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Pino Silvestre Information !

post #1 of 40
1/28/10 at 12:27pm
Thread Starter 
Hello to all Coneheads and others interested in pine scents, in particular Pino Silvestre .
I've received a nice press kit from Mr. Massimo Vidal, the Managing Director of Mavive (the holding company of PS). It is a 4-page colour pdf file, with many interesting facts on the philosophy and psychology behind the scent's design. I've put this in as an attachment to this thread. (Thanks to Grant for his assistance on this.) Enjoy! Let me know what you think.

 

press kit pino eng.pdf 862.9111328125k . file
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post #2 of 40
1/28/10 at 12:40pm
How would you compare Sud Est to PS?
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post #3 of 40
1/28/10 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 
Comparing Sud Est to Pino Silvestre is a good question. Its been a while since I've worn Sud Est. I'll do that soon and offer more thoughts. At the moment, I'd say that the herbal emphasis is greater in Sud Est, and the pine emphasis is stronger in Pino. In other words, pine and herbs play off each other in Pino. In Sud Est, the citrus (bergamot), herbs and woods of the drydown strike a chord, but the dominant note is herbal.
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post #4 of 40
1/28/10 at 12:51pm
Another thought concerns Adidas' Sport Field, which features tomato stem, parsley, and thyme, and sounds like it may be a more "rounded"/"softer" version of Sud Est.
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post #5 of 40
1/28/10 at 1:38pm
Thread Starter 
I haven't tried Adidas' Sport Field. I can recommend Sisley's Eau de Campagne, which has tomato leaf and herbal notes. It is excellent.
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post #6 of 40
1/28/10 at 2:42pm
I LOVE Pino silvestre. It is probably the best bargain you can find. A truly excellent perfume for less than 20 bucks.
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post #7 of 40
1/28/10 at 2:47pm
I just don't agree with them when they say that it could be worn by women. I don't think a woman can pull it off.
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post #8 of 40
1/28/10 at 6:09pm
Thread Starter 
Absolutely! It delivers well above its price point.
And our dear senZuality, a lovely lady, would disagree with the men-only assessment. She loves it and wears it.
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post #9 of 40
1/28/10 at 8:08pm
That's a really interesting pamphlet, odysseusm. I got more information about Pino from that pamphlet than I have in all of my online research. Thanks for finding a way to deliver this to us in the forum.
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post #10 of 40
1/28/10 at 8:17pm
What I found interesting, and a tad disappointing, was that the note pyramid from the press kit did not list pine as a note!

If pine is not an ingredient in Pino, then I suppose the perfumer must be commended for creating a wonderful herbal pine smell without actually using pine.
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post #11 of 40
1/29/10 at 5:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shamu1 View Post

That's a really interesting pamphlet, odysseusm. I got more information about Pino from that pamphlet than I have in all of my online research. Thanks for finding a way to deliver this to us in the forum.

I am glad you found it helpful, shamu1. I hope others do as well. I agree that that pamphlet contains a lot of information that cannot be found elsewhere, particularly online (until now). The process shows the value of personal connection in information flow (or life, to get philosophical!).
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post #12 of 40
1/29/10 at 5:54am
It was a hit down here but they don't import it anymore since the company was sold. I guess I would have to write to this person in order to ask him to reconsider exportation.

BTW, the actual version has a very strong menthol note that was absent in previous formulations.
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post #13 of 40
1/29/10 at 6:08am
  • Zgb
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I love good old Pino. My dad used to wear it. It is not obtainable in Croatia for many years now. But I'm gonna obtain it with first signs of warmer weather.
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post #14 of 40
1/29/10 at 9:27am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigsly View Post

How would you compare Sud Est to PS?

I wanted to have a current assessment of Sud Est to offer. I'm wearing it today.
SE is a very herbal scent, and in that respect it is similar to Pino, which also is quite herbal.
SE has very distinct green notes of artemesia (bitter, aromatic, dusky) and bay leaf (herbal, aromatic, slightly soapy).
In fact, the dominant bay note + spices (coriander, cinnamon) make SE somewhat like a Bay Rum.
I usually find the clove in Bay Rums to be a little overbearing, so I much prefer this.
Despite a rosemary note in SE, I don't detect any pine-like elements.
I think it is reasonable to assume that people who like Pino would like SE. I certainly do.
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post #15 of 40
1/29/10 at 10:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shamu1 View Post

What I found interesting, and a tad disappointing, was that the note pyramid from the press kit did not list pine as a note!

If pine is not an ingredient in Pino, then I suppose the perfumer must be commended for creating a wonderful herbal pine smell without actually using pine.

Yes, I was wondering the same. To my nose, I never got much pine/fir balsam out of it. I think Pino smells more like Bay Rum than anything.
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post #16 of 40
1/29/10 at 10:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shamu1 View Post

What I found interesting, and a tad disappointing, was that the note pyramid from the press kit did not list pine as a note!

If pine is not an ingredient in Pino, then I suppose the perfumer must be commended for creating a wonderful herbal pine smell without actually using pine.

I agree that this is amazing.
The pamphlet lists "twelve natural oils that compose Pino Silvestre."
Bergmot, Lemon, Bigarade (3)
Lavender, Thyme, Clary Sage, Juniper, Clove (5)
Moss, Cedar, Sandalwood, Amber (4)

Well, the bottle is a pine cone, and the impression is of pine. So props to them for the way they've done that.
I suppose that the juniper and lavender are key elements for that. They have a resinous, pine-y aspect.
After all, there aren't any pine forests near Venice (where the scent is made)!
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post #17 of 40
1/29/10 at 12:20pm
Whatever is in there, it is great !
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post #18 of 40
1/29/10 at 9:17pm
Well......OK....I still don't get it, and why ya'll don't get the pronounced bologna accord in PS....LOL...just teasin' :-)
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post #19 of 40
1/29/10 at 9:20pm
Do you think maybe they just forgot to put the pine note in it? I mean, on the promotional thing.
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post #20 of 40
1/29/10 at 10:08pm
If you eat spicy food, I can understand the problem, because I can't wear Gucci PH2 because it reminds me of a tea I drink once in a while. Imagine adding wood and musk to your favorite food! Not very appealing, at least to me. Note: I probably haven't eaten deli slices of any kind in at least 25 years.
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post #21 of 40
1/29/10 at 11:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Budd View Post

Do you think maybe they just forgot to put the pine note in it? I mean, on the promotional thing.

I wondered that at first. But I did the math, and the 12 ingredients don't include pine. It is very interesting.
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post #22 of 40
1/29/10 at 11:51pm
Interesting literature, Odysseusm.

I am really amazed that pine itself is not a listed note. One more example of accords of a certain combination of notes evoking a different note entirely. Art. In an inexpensive but wonderful frag. Makes one wonder again about the niche thing.............
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post #23 of 40
1/30/10 at 8:03am
Thread Starter 
"The whole is more than the sum of its parts." Aristotle, Metaphysica

Gestalt theory maintains, there are experienced objects and relationships that are fundamentally different from mere collections of sensations, parts, or pieces. (courtesy of Answers.com)
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post #24 of 40
1/30/10 at 8:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by odysseusm View Post

"The whole is more than the sum of its parts." Aristotle, Metaphysica

Gestalt theory maintains, there are experienced objects and relationships that are fundamentally different from mere collections of sensations, parts, or pieces. (courtesy of Answers.com)

Precisely! the fact that the above almost entirely apply to the humble PS increases its esteem in my mind.
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post #25 of 40
1/30/10 at 12:16pm
I find pine to have a bit of piercing quality, which PS doesn't have, so I wouldn't be surprised if pine isn't in it.

EDIT: I went over to the Estonian site and they have pine needles listed in their pyramid.
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post #26 of 40
1/30/10 at 12:53pm
I'm not sure if I dreamt this, am making it up or what, but I'm almost 100% certain I once read a long time ago that the reason PS does not contain pine was/is because a lot of people are allergic to it. The reason I remember (or am certain I remember) that is because I myself suffer from a terrible pine allergy (not had a real christmas tree for about 18 years).
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post #27 of 40
1/30/10 at 1:57pm
Thread Starter 
That is an interesting suggestion (about pine allergy), great_badir. And as someone who loves pine, I would find a pine allergy to be terrible! I wonder if you like the scent but are allergic; or if you are allergic and also find the scent unpleasant. Also wonder if that allergy extends to other coniferous scents (spruce, fir, cypress, even juniper).
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post #28 of 40
1/30/10 at 2:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by odysseusm View Post

That is an interesting suggestion (about pine allergy), great_badir. And as someone who loves pine, I would find a pine allergy to be terrible! I wonder if you like the scent but are allergic; or if you are allergic and also find the scent unpleasant. Also wonder if that allergy extends to other coniferous scents (spruce, fir, cypress, even juniper).

Whether it's true.......I dunno. Like I said, I'm almost 100% sure, but it may just be I've convinced myself over the years - no amount of Googling has confirmed it. I appear to be okay with synthetic pine notes and frags, and even some natural ones where pine is just a note and not the main accord. Not that I've ever tried one where pine IS the main accord, mind. Who knows, I might be completely fine with a pine (/rhymes) frag and am just allergic to the real thing.

Anywho - nope, I love the smell of pine, it's just not one I've ventured into very much. Spruce and fir yes, cypress and juniper no.
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post #29 of 40
1/30/10 at 3:44pm
Oh well, it seems to me like a bit of a desperate PR attempt to bring an old low-end men's fragrance in line with trends (ecology, naturalness). Don't get me wrong, I actually like good ole PS (got mine at the local perfumery for 5 Euros), but I don't think anybody but oldtimers and frag-nuts take it seriously - if they even know it (it's a bit hard with the flacon as it is. I mean, I can imagine other reasons than "naturalness" why a women may buy this ). As to the 12 ingredients - kind of a foundational myth, I suppose, but there's obviously no real "amber(gris?)" or "sandalwood" in there, but various synthetic components, though the herbal components do come across very authentically. It does smell more natural (simpler, and better) than the bulk of current designer stuff. It's a nice summer complement to the wintery Epicea. I find it alot greener and sapier than the Macchia-like, dry-herbal Sud-Est, btw. Green forest vs. sunburnt shrubbery. It really deserves a smarter bottle.I'm sure you could sell it as a $180 neo-niche under some "green" "back-to-nature" concept if you threw in some fancy "rainforest" notes bla bla...
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post #30 of 40
3/21/10 at 2:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by the_good_life View Post

Oh well, it seems to me like a bit of a desperate PR attempt to bring an old low-end men's fragrance in line with trends (ecology, naturalness). Don't get me wrong, I actually like good ole PS ...

And You are right, the flacon is bit of kitsch. The sprayer itself has an awesome, great, solid technique, well done. But imagine the finger is not right in line with the package - it doesn't hurt. But, the imagination is unavoidable it could! The crude naturalism with a - potentially, visionary - malfunction asks for a redesign. To much plastic in central positions too.

The fragrance is quite stark. My nose is easily fatigued by PS, it's ever so hard an the edge to be tiresome. But then it is invigorating again. Like coffee to cure less sleep than would have been healthy. Nevertheless, the Pine in it keeps me curious. Once summer comes in here in North/Western Europe I'm eager to give it a try with my 'chemistry'. The morning will see Borsar Acqua Classica with bergamote and a very subdued pine. Then when temperature rises we'll see (smell, or not!) what PS could do for me.

The PR is quite revealing on the last page. Why do people wear fragrance - nice read!
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post #31 of 40
3/21/10 at 3:37pm
It's hard to believe this one does not have ANY Pine at all
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post #32 of 40
3/21/10 at 7:00pm
Thread Starter 
It is amazing, especially since there is the pine-dominant name and pinecone bottle shape. It seems odd to me that there is no pine in it, but I have written to the company and they assure me that the fragrance pyramid is exactly as they describe it. For some reason, the LACK of pine does not seem to strike them as odd. (I would have tossed a molecule of pine in it, just to put it in the pyramid list...)
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post #33 of 40
3/21/10 at 8:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by odysseusm View Post

I agree that this is amazing.
The pamphlet lists "twelve natural oils that compose Pino Silvestre."
Bergmot, Lemon, Bigarade (3)
Lavender, Thyme, Clary Sage, Juniper, Clove (5)
Moss, Cedar, Sandalwood, Amber (4)

Well, the bottle is a pine cone, and the impression is of pine. So props to them for the way they've done that.
I suppose that the juniper and lavender are key elements for that. They have a resinous, pine-y aspect.
After all, there aren't any pine forests near Venice (where the scent is made)!

Perhaps it's "memory of..." or "Imagining Pine"... I can see how the ingredients could conjure up a pine-like impression. (Much like Yatagan convinces me I'm back on the high plains of Colorado wandering through sage and juniper and rabbitbrush.) Interesting.
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post #34 of 40
3/21/10 at 9:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by actiasluna View Post

Perhaps it's "memory of..." or "Imagining Pine"... I can see how the ingredients could conjure up a pine-like impression. (Much like Yatagan convinces me I'm back on the high plains of Colorado wandering through sage and juniper and rabbitbrush.) Interesting.

Whether it resembles pine or is actual pine, it's all the same for me. Though I was surprised to learn that there was no pine in Pino, it has not prevented me from continuing to love this scent. As long as my brain thinks it's smelling pine, I'm a happy guy.
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post #35 of 40
1/30/13 at 12:40pm
That press kit is fantastic! Love all of the psychological and philosophical sentiments. They've really meditated a lot on Pino-Silvestre. I'm enjoying my first wearing right now.
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post #36 of 40
1/30/13 at 4:46pm
Thanks for this odysseusm !
I have always been a big fan of Pino Sylvestre. For many years it was a staple winter favourite of mine in Berlin, where the temperature can plummet to minus 20 centigrade. This fragrance kept me warm during these unbearable temeratures and kept my spirits up.
Interestingly, now that I live in the south of France I get to visit Italy a lot, (an hour's drive away). In Italy there are now many alternatives from this company ~ all in the same pine cone shaped bottle. They are all excellent. Among them a fresh cotton variant and another "talco" variant, which smells like high class talcum powder/ baby powder.
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post #37 of 40
1/30/13 at 4:48pm
Thanks for this odysseusm !
I have always been a big fan of Pino Sylvestre. For many years it was a staple winter favourite of mine in Berlin, where the temperature can plummet to minus 20 centigrade. This fragrance kept me warm during these unbearable temeratures and kept my spirits up.
Interestingly, now that I live in the south of France I get to visit Italy a lot, (an hour's drive away). In Italy there are now many alternatives from this company ~ all in the same pine cone shaped bottle. They are all excellent. Among them a fresh cotton variant and another "talco" variant, which smells like high class talcum powder/ baby powder.
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post #38 of 40
1/30/13 at 8:50pm
Thread Starter 
Glad to see a revival of this thread. Those in Europe should watch for "Pine Gems" by Pino, reportedly a high-quality flanker to the basic scent. I'd love to try it but it is simply not distributed, or even known, in North America.
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post #39 of 40
2/1/13 at 2:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by odysseusm View Post

Glad to see a revival of this thread. Those in Europe should watch for "Pine Gems" by Pino, reportedly a high-quality flanker to the basic scent. I'd love to try it but it is simply not distributed, or even known, in North America.

I'll look out for Pine Gems ~ and if I get it I will send you a sample.
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post #40 of 40
2/1/13 at 3:12pm
I have the pine gems version. Similar to the basic, but with more of a balsamic-medicinal coniferous note. It is actually not much more expensive than the basic one.

cacio
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