Tiempe Passate (1999)
by Antonia's Flowers

This is a simple, pleasant fragrance from a niche perfumer who enjoys great popularity in New York. The rose is barely distinguishable; the top notes are fleeting. It is a safe choice for the office or humid summer months. Because of the old-fashioned name, this perfume reminds me of when Al Pacino was married for a minute in Godfather II to Appolonia. Though Antonia Ballenca had her grandparents in mind when she created this, it is more the scent of a summer fling... a chaste one.

26th December, 2010.

I ordered the sample pack from the website, ran through all the viles and picked this one to try first. The amber is noticable immediately, and along wiht the citrus twist make this very 'nose' catching.

I find that a green opening, especially from bergamot, provides an instant lift in mood. This scent makes you just want to smile, it's very refreshing.

I associate it a little bit with Yves Rocher's Voile d'ambre (which has no amber at all, I know). The citrus theme is reminiscent (a little bit) of Guerlain's philtre d'amour.

My one complaint, and it's a biggie, is that this is an EDP that is way too fleeting. Perhaps it is my skin chemistry, but this wears really light on me

27th February, 2010.

A beautiful, very understated, classy fragrance that stays close to the skin. This ticks all my boxes; warmth and sensuality together with a slightly masculine edge; yet still very feminine. You know sometimes your fragrance smells better the next morning when that blend of fragrance /skin has worked its magic? With Tiempe Passate, its there straight away - it smells like you've been wearing it overnight which is exactly what Antonia Ballenca wanted.

The lingering bergamot and rose remind me of a day on a meditarranean beach in the baking sun with the taste of the salty sea still in my hair and on my skin.....

24th October, 2009.

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...

1st October, 2008.

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.

19th June, 2008.

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.

3rd May, 2008.