Parco Palladiano IV: Azalea

I've never smelled anything like this. And it's gorgeous. This is proof to me that you really don't need a complex scent with layers and layers of notes to make something beautiful and unique. This is the scent of the woman you see walking down the street looking timeless and modern yet natural and comfortable. Her clothes are fine and well tailored but not overly fussy. The picture that I painted is of a woman, but that may be my bias as I am a woman and love this scent. It does not scream female, but there is something womanly about it. I definitely don't think it would seem out of place on a man. I believe that this could be worn any time of the year: the bitter, natural flower makes this sing in the summer, but the warm, creamy, nuttiness should make this comfortable in cooler weather as well. But it is so perfectly balanced between the two that it does not need an extreme of either temperature to work. There is an element of sweetness, but it's subtle to my nose. It seems more there to assist in the balancing of the natural bitterness than to make a "sweet" scent. It's so beautiful. Let's not make it too popular though. ;-)

Azalea was love at first sniff, I know I have a fascination with sweet fragrances but here everything is so well integrated that I can't say that this is a vanilla fragrance, I usually like the notes of nuts but I have my problems with chestnut, I don't know why it always brings to mind some smell like something warm mixed with sweat. But returning to what interests and to the excellent work of Alexis Didier (also creator of others of this line) Azalea is so far my favorite of the Parco Palladiano line (I have tried 6 and I have 5) and is that all its components are so well integrated that none of them protrudes on another, the chestnut has the perfect balance with vanilla and the note of rhododendron or azalea (with which I am not familiar) is the one that I assume makes the magic here, the smell is creamy, sweet, slightly powdery and dry that mixed with the fruity (but not juicy) notes of peach and tangerine give it an aura like medicinal caramel (which does not gourmand) a wonderful composition that so far perfectly complements the other fragrances that I have of the line all unique and magical, pure olfactory experiences.

Wow, this was a blind buy of the 10ml size. I had been gifted the large size of the 1 Magnolia and took a chance. The title suggests Azalea which is correct however this fragrance seems to be based on the native American Deciduous Azaleas [All azaleas are in the genus Rhododendron]. The hybrids are known as Exbury Hybrids and they are heavenly. Like the Magnolia this is an exquisitely crafted approximation of its natural namesake. The deciduous azaleas have that sweet scent with something nutty and so does this perfume. I love it. But maybe because it reminds me of nature's version and maybe because it is a sweet smelling floral but not cloying sweet. The peach adds its own sweetness, but again understated, never rude. It is complex and layered. All the notes as listed are there and the sweetness persists along with the nuttiness and vanilla. For men that like some floral I think it would be very nice. The peachy chestnut is fun and keeps you coming back for more. For women it might not be for everyone. It is not a typical fragrance and that may be why I like it. Good longevity. Could just become my signature scent.

This is my favorite of the Palladiano line. Its sweet and nutty with a very light floral note. It reminds me faintly of warm buttered caramel popcorn in a way, but I don't want that image to ruin this scent for you readers. The nuttiness is not quite like warm vanilla, but it gives off that kind of rich creaminess. The floral element is not what gives this the sweetness factor, but a plant like bitterness that offsets this fragrance perfectly. This is quite beautiful and very much a unisex fragrance, I think this this would smell great on a man or a woman. Projection and longevity is very good, it lasts on me awhile with just two sprays. In closing, the overall effect of IV is sophisticated, sexy, and expensive smelling. Thumbs way up and well worth the money.

What awesome fragrance, it’s so unique, very cozy comforting, yet fresh. I really love it and I think it’s definitely unisex and men and women can pull it off. It remained me a lot of Nina Ricci Premier Jour I believe it was called but this one is less feminine, a little smoky from vanilla and little herby I wonder if it’s from Azalea note and more up to date and of course with much better quality in sillage and longevity. Favorite so far from the Bottega Veneta. This line is amazing overall and deserves more hype than it does.

I could not recognize any note on this hahahaha.... I just found out from fragrantica that it is a chestnut note. I don't have many perfume with chestnut note. To make matters worse, Im not familiar with rhododendron's (azalea's) note either. But when I wore this, I got so many compliments from my office colleagues. Some said I smelled like candy, while others simply said I smelled really good. The silage n longevity is top notch.

Azalea is a spicy-nutty-vannilic, yet fresh floral-gourmand, if I were to sum it all up in one sentence. The floral part here is fruity-dry, almost dusky, not juicy, very sophisticated and balsamic. Azalea sits close to skin but expands very well outside, developing some romantic aura and feminine projection. Quite different from thousands of other florals, so to me was FB worthy. Nice heavy bottle from cut crystal glass.

I prefer fresh, fruity fragrances with great longevity, like Nishane Hacivat. This one also has the longevity, there's no question about it. It gives Arabic vibes, but it doesn't work at hot temperatures, simply too strong. It matches really well a bit cooler October, November weather, when brownish leaves are already falling from trees, and you're wearing an elegant fabric jacket with a kasmíré scarf. I wouldn't call this fragrance versatile, but in the mentioned conditions, it performs really well. Not for everyday wear, as it has a really unique smell.

Have a #1-6 discovery set of 10ml each, trying one a day this week... Open woody-amber (slight orange) to me, I guess this being the "chestnut" base. It isn't as evocative of a chestnut note as By the Fireplace or Noir Exquis but it's nice to smell. After this, the florals come over the top and give a bit of a lotion vibe to it. Dry down goes light floral and a touch sweet with that lingering woody aspect still around. Natural smelling as with the rest of the line. Not one I would buy for myself but probably nice for a woman this one.

It smells more gourmand (I wouldn't call that hazelnut though) at startup, but ends more floral (whatever that flower is...it smells like a combination of conventional white & yellow flowers to me).

Nice aroma, but I would not call it youthful. The aroma is very heavy, despite the peach. Strong chestnut and vanilla

I need to be very honest because I don’t want anyone else making the same mistake of blind buying this perfume. This perfume is not worth the price tag in my opinion. I would not even pay $30 for it. When I first sprayed it, I could smell alcohol and then something dusty and old. I bought this perfume from Bloomingdales, so I am sure it is authentic. I was trying to distinguish some of the notes but I could not. Finally I was able to detect a nutty note, but I could not distinguish what kind of nut it was. It just smells like something that has been sitting at the bottom of a box for many years.

If anyone can still get or remember Abercrombie & Fitch 41, Bottega Palladiano Azalea is very similar. In Azalea I pick up orange blossom water, ambrette, with the faintest of woods and some bitter orange peel. Started off more peppery but that quickly went away. Warm sunny floral yet fresh and cool. Summer with a cool breeze. I would call this a coastal or beach fragrance without being tropical. Casual or dressy. Feminine and polite. Not much projection or longevity. Still unique but for its strength, it is hard to justify the price. I feel very nostalgic when I smell this.

Well probably the most interesting of the Palladiano...it is a sweet floral, the floral notes are rather unusual, we are not talking Jasmine or rose here, ..the sweetness is almost like jam, and in a way herbal...I think it would be different to own...now, for the price I might just decide it isn't that outstanding. I don't find it suited for men at all either..it has a yellow sunny side too...not sold on it, but liking it in a way!!

I tried this because it was voted close to Vinyle and I’m not sure if I’ve already reviewed it but imo the more I wear it I definitely see the similarity. This is sharper, Vinyle is better and richer, has more going on, more resinous. I wish someone would clone it since it’s discontinued and going for obscene prices but I’m glad I have this.

The least favourite of the Parco line. Nothing special, very general like other cheapies and not last long also. My favourite is VII Lilla, III Pera, IX Violetta.

This is very grandma feminine, 50 and up. The least liked of the Parco line up. Spicy with Barqs root beer traces.

Paco IV Only scent that I can’t remember any details after sniff.. the whole collection.