Reviews of Antico Caruso
by Profumum

This is not a very complex scent. I get a rustic herbal accord in the opening – rough, soapy, probably a little arrogant… I get no citrus. The herbs quickly move into an herbal / almond accord that is pleasant. As the herbal notes disappear, the almond note becomes stronger and sweeter. I find Antico Caruso turns out to be almost a simple solo note fragrance: Almond, simple but quite enjoyable. I suppose that if the quality of the note is good, it doesn’t matter that the composition is uncomplicated. The lack of complexity works for me. The drydown is a plain, somewhat sweet almond note with a background of subtle but rich sandalwood. Both the almond note and the sandalwood note are of high quality, and I’m struck and surprised by the elegance of everything happening in Antico Caruso. It reeks of class and good breeding. …very good sillage and longevity.

Shameless copy of Gaultiers "Le Male". That says a lot about the shity state of the new niche brands that are released these days.Sure , it may be made from better ingredients(whatever that means),but it also costs a 160 euro. My advice,buy the original, if you want to smell like Le Male, it will save ya a lot of money.

The main problem with Antico Caruso is that there’s too much déjà vu about it. The opening notes reminded me of Douce Amere (or even Lolita Lempicka au Masculin), while the drydown kept on alternating between the aroma of Le Male and Body Kouros. Quite a lovely fragrance to wear but, based on its lack of uniqueness, I'll have to pass on this one.

[Original submission date: 10 April 2008]

Fairly linear. I get a citrus top and the rest smells like a nutty, creamy tonka bean/sandalwood.

A woman is running, bare feet churning, across a pasture of sweet herbs. As she nears I recognize Kate Moss. Walking up to me, she sticks out her tongue, and I see that on it she is balancing a jordan almond. Thanks, Kate.

I discovered fragrances house "Profumum" (mainly settled in my own town, Rome) just a couple months ago and decided to bet on them (even the high prices of their scents – 100% of pure natural elements used in 100 ml perfume oil costs!). After some tests, I've purchased "Antico Caruso" and I'm not disappointed in it. It opens with herbal citrus/neroli/lavander notes that quickly fades into a creamy, bitter-sweet almond/pungent amber accord - the landlord here - enriched by a little bit growing up vanilla sweetness. Than the composition stays quite linear, until the drydown let also come in a smooth sandalwood note. Base accord is an epitome of above mentioned development (not a transformation at all), including echoes of top and middle notes, in a soft, musky way. Excellent staying power (few drops work all day, and over ... Remind to massage perfume oil, after spraying on skin). If you're looking for something like this, don't miss the chance. The glorious, british tradition of finest barbershop shaving soaps and colognes meet the sunny, mediterranean way of life. No doubt: very, very good fragrance ... thumbs go up.
Ciao.

(I'm reposting my luckyscent review because it describes best what I think of "Antico Caruso"--I couldn't describe it in any other way...)

Antico Caruso" smells like the purest, creamiest luxury soap you've ever experienced---the kind that came in cakes and wrapped in paper, scattered throughout cruise liners (like creamy-tart "Vinolia"--only sweeter) and seaside hotels in the early part of last century. There is even a similar theme between Caswell-Massey's famous "Almond Shave Soap" and "Antico Caruso", but antico is less salty and veers away from the syrupy cherry tone of almond and into a creamier realm of polished wood and hard-soap lather. This is a serenely comforting scent: The almond note gives it a very subtle gourmandesque spirit; however, the opening citrus zing and powdery sandlewood finish make it far to clean to pass as a food substitute. "Antico Caruso" is also, despite masculine references to barbershops and cologne, quite unisex in nature and I imagine many women would find it's unusual non-floral creaminess appealing. It's the smell of "clean" before "clean" meant "disinfectant/detergent". It makes me think of fresh, wholesome days outdoors and the pure simplicity of monestary, abbey or temple settings. If you always hoped for a sweeter, creamier version of "CKOne", "L'Huere Bleu" or you're just looking for an interesting scent to surround but not precede you, I'd suggest "Antico Caruso".

Antico Caruso is quite heavy, rich, sweet and powdery and not at all a shy or subtle fragrance. It starts with a sharp, loud citrus-sugary intro, then the sweet notes (almond, a touch of vanilla) unfold, giving the whole composition a soft and cuddly character. The drydown is the best stage of development: sandalwood and a powdery accord create an elegant, classy aroma. Antico Caruso actually reminds of old barbershops due to the mixture of soap, talc and citrus cologne. It bears a certain resemblance to Prada Amber, but seems more refined to me. Maximum sillage and staying power - beware of overapplying. I like it, but it's a tad too sweet to really love it.

So funny, my experience with a sample of this is was so different from Willem's. I did not find Antico Caruso complex at all. In fact, olfactory complexity is not this scent's strong suit in my book. I loved the initial onset of sharp and soft tones, sweet and yet astringent, exactly what I like. It was at first, quite wonderful. But that only lasted a very short time, sadly. In minutes, not hours, it all went to almonds; almond paste and powder. The overall impression was not unlike the filling in an almond croissant; slightly sweet almond paste. Perhaps there was an oblique reference to sandalwood, maybe, but just. Could have used a bit more sandalwood IMHO. That's it. But it is/was nevertheless compelling. Simple and yet so rich in the presentation of beautiful straight forward elements. The only variation I sensed was that at times there was the distinct allusion to baby powder, or perhaps talc, which became very vivid for brief periods- - same smell, mind you, just more powdery, but that came and went. This is not a strong fragrance, everything is very subtle but it is fairly long lasting. The only way I can describe this in the final analysis is to suggest it may very well be the virtual apotheosis of the fragrance of Pappa's medicine chest cologne or almond shaving cream. Holy smoke, I guess that's saying quite a lot! So, is this Antico Caruso worth its high cost? Ah, now that's the question. Maybe yes. Probably yes. I will have to meditate on this.

Joe

This is soo complex but smooth ! Take EVERY single FANTASTIC aspect of every man's cologne ever made and squeeze it into this work of PURE ART ! It smells
exactly like what the perfect man's cologne should smell like ! It captures places and emotions for me when I wear it - not just the feeling that it's a great scent and that's it, Profumum delivers what they claim : to invoke feelings, memories etc... this is an experience FIRST ! and a scent second. Not enough thumbs in a stadium full of people to point up for this offering! It is beyond comforting, smooth , and fantastic ! Long lasting too- 6 to 10
hours and goes on a bit like a medicine
cabinet but then starts to unfold masculine smooth perfection within an
hour.