City Love (2011)
by Dueto Parfums

There is a rose in my garden, planted by the previous homeowners, that smells like lemon and cinnamon. And City Love in its initial phase smells almost exactly like that rose.

As it wears on, the sillage becomes more rich and resinous, but if I press my nose into my skin, I can still detect that beautiful rosy/lemony/spicy brightness swirling around in the background.

Really lovely!

Dueto Parfums City Love heralds by soon its presence under the rose-oudh-patchouli (spicy combos) category on the side of scents a la Tiziana Terenzi Gold Rose Oudh, Montale Black Aoud, Xerjoff More Than Words or Mancera the Aoud (rose and spices over a resinous creamy musky base) but in this case the talky-soapy synthetic vibe is evident since the top notes (by soon a sort of spicy creaminess without medicinal vibe or a deep woody starkness) while a powdery floral substance (a talky synthetic violet, initially pungent) starts immediately standing out almost subsiding the rose. By soon I detect white dusty-cremy woodiness, a touch of amber, musk, rose, bergamot and (gradually) talky violet. The spices are mild and aromatic (cinnamon, a touch of saffron and pepper I suppose). The dry down is even more musky and powdery with floral spicy undertones, a lemon-orange intensity and a final "tail" of suede. While scents a la Black Aoud or Gold Rose Oudh maintein that sinister, eastern, vaguely mystic and barely retro aura this Dueto Parfum's creation manages to be basically fancy and urban-chic. Yes, City Love is a potent stuff, unisex, modernly glamour and appealing for a metropolitan down town night out. Nothing more, not original, slightly dull (hardly evolving), synthetic but (I have to admit) pleasant to wear. Not my choice anyway, on this theme I would stick to more compelling alternatives (ASAQ Sadeen Blend for instance).

City Love is a soft, resinous, floral, slightly balsamic and sweet oud, embraced by a smoky, warm vanilla-amber base accord. Another Western trendy and contemporary take on an Eastern material, the result is – again – a rubbery, linear, sharp and synthetic oud-like scent with a lot of plastic and metal going on. Frankly it smells "mute" to me, I barely detect some vague and stereotypical references to the notes which are supposed to be here, but they've really no depth and no particular "vibrancy". Decent and safe enough for a trendy night out, but nothing more: not bad, just dull. At least it's not pretentious. For oud fans with low budgets and low expectations.

6/10

Very awesome rose and oud frag.
Similar to Bond's NY Oud I think.
Another great scent from this house -- I am really liking all of these!

Very nice fragrance. I smell above all the oud and patchouli. It is the heart of the fragrance and both are the strongest notes throughout. The violet and rose cling on to these notes throughout the fragrance. It's a thick scent, probably better suited for colder weather and and night. Longevity is also really good with every Dueto fragrance I've sampled. Definite thumbs up.