Tiempe Passate (1999)
by Antonia's Flowers

Antonia's Flowers is a sleepy little niche house that puts forth some gorgeous floral frags, but sadly, this one is not one of my faves from them. The opening is sharp, almost pure rubbing alcohol, but fades fast into a clean and soapy scent. It smells like a fabric softener dryer sheet! This reminds me of a fragrance Avon used to make years ago called Clean Cotton in their comfort scent line...in fact, it smells VERY much like Clean Cotton! If I concentrate hard, I do smell the rose here. With the combination of sage, cedar and vetiver in the base, I feel it would be best highlighted as a masculine floral. As my sample wears on, I find myself tiring of this scent...

I remember when Tiempe Passate was released in 1999 and thinking back then how wonderful and unusual it was. Since then, I have smelled a lot of perfumes, in particular some wonderful rose scents, and I am no longer in awe of Tiempe Passate. It starts off which a strong alcoholic note and then evolves into a passable rose scent. It is not bad, it is not great, it is just ok. I get a touch of cedar and salt along with the rose notes but honestly, Tiempe Passate is boring. If you want a stellar salty, beachy rose scent, I would suggest Rosine’s Ecume de Rose.

Norbert Bijaoui's formulation is beautiful. The Estonian website parfyym.pri.ee gives the following notes:

Top Note: Bergamot
Middle Notes: Rose, Mimosa, Cyclamen
Base Notes: Sage, Amber, Cedar, Vetiver

I think this is a fairly masculine rose scent. I know the florals sound rather feminine, but the sage and woody-oriental notes in the base really turn this into an offering that both sexes can wear comfortably. If there is one point on which I would fault it, that would be the weakness of the sillage and the longevity issue. These are not serious drawbacks, however. The scent does project a bit, just not strongly enough for my taste.

Of all the scents from this house, this is definitely the best to my nose. I have to add that I like the name also. It does have that old-timey character to it, being the title of an old Neapolitan love song. When I think of this scent, in my mind's eye I see an old sepia-tone photograph of a couple in circa 1905 clothes, she with a Gibson Girl hairdo, and he sporting a handlebar moustache.

It's a very affecting scent, and rather romantic — in the dreamy, old-fashioned way that seems sadly forgotten nowadays.

Lively & fresh, smells like cedar leaves w/ sharpness of bergamot.. a nice & natural clean smell for a room, not me. Softens a bit on drydown, but still very bright & fresh.

From their website: Cedarwood, amber, bergamot, montauk rose (named for its "saltiness") and clementine (for sparkle.

This is a gorgeous, soft, feminine scent. I am surprised that nowhere in the ingredients is iris, which is the predominant note to my nose. I must be olfactorily-challenged!

The best of the AF line, a truly lovely perfume.

One of the loveliest scents I have ever smelled! I'ts sensual, spicy, fruity and woody; notes include cedar, amber, bergamot, salty rose and clementine. I especially love the salty rose note - it reminds me of the carefree summer holidays I spent at the Belgian coast when I was a kid - very comforting and cosy.