Garofano (1995)
by Lorenzo Villoresi

Dry dusty dessicated florals over musky woods, with carnation and rose taking turns to sing the lead. It feels familiar yet different somehow, rather like Molinard's Habanita with no leather and less powder. While I prefer my florals on the fresh dewy side, the assertive tone that GAROFANO conveys seems tailored for those times when you feel like throwing your weight around. Go on, wear this to work and boss your co-workers around for the day.

9th July, 2011.

I don't really want to smell like a carnation all day, especially one as sour and dusty as this. 'Piper Nigrum' is an acquired taste to say the least but has it's acolytes -- the rest of the range from this House confuse and disappoint me, apart from Dilmun which is a solid orange blossom. Garafano is plain nasty.

Stop Press.... 10 Corso Como have a new masculine out called very originally 'Uomo', which has ginger, mandarin, ylang and vanilla notes. It smells divine on the testcard for all of 2 minutes. The blurb for this uses the adjective 'airy' -- I would describe it as worryingly thin. It may act better on skin.

12nd May, 2010.

Garofano opens with a pungent indolic rose accord of tremendous strength. Only after thirty minutes or so does it reveal an astringent clove note that’s apparently meant to suggest carnation. The rose and clove accord is straightforward, potent and linear, but ultimately clumsy and lacking in depth. Comme des Garçons’ Series 2 Red: Carnation targets carnation through a similar rose-and-eugenol approach, but is altogether more complex and rounded. If it’s a carnation soliflore you’re after, I suggest you go for the Comme des Garçons.

13rd December, 2009.

I wore LV Garofano to work yesterday. The weather was fair as there was a shower the night below. The fragrance has a very good basenote which is not too sweet. It is rather comforting to wear it in cool weather but I think in hot, sweaty days, it might not be wise. It has very good sillage and is really very good lasting.

9th May, 2009.

This is my fifth Villoresi scent and it's a winner. A very prominent and spicy carnation lasts a number of hours, followed by a complex rose - reminiscent of potpourri in its acridness. After two hours the heliotrope surfaced and mellowed both the carnation and the rose.

Quite unique and different - maybe not for every day wear but certainly for festive occasions.

Acccording to the Villoresi site:

Top Notes: Lavender, green leaves, florals

Middle Notes: Carnation, Jasmine, Rose, Cinnamon, Cyclamen, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Pepper

Base Notes: Heliotrope, Vanilla, Musk, Cedarwood.

Recommended as top quality novel scent.

10th December, 2007.

Hmmm… Definitely one of the most original fragrances I have ever smelled. I get a blast of clove at the very opening, which lasts about five seconds, at which point the carnation wells up and stakes its claim to total domination of the territory and then it invites the rose, jasmine, and lilac to join the abundance. Those floral are multifaceted and multidimensional. It’s almost as if the clove and lavender surround each of the individual floral notes with an aura-like ambiance in order to provide a three dimensional aromatic effect. It exhibits incredible definition and separation in those luxuriant floral notes—I could swear it is a magical mystery olfactory tour. When it dries down, it has lost much of the sillage, is still a bit floral, and has a sweet base of musk and vanilla that work with the hints of sharp florals that still remain. Excellent sillage and great longevity. I do think this fragrance is somewhat more feminine than masculine, but I wouldn’t fault anyone for wearing this beauty.

29th October, 2007.