Scuderia Ferrari Racing Red (2013)
by Ferrari

Subdued and laid-back opening… actually it is quite a treat in these days of screechy synthetics. This opening IS a bit synthetic but in a neutral, unoffending way: it’s made up of a grey pepper and a easy-to- take green artemisia. The heart gets a little dicier with the introduction of clary sage and lavender – two fragrance notes that require better-grade components. In this case they are second or third level and they are removed from being of the best quality. Still, the heart, like the opening, is lower key in aroma and non-screechy in impact.

Now the base… here is where Racing Red really peters out. It’s that all-too-familiar cardboard smell done with a weak cedar / leather interpretation. I couldn’t possibly find this base offensive – it just doesn’t deliver enough heft for that…

On my skin the performance of Racing Red is quite poor: It boasts weak sillage and poor longevity. But at least it isn’t one of those synthetic monstrosities that are so prevalent in many automobile versions. I haven’t had the slightest urge to wash it off my skin.