Fragrance Reviews by erichtonius

One of the best English Lavender, with D. R. Harris and Pennhaligon's.. but sadly discontinued this year. Why ? A so great and successful fragrance..

This wonderful light and traditional Rose cologne is discontinued.

The real scent of bitter orange blossom - Exhilarating, quite intoxicating ; maybe too feminine, I don't know. I believed that 'Zagara' by S.M.Novella would be like this one, in a lighter way, very neroli ; but it's not. This one is one of the best Neroli I have sent.

"Colonia Russa" is a very nice floral citrus fragrance, with a hint of rose and neroli, on a patchouli base. It's very close to "Special N°127" made by FLORIS in 1890 for Grand-Duc Orloff of Russia, in a lighter way.

Eau du Coq is a true cologne : it's not long lasting. It's just a fresh citrus water for a summer morning, a perfect perfume for a very hot day in Italy or in Provence. The opening is already different from the classical Eau de Cologne (the best and true original is from Farina Genenüber), with lavender and rosemary notes which quite immediately balence the citrus and bergamote top notes to an aromatic citrus blend, lighly enhanced by a neroli note, then enriched by the light woody and tonka bean base (guerlain signature). It's much more suitable for men than 'Eau Impériale', which is also very good and refresching, but without these woody aromatic notes. Eau du Coq is ever smart in its freshness, never common.

Santa Maria Novella produces the best pot-pourris. I was afraid to wear "Pot-pourri" as a frangrance, but it's wonderful. It's aromatic and spiced, quite medicial at the opening, but very sweet and smart : a classic fragrance, as Eau de Cologne "Santa Maria Novella" in another way.

I love this pure and refreshing lavender in the end of the day, or at the countryside. It's the only lavender fragrance which truly smells like a lavender bouquet from a Provence garden. This lavender has not these spicy and heavy notes of classic English Lavender. It's a very simple fragrance, yet elegant and distinguish in its simplicity, but not as rich and smart as CREED's "Royal Scottish Lavender", or feminine and floral like FLORIS's own "Lavender". SMN's "Lavanda Imperiale" is a casual and classic fragrance.

This Rose scent is extraordinary. Made from Provence rose, "Rosa centifolia", rather than Damask roses from Bulgaria (usually "Trigintipetalia"). Creed's "Fleurs de Bulgarie" is close to this, but more floral and heady.
It's not a very masculine fragrance as perfume, but it's wonderful as toileteries scent (soap, aftershave etc.). However, I do not recommand SMN's cosmetics : too much bad ingredients for skin and health - natural rose cosmetics from Dr Hauschka or Weleda are the best.

I loved it. But very hard to wear all a day long. It's better as a home scent..

one of the best fig fragrance. But, could be wearisome..

Their very best fragrance, authentic and original. made from 16th c. pomander and pot-pourri.

L'Eau de Cologne Santa Maria Novella, originally 'Eau de la Reine' made for Catherine de Medicis, reine de France, is the very original Eau de Cologne. And the only one for me with its subtil white flower notes, and dominant mix of bergamote, citrus and neroli.

Malmaison is one of my favourite fragrance ! But.. I'm not a woman. The very spicy clove note makes it a very unclassic masculine scent. Floris does not present Malmaison as a fragrance for woman.