown is quite nice but the ride before that has been totally unpleasant for me. A scrubber I'm afraid and I really want to like this.

Neroli. Clean. Fresh. Pure. Invigorating.

Simple and extremely natural smelling citrus floral scent. It smells a lot like one of those ancient Colognes, starting from the legendary 4711.

Smells bitter and very refreshing. Like the one was drinking lemonade in the bushes during the hot summer day. 100% unisex.

Comparing some of its relatives this is in better balance and it lasts longer. It is a great choice if you’re looking for a simple, traditional and natural summer-y, Cologne-y scent.

It’s not for me though, to be honest. I prefer a bit different kind of citrus fragrances.

Magnificent! An utterly gorgeous evocation of bitter orange blossom. This is a beautiful woody-floral scent. It seems light, ethereal, even delicate; yet it has depth and substance. It is floral and yet not sweet; certainly it is not heavy and cloying. The ylang ylang gives an interesting, luxurious and earthy note. I like this very much.

At the beginning of my love for fragrances, I assumed that I would only appreciate something that I would enjoy wearing, but I now know that there is a category that can be evaluated objectively for the complex and aesthetically pleasing structures that they are. C&S Neroli is one of the fragrances that I can view this way. The citrus opening of neroli and orange reaches an impressive intensity without the sense that it has been achieved by chemical means,and it is worth trying this scent just for this brief experience alone. I found the subsequent introduction of Ylang Ylang more difficult to live with, but taking a wider view of this, it is a product that demands and ultimately gains your respect. I regard this as a niche item in almost every way, but on the occasions where I want to smell as interesting as my conversation, this is one to embrace.

Very orange and citrus (and ordinary) at first hour. But when it settles it becomes a modern decorous soft neroli which does not irritate a neroli hater like me. I found it masculine because we usually meet similar note in aftershaves.

Orange, neroli and ylang-yalng, A classy floral with fruity notes. So plain and pure, it's refreshing and lively but doesn't call attention to itself. Wonderful stuff.

Neroli by Czech and Speake is a sharp, very clear neroli fragrance that seems to be minimally mixed with supporting notes. It feels very simple and natural. The simplicity continues through the total run of the fragrance making it is quite linear. The clarity of the neroli accord is captivating, because bitter orange is such an interesting note—it has a bitter sharpness combined with a undercurrent of sweet fruity orangeness. Czesc is right, this is a citrus that doesn’t necessarily belong in the warmth of summer—the crispness of Fall and early Winter in the air is the perfect environment for Neroli. The neroli, in spite of its uniqueness among citrus, does have one thing in common with the rest of its class: It could use more longevity, but, for a citrus, it is not bad. This is a pristine and charming fragrance.

excellent scent for a dry winter's day. goes well with long wool coats, brown leathers etc. I wear it to run weekend errands.