After trying Santa Maria Novella Acqua di Colonia yesterday, I thought I would start today by spraying on as many orange blossom perfumes as I could dig out of my jumble of samples & bottles. There were more than I thought, so I am limiting myself to the Italians. I can't wait for summer — it is so much easier to try a whole mess of fragrances at once when you can go sleeveless and apply right up the arms to the shoulder. Paper test strips just aren't as much fun.
One of my favorite Italian orange blossom scents is i Profumi di Firenze Zagara. It starts rather sharp and very heavy on the bergamot, but calms to a lovely orange blossom with citrus notes and just the right amount of sweetness. It is very sparkling, cheerful and summery, and has good lasting power.
Santa Maria Novella Zagara is another orange blossom that is very much worth a try. This one also starts a little sharp, but when it dries down it is warmer and spicier than the iPF. Very nicely done and I enjoy wearing it. Like most of the SMNs, it is short-lived and must be re-applied frequently.
Some time ago I heard that Borsari also made a Zagara scent, but after a futile attempt to find a bottle anywhere online, I gave up. A few weeks later, I was looking for something else in my fragrance notes and realized that I had already tried it. And in fact, it was apparently not a memorable fragrance: a very light, basic zagara that faded very quickly.
Mazzolari, the Italian perfumery chain, brought out its own line of products some years ago and has recently repackaged and expanded the line. Their Zagara fails to charm me. It is strong but flat, and has a heavy base that drowns out the orange blossom after it dries down.
Hierbas de Ibiza is more of a blend than the others listed here, but worth a try if you love orange blossom. It is a light, dry citrus-herbal that dries down to a soft floral with pronounced orange blossom.
Did I miss one?
See also: Back to orange blossoms
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Don't forget Cote Bastide's Fleur d'Oranger! It is gorgeous, though light, of course. There's the new Fragonard Fleurs d'Oranger, but I think it smells synthetic and so is a no go for me. On the other hand, Fragonard's Cerisier en Fleurs is an orange blossom, Florentine iris and cherry blend in which the orange blossom is detectable and lovely. Ormonde Jayne's Tolu has strong orange blossom notes, though they are not the predominant ones. Calypso Chevrefeuille has a delicious orange blossom thread, as does Cote Bastide's Iris. Susanne Lang(muir) told me last fall that she was coming out with and Orange Blossom and Neroli scent, but I don't know if she has yet, as I'm no longer following the perf world in the old avid way. If anyone knows if there IS now a Susanne Lang OB fragrance, I'd love to know!
Oh, I see you were limiting yourself to Italians. Oh well
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L, I was going to do France tomorrow
There are just too many for one day. I did not remember that Tolu had orange blossom. I need to give Tolu another try one of these days. And you have tried the new Fragonard already, is it full bottle worthy?
And where is that blog? Is it making you crazy?
I have the new Fragnonard Cerisier and like it a lot, but I didn't like the OB one. Sorry to have jumped the gun on the French orange blossoms!!
The blog is driving me AROUND THE BEND. However, with dh's help (an understatement) I made great progress yesterday and am determined to get the damned thing finished….soon. Very soon. I really like what we've done so far, but as the visual elements are the most important on my blog, for obvious reasons, it is taking a lot longer than a mostly narrative blog would.
Aren't computers maddening? I couldn't live without mine but when you are trying to accomplish something and have to stop to learn a million new things first, it is hard.
I'm sure it will be great & can't wait to see it
I always have a difficult time wearing a lot of orange blossom, I can only wear it if it is light. I don't know of any other Italian ones however, Hierbas de Ibiza is Spanish.
Um, that makes sense since Ibiza is part of Spain. Duh.
I've never gotten into orange blossom scents. I have to sample some! Of the ones you listed today, the one that appeals to me the most is the i Profumi one.
I did try SMN Zagara. Way too sharp and spicy on me.
The iPF is really pretty, but orange blossom is also one of my favorite notes. I'm not sure if it is really less sharp than the SMN, but it is less spicy. Always worth a try
Serge Luten Fleurs d'Oranger is my favorite. So creamy and smooth. My favorite SL.
How about the new Prada # 4 Fleurs d'Oranger? I tested this along with the SL, and found the Prada more masculine/unisex. The Prada at perfume strength still seems lighter than the SL at EDP strength. Maybe the Prada's light ingredients requires a high strength to work. I will try the Prada again in warmer weather to really see what the Prada is capable of.
Regards,
John
The SL is beautiful. I was going to do some French Orange Blossoms tomorrow morning, but they may get pushed off a day for Barbara Bui
I am dying to try those Pradas! I am hoping to get to the boutique in NYC next month. Is there any other orange blossom scent that it compares to?
The Prada does not smell like any other orange blossom scent that I am aware of, but I have just started to experiment with orange blossom. The Prada is just very smooth and light, and not as flowery and bright as the Serge Lutens.
Thanks for the feedback. I admire the SL very much but I don't wear it. Sounds like the Prada might be more up my alley.
I believe Bond makes a orange. It's strong. I never put it on my skin though so I don't know. It seemed synthetic to me?
I don't know all the Bonds, but Little Italy is mostly orange (but the fruit, not the flower), maybe that is the one you tried?
Oh, I think you are right. I am going to Barney's today to try the i Profumi di Firenze Zagara, I'm looking forward to it. I have been wearing the Santa Maria Novella one for years and was about to buy a new one. I like to mix it with Ginestra. Or to layer it over the Rose scented Latte per il Corpo.
Do you know which products/brands are synthetic and which aren't? I always hear different stories at the counter.
There are a few brands, such as Aftelier, that specialize in all natural perfumes, but I would say that such a thing is rare, and I certainly wouldn't count on a sales associate to inform you which contain synthetics…in fact, I would just assume that most everything you smell has synthetics, especially given the new EU regulations that are forcing perfume companies to remove potential allergens from their products.
Wow, that is crazy! and sad for the artisans, if you are allergic don't wear it or eat it…
I tried on the i Profumi di Firenze Zagara a few hours ago. It dries very citrusy on me kind of too sour too much Bergamont and not enough orange flower for me. Didn't like the way the Peche dried on me either(too sharp I guess?) one of the flowers in there isn't working for me…but I got alot of samples and I have hope for other fragrances in the line. The distrubutor metioned you. I also went into Caron and tried a few you said we lighter than their average scent but the line has never worked for me, too heavy. It's too bad they start out so nice and fruity ect.
Oh, I'm so sorry you didn't like Zagara! I'm wondering if you will like the Santa Maria Novella better, it is much less citrusy.
Now I am very curious to know which distributor mentioned me?
the distributor for i Profumi di Firenze was boasting that they are mentioned on your website…she mentioned you before she mentioned Vogue! I found it did dry nicer later, I think I do like the SMN better though it doesn't last very long. I love the whole line alot though.
Wow NST first ever post
Almost but not quite:
http://www.nstperfume.com/2005/02/08/chanel-une-fleur-de-chanel-fragrance-review/