Compared to everything from Lea St Barth to Caron Farnesiana, Mazzolari’s Alessandro is another successful almond fragrance — toasted, honeyed and magnificent.
Alessandro opens with every facet glimmering, ready to be appreciated. Golden honey notes layered over a not-too-powdery almond note. Simple, powerful and yes, sweet. I’m a huge lover of almond notes whether they are in the background in perfumes like Hanae Mori, playing a supporting role as in Etro’s Heliotrope, or front and center as in Lothantique’s Sous l’Amandier. I would classify the almond here as a supporting player, second to the honey notes.
Though the fragrance calls to mind many others, what I’m reminded of more than anything else are the midnotes of Molinard’s classic Habanita — I would bet that almond and honey are not the only players on this stage. I sense the presence of heliotrope, tobacco and maybe opoponax (an ambery and sometimes slightly bitter plant resin). The fragrance never really achieves the talcum-like effect that many almond scents tend towards, instead, it heads towards sweet resin territory and surprisingly, it’s only as the scent develops that the floral aspects of the composition become noticeable. Similar in feel but with greater presence than Dior’s Bois d’Argent, Alessandro’s drydown manages to create an almost boozy wood effect — as if I’m sniffing the cask of a sauternes.
At 109 Euros for a 100 ml bottle, the price is pushing the upper limits of “pricey” for a fragrance whose longevity and sillage are both moderate. For buying information, see the listing for Mazzolari under Perfume houses.
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Sounds delicious, but expensive! Euro 109? Ouch.
I adore Alessandro. Magnificent is the right adjective. I have yet to purchase it from FiF due to the sky-high international shipping charges. How I wish an American retailer would carry Mazzolari scents!
Marlen, you persuaded me yesterday to invest in samples of Patchouli and Lei – now I'm wondering if I should have ordered Allesandro too! But I suspect the honey that you describe would put me off, unless it's much more subtle than Chergui or Miel de Bois, or Botrytis?
I love Alessandro (my son is named Alessandro)!
I was lucky enough to buy it from a fellow MUAer and it is exquisite…I inquired with Franco at LuckyScent to see if there was a possibilty of the Mazzolari line being carried at his shop and he said he would look into it; this was about 7 or 8 months ago.
I am dying to try Lei…I get the impression that it is similar to Jalaine Silk.
I love Alessandro too – the honey note is not too pronounced on me, much less than Botrytis for example. I also love Lei and Mazzolari (the eponymous scent, I believe it's a men's scent). I will talk to Franco again about carrying this line, I think it is very worthwhile and certainly difficult to get. I am fortunate that my BF travels often to Rome, and buys for me while he is there.
I think Alessandro is one of the most elegant almond scents out there. I was surprised by how aldhydic it is to my nose, but I definitely love it. Also adore the sueded book like boxes the Mazollaris come in – gorgeous presentation. One of the reasons they are not more available in the US is that Mazzolari apparently makes it astoundingly non-cost effective for any retailer who wants to import the line. The potential for profit is almost nonexistent.
That's my understanding also. LusciousCargo, LaCremeBeauty and LuckyScent have all tried. But apparently, Mazzolari is very difficult to deal with. It's a mystery why Mazzolari isn't eager to enter the lucrative and huge U.S. market.
The embarrassing disgrace of huge profit I can only assume.
Hi All! Late to the party, as usual…
Bottom line:
Delicious – yes!
Expensive – yes! but…
Incomparable? – no! I recommend trying Dior's Bois d'Argent, Lutens Miel de Bois, or perhaps Ava Luxe Miel Riche. No need for Alessandro to become a lemming! (Patchouli and Lei however…mmmmm).
As for mazzolari joining the American market…there at least 3 Italian houses I can name off the top of my head who haven't yet entered “the big time” and why they haven't totally stumps me…