Ora d'Aria

WHAT A PERFUME, GUYS! Truly surprising and unexpected, especially considering the brand’s aesthetic, which suggests something completely different. I had the chance to smell all three references from this small Italian indie brand at SNOUF 2026, and now I’m testing them at home on skin, as I usually do. Balaclava evokes a rebellious, mischievous aesthetic (their logo immediately reminded me of Pussy Riot, the Russian rebels—whether intentional or not). The only off note: despite the beautiful names and strong visual identity, the bottles themselves are very conventional and anonymous. A pity—more courage there would help. The perfume, however, is extremely refined and evokes almost retro atmospheres. It opens with a sumptuous, caressing apricot reminiscent of the fruity sweetness of Trésor: sweet, but not excessively gourmand or vulgar. Gradually a beautiful tobacco note emerges—but not the smoky tobacco of lit cigars. It’s the tobacco from freshly opened cigarette packs, the silvery paper inside certain Marlboro packs, which I’ve always found incredibly delicious. At this stage it reminds me of Tobacco Vanille, but I definitely prefer this one: more distinctive, more refined, less predictable. Then there’s the cement note, which on paper sounds crazy but blends surprisingly naturally with the rest, adding a very urban roughness. Performance is good without being exceptional. It doesn’t last forever, but it doesn’t disappear after twenty minutes either. I’m absolutely loving this fragrance. I can’t wait to try the other references!

This looks really interesting. I don't believe I've ever experienced a fragrance with a concrete note in it.