Zenzero is the latest fragrance release from the Italian apothecary line i Profumi di Firenze. It is based on their Vaniglia del Madagascar perfume, which features vanilla orchid and vanilla bean; Zenzero adds white ginger.
Vaniglia del Madagascar is an uncomplicated vanilla perfume with a subtle floral note. It starts out smelling like pure vanilla extract, and dries down to something more like vanilla cake. It is sweet, but not sticky-frosting-sweet, and it has good lasting power. It is very popular with lovers of vanilla fragrances and bakery comfort scents, and I do like it but I am not really in either of those categories, so have never felt the need to own it.
I found Zenzero much more to my taste. The ginger is strong in the top notes, but it has the softness of dried ginger rather than the sharp, nose-tickling bite of fresh ginger. It adds warmth, and tempers the sweet, cake-like aspects of Vaniglia del Madasgascar. After a couple hours, the ginger fades to a whisper, and although the dry down lasts much longer, I found myself reapplying to get another buzz of ginger.
This is a simple but pretty comfort scent for fall, and the overall effect is much less foody than I expected. I would think it would appeal both to lovers of Vaniglia del Madasgar and to those, like me, who need a little dash of something else with their vanilla.
For purchasing information, see the listing for i Profumi di Firenze under Perfume Houses.
R, Now I found your new review
I think I do have a sample of Vaniglia. Isabella Imports didn´t answer my email, I think I told you already. But a friend got a Vaniglia bottle from the U.S. & she´s in love with the fragrance. I´m not too much into those foody scents – it sounds silly, but they make me hungry…I like my Vanilla mixed with e.g. woods or almonds (e.g. L´Artisan Jour de Fête) & there are many scents around that are more interesting than only flat vanilla. Did you layer both fragrances? IPdF have a magnolia fragrance that sounds interesting to me.
S, glad you found today, LOL! I didn't layer the two, there is really no need as the base appears to be pretty much identical to Vaniglia del Madagascar.
I like Magnolia Dolce, see my review:
https://nstperfume.com/blog/_archives/2005/4/3/547776.html
The line is very much in the “Italian style”, simple, uncomplicated fragrances, very nicely done.
I don't usually wear foody either, but there are a few I like. Will review Molinard's Tendre Friandise soon!
R, Am I really the only one that found your newest review?! I just found out that Zenzero is kind of a variation of Vaniglia. I´ll read your Magnolia Dolce review, thanks for the link!
I have a bottle of Molinard Tendre Friandise – it´s foody, but in a more sophisticated way, I think. At the beginnig it smells really (!) awful on my skin, but it´s worth waiting for the drydown! I´m really interested in your thoughts about it!
S, How interesting, TF doesn't start out awful on me at all!
You may be the only one to have found the right link so far, as I've just posted it on the header.
I fell for the Madagascar, only after trying it at the insistance of a Barneys SA. He said it is the best seller of the line. I was there to buy Ambra Del Nepal, I have enough vanillas, or so I thought. I really loved how this drys down on my skin, it smells almostly chocolately. So what's one more vanilla? I love ginger, so I can't wait to try the new one. I guess, I'll have another!
Victoria O
V, If you like VdM and you like ginger, I would think you would love Zenzero. Hope you got the Ambra del Nepal too though! Ambra, Spezie and Zagara are my 3 favorites from iPF.
Wow, those are my fave too. What does it mean?
Yes I got the Ambra too, I'm wearing it today :O)
It means we both have exquisite taste, I'm sure
R, I just read about Magnolia Dolce – you told me already that they are somewhat cheaper in Italy, but that much?! I can´t believe it. Most of them sound so beguiling, I´d love to go to Italy just to try them
Had trouble finding you today, R – for a while the home page showed July 6th's entry!
The Zenzero sounds interesting – I find VdM a bit caramelly but a dash of ginger might well sharpen it nicely. I deeply adore Ambra del Nepal, and I'd love to try more iPdFs. If only one could buy them in Europe! (And thanks for the fax/tel nos. – I got cold feet about speaking Italian!). I ordered from Luscious.
AdN is powerful – lasts for hours on me. Does the Zenzero do the same? N
S, It is unfortunate that you are in Europe but have to buy through the States, it is certainly not the most economical way to purchase these!
Hi N, blogharbor was having some “technical difficulties” this morning but it appears to be fixed now, sorry about that!
Ambra is a stronger fragrance to my nose, but this one, although softer, has very good lasting power. As I said above though, the ginger itself does fade, so I tend to re-spray after a few hours.
Thanks for the review!! My favorite line has a new scent based on one of my holy grails??? I also heard this the other day from sweet Briefcandle and have been lusting for it ever since. I am so glad you like it too, it means it must be good. I think this will be a definite buy at Sniffa. It is on my MUST TRY list now!!
Do come back and tell me what you think after you try it, A, I am really wondering if fans of VdM will love it!
It's the “cake” comparisons that kept me disinterested in the Vaniglia, but this Zenzero sounds fascinating. This “exclusive to Barney's” business sucks… I want it here in Portland to sniff! *Wah!*
K, Will be interested to hear if you find the Zenzero cake-ish. You would think if you took VdM and added ginger, you would get ginger cake, but it really didn't smell like it to me at all.
I know, Barneys gets everything!!
Portland OR or ME? (I'm in Portland, OR)!
R, Today I´m testing Vaniglia, I think it´s rather nice, a comforting scent, not too special, but not too ordinary either. It´s foody, but not so foody that I´m getting hungry – but I´ve just eaten something, so that may also be a reason ;D I also smell a bit of musk – normally I´m not at all into musky fragrances, but I think that the musk saves Vaniglia from being just another vanilla fragrance.
Yeah – Oregon. Neat! Now I have some to commiserate with about the neo-hippies who only ever wear poorly made patchouli oils!
S, Guessing you will like the Zenzero better, if you can ever get your hands on it!
R, I´ll let you know if I had success…;)
I am WILD about this Zenzero! At least for the first 15 minutes. But then, oh my God no! Say it isn't so! The ginger fades away, and it changes to just another mild soft vanilla. And we all know there are so many vanillas already out there. If you can afford to reapply this every 15 min. good for you. Otherwise….well who in the world can, or wants to do that?
I have YET to understand how fragrances go through this kind of metamorphosis. How they start as one thing, change to another, and then end as something else completely! – Well it's a doggone shame that it happens on this one!
Trying to think of things with a longer lasting ginger note for you, but my mind is blank and I'm out of town so can't go browse through my fragrance cabinet. Will come back if something comes to mind…
R, You are wonderful. That would be nice & helpful if you knew of anything else like Zenzero, but with the Ginger RUSH at the beginning, that actually lasts.
I think I've decided this ZZ is bottle worthy, anyway. I will be (for awhile) what I didn't want to be. Someone who keeps reapplying and spending too much $$$ going through a bottle in no time at all! Hopefully by then, I will have found another to Love and can say a sad farewell to ZZ, the one that almost was the ONE, for me.
Just replied to you elsewhere…also wondering if you've tried the Origins Ginger with a Twist? I only tried it once quickly so don't know if it fits what you're looking for, but might be worth a try.
I just had to comment on this thread, because I'm a big vanilla (and tonka, and coumarin) lover. I bought a bottle of Vaniglia del Madagascar for my fiancée, and every time she wears it, it sends me into throes of ecstasy. It dries down to a delicious marshmallowy scent on her. Love it!
Glad you both love it! Have a pile of vanilla scents waiting for review — haven't done any in awhile