Bertrand Duchaufour might be my second favorite (living) perfumer at the moment (you regular readers know that Jean-Claude Ellena is still at the top of the list), so Magnolia Romana by Eau d’Italie was one of my “most looked forward to” fragrances this year. I was a little worried about the “summer ozone” and “water” notes (other notes include purple basil, lemon leaves, neroli, nutmeg, cypress, magnolia, Bulgarian rose, tuberose, lotus, cedar, hay extract and white musk), and I was right to be: I don’t like synthetic “fresh” notes, and while Magnolia Romana isn’t overwhelmingly “fresh”, it’s just fresh enough to bother me…
Perfume of the day: i Profumi di Firenze Magnolia Dolce
Magnolia Dolce is the latest release from i Profumi di Firenze, and features magnolia petals “bathed in Damascus Rose water for 10 days to capture their delectable creaminess”.
The top notes are sweet and slightly sharp, with possibly some lily of the valley or another, similar floral. It calms to a creamy magnolia with a touch of rose. The dry down is very soft, with just the tiniest hint of powder. I am still guessing here, but I get an impression of iris, and maybe some sandalwood in the base…