Piper Nigrum (1999)
by Lorenzo Villoresi

One of the most daring fragrance from one of the most innovative perfumer -- I haven't found a better rendition of black pepper. This is IT, period. Piper Nigrum is one of my favorite from the Villoresi line. I really like the way it diffuses on skin, cloaking the wearer with a dry and dusty aura reminiscent of a large wooden chest containing various spices, the spices disseminating in the air every time this chest is opened. Absolutely drool-worthy. Sheerly Nostalgic [to me].

The spicy aura in Piper Nigrum is done in an acutely vibrant manner with nary any "heaviness" to bring the composition down, which is an extremely positive characteristic. Granted, the heavily mentholated opening *may* smell heavy to some, but I don't perceive it as heavy -- I perceive it as a setting stage for the symphony that's to follow. To be honest I smell very little in the way of herbs in this composition, to my nose it's a pure spice-fest -- and I mean that in a very positive way. Highly recommended to anyone who has a fondness for spicy scents.

When I sampled this I had to ask myself.. why is it I like this one so much? At the time it was one of the oddest fragrances I'd ever worn, but I was really drawn in by the combination of the spice, pepper and mint.

This is part of Villoresi's "Fantasy Fragrance" line, which I think helped me a lot with falling for it. It's a dreamy fragrance that I can't imagine wearing often (and I don't). When I do I really enjoy it, and have received many compliments.

You can't go wrong with Lorenzo Villoresi, in that the quality is certainly there and the price is reasonable. I wouldn't recommend Piper Nigrum for a fragrance newbie or someone who doesn't have an open mind. The odd time I've sprayed it and then thought.. ah, that's not what I wanted today. I wish I could say I've fully figured this one out. It's been over a year now since my full bottle purchase and I'm still finding aspects of it I love more and more. A gem.

Lorenzo Villoresi Piper Nigrum

There are scents that come along and make a big splash. Usually it is because they have something new to offer. In 1999 Lorenzo Villoresi released Piper Nigrum and this scent still has something new to offer ten years on. Piper Nigrum is the botanical name for black pepper and this is what makes Piper Nigrum different. There are many scents out there that use pepper to effect to add a bit of slap and tickle to the olfactory development. Piper Nigrum puts the pepper front and center and leves it in place for the whole development. M. Villoresi chose some other herbs to join the pepper at the top namely anise, and mint. The pepper is what you smell when you are walking through the spice section and you get to the shelf holding the ground pepper. There is an arid airy quality to the piquancy of the pepper. Add to this the tang of anise and the zip of mint and the beginning of this comes off as a trip to the spice market. The mint pulls away first followed by the anise to be replaced by woods namely the cleanliness of cedar and the creaminess of sandalwood. This along with the pepper makes for a different take on the pepper as it brings out more of its resinous, almost incense-like, qualities and it tones down the spiciness of it all. This development of the pepper continues into a classic contrast of sweet and spicy as a sweet amber pairs with the central note in the base. This juxtaposition really brings out the resinous quality of the pepper to its fullest extent. I can see why Piper Nigrum was so popular when it first hit the scene. What I don't understand is why it still isn't talked about as it has a singular quality I haven't found in any other scent I've worn to date.

Lorenzo Villoresi Piper Nigrum opens with a strong medicinal note. something very similar to Vicks Vaporub. Intense eucalyptus kinds with a kitchen spices like fennel and a strong mint note! Comments like, "do you have cold?" shouldn’t surprise the wearer i love strong herbal/medicinal concoctions and this is where Piper Nigrum kicks in. Once this lovely opening notes smoothens out, the scent reveals one of the most beautiful pepper accord that one would have come across. To me it's what clove is to MPG's Secret Melange. Mesmerizing. Pepper in combination with other spices create such a delicate, soft aura or halo if you may. it's hard not to stop for a moment and think, hmm, I’m 3 hours into this scent...and all the colors it derived to paint the canvas is from, kitchen spices!? it's remarkably refined and offers total satisfaction to anyone who enjoys refined herbal concoctions. Things start to smoothen all the more with the amber kicking in with hints of incense wafting thru the remnants of the spices. A must have for anyone who enjoys herbal/spicy scents. would smell glorious on summers and winters alike.

Strong, bitter and medicinal. This one is a real rarity : An interesting Villoresi fragrance!!


Pepperminty, herbaceous, hot spicy opening is very captivating, almost intoxicating.

Black pepper in this is very much blended in to be an almost nondescript part of the whole entirety, but you know what; once when I wore this scent my girlfriend started to laugh and she said “you smell like a black pepper” (!!)
And I hadn’t told her anything about this fragrance! True story.

I consider that comment of my gf one of the most interesting ones I have ever had on any fragrance – from anyone.

Sweetening woody drydown remains very spicy and herbal.

One of the strongest scents I have ever tried. All in all, Piper Nigrum has a huge wow-factor to it. It is a striking fragrance and very much fun to wear.

Piper Nigrum isn't really me...that being said, it has the great, refreshing blast of icy coolness of Noxema face cream. If you want clean, refreshing, just out of the shower fragrance, this one is it.