Aria di Capri

I have this, Mediterraneo and Io Capri and I have to say that all three have a similar vibe. Which is: bright citrus aromatics to wear on your summer holidays. All three start citrus-sharp and a bit spicy. Aria is the sweetest and most floral of the three, probably due to the sweet non-fecal jasmine and pinky rose, which are there even in the original citrus burst. Bay, cedar, and musk are present at the gate as well - bay especially strongly. This is not a bouquet scent, but a brisk and aromatic citrus, heavy on the pith, with florals sprinkled around the edges. Compared to Mediterraneo and Io Capri, though, it's much sweeter and leans more feminine. It reminds me of an Italian villa surrounded by lemon and bay trees, the sun shining in a blue sky and a vase of flowers on a table outside. This is definitely an outside, summery scent. The smell of sunshine and light and green things growing. I'm on my second bottle.

In 1983, I traveled to Italy for the first time. My cousins took me to Capri. As a souvenir I bought a tiny bottle of Aria di Capri. I loved this perfume so so much. I would wear it infrequently to save it. I searched for it many times, including on a trip to Ischia where I thought I would find it (didn't get over to Capri that time). Then in a boutique shop they were selling Aria di Capri. I thought how wonderful that I can have this scent once again. It is not the same as the 'original' I bought many years ago. The original had a sweetness to it that the new version does not. The new formulation is more acrid and chemical. Still a great fragrance that I wear when I want to smell summer. p.s. I still have the little bottle in the original box, with a paper description of why and how the monks made Aria di Capri. I will photograph it and post it on my profile if I can.

Aria opens like an aria . It starts subtle and not overwhelming. Its character appears in the long-run and dry down. After the citric fresh start it gets louder and projects strong. In the middle there is a solo of a spicy green scent mixed with flowers that stays until the end. Aria has some class but subtle and y can smell the policy of carthusia to work with high quality ingredients and natural scent. No aldehyde as someone proclaims in her review but honest non toxic ingredients. Carthusia uses the Mediterranean flower and spicy culture as was know in the 18th and 19th century (read the history of this house). It is the real Capri smell y also can find in the Italian gastronomic tradition. Again a great and natural unisex perfume form this special and great house. When to wear? I think in spring and fall it is at its best and yes in all events.

I've worn chanel exclusif 1932 as a signature scent day and night for well over 9 yrs until my perfume friend suggested I smell this perfume she had and she was right. If you like chypre. Aldehydes. That has this old Hollywood glamour feel. I was so crazy about it especially the dry down that gives a completely different journey than the opening and middle. Immensely enjoyed it that I almost emptied the bottle bought it june almost emptied august. Spraying day and night. Would I buy it again? Mmmmm not sure, as it needs a certain mind set and vibe to be in. Definitely worth a try if you like this classic glamour aldehyde chypre feel. Price point is also amazing for the quality, silage, and performance.

This beauty starts with a modern vintage aldehyic floral green salty aura. After a while fruity and perfectly blended animalic, not dirty, like civet or castorium accords are coming through, perhaps from Jasmin, it has jammy and milky undertone too. It’s still have beautiful aura around my hand I just cant stop sniffing even after few hours. This creation I would expect more from gorgeous Sarah Baker creations not so from Carthusia but nonetheless it is a beauty. A unisex fragrance suited for people who dont to want smell like every third person. Something vintage with modern twist but still irresistible and unique.

Although in Floral Aldehyde group, to my nose this fragrance is far more soft and wearable than many other aldehyde perfumes. It has a shade of raw hazelnuts and warm wood, which covers cheerful notes of yellow flowers. It is not heavy, as if there an air (or rather, a warm salty breeze) in it - and this is an essential difference comparing to Chanel nr. 5, which is too heavy for me. The composition is round, with many shadows. It is very well balanced and has got that recognizable Carthusian code. However, my man does not enjoy it as much as I do, his nose associates aldehydes with elderly age.

I hit the love button because this is a beautiful, classic feminine perfume with a prominent mimosa and an easy jasmine floral mixed with citrus and very light aldehydes. I agree with at least one other person below that Aria di Capri is not really about aldehydes, and the resemblance to Chanel No 5 is only slight in my opinion. This Carthusian is far more wearable. Even though I love it, it’s also not quite my style. Lots of respect, though, and I feel Aria di Capri conjures appreciation for people looking for a timeless, wonderfully complex perfume.

Compact, elegant, polished, distinctive, quietly brisk, neither bitter nor sweet, smiling and well-mannered. I find it even delicious, borderline ̈drinkable ̈, but certainly it is a matter of personal taste. A gem. If you need to stand out from the burntsugarcandyflossfrutchulifakeoud crowd, wearing Aria di Capri is an intelligent way to achieve it. It radiates both competence and femininity. Excellent value for money to say the least.

I considered buying this fragrance, but it was beaten by Fiori di Capri by a very narrow margin. This is a gorgeous aromatic-floral fragrance: the strongest notes are jasmine and mimosa, offset by citric notes in the beginning, and green leaves as the scent settles down. The duo of jasmine and mimosa makes this a very powdery, mildly sweet and very feminine fragrance.

I do agree with Evin: feminine and classy, though not exceedingly sophisticated. I have a bottle that I have bought on a trip to the island of Capri, many years ago, but I completely forgot about it. I have just rediscovered it on a shelf and started using it again. It has something of a timeless scent: very harmonious and beautiful. 5/5

totally unique; huge aldehydes, mimosa, citrus, soapy, musk with the petitgrain and bay leaf adding a bit of bite and bitterness to the sweetness; I'm surprised tea is not listed as a note

Henriette's review nails it. I had a more emotional experience, and I had a hard time deciphering the fragrance, but the more I wear it the more my nose appreciates it and the more I love it. My experience: I bought an older style box of the perfume off eBay to try. Immediately I got a bitter, aldehydic burst of bergamot laurel and peach with a creamy partner of peachy mimosa-iris powdery sweetness tempered by a barely there violet. Big sillage for 30 minutes then about 3 inches of projection thereafter. (In hindsight there is a powdery sillage that goes on for a couple hours that I initially couldn't detect). Close to the skin is a classic chypre, vintage Mitsouko on vacation (I have a bottle of 60s extrait, very similar in its peachy aldehydic spicy fruit, this one is also a little bitter). Above the skin it's a cloud of powder--the mimosa and iris--that the peachy aldehydic spicy chypre wafts through. Like fruit trees in a fog. I would definitely call it a mimosa iris fragrance, but I would also say its got a fruity bergamot so intense that it shades into orange as it develops, and initially I perceived it far more than the powder to the point that I didn't realize that the powdery cloud was such a long lasting and important player in the fragrance. As I've worn it more I've come to better identify the mimosa iris, which is subtle but distinctly present. Now they seem like equal players, and I am loving the composition! When I first started wearing it, the perfume conjured an era of partying from the 1960s, right before the hippies and rock n rollers started taking over the show. It felt like a tipsy but sexy 1960s woman with a 'done' hairstyle, heavy eyeliner and pastel eyeshadow, in pale coral lipstick and a strappy white jacquard form-fitting summer dress, wearing bakelite jewelry and drinking a cocktail in a hand whose fingers are sporting several cocktail rings with gigantic stones, ones I'd love to collect. Maybe she'd fall for a pass from an unavailable man. Or her husband's friend. It's sensual and sexy and a little twisted and old fashioned all at the same time. I've gone beyond that initial impression. I think it's a lovely perfume, more than the sum of its parts. A little schizophrenic but such a talented composition. It's got great bones and even though it may seem old fashioned (it's the fruity aldehyde with amber oak moss feel in the base) it's very cool if you can pull it off. Also I keep wearing it because for some reason I can't believe it exists, and therefore it keeps drawing me back...

This is my first foray into the Carthusia perfumes, and I'm impressed! The more I wear this the more it brings to mind a soft breeze drifting across the hills to a sun-warmed Mediterranean villa. Apprently George Clooney wears a Carthusia (not this one though) and I can picture him looking iconically film-starish on an Italian terrace. (Or imagine The Talented Mr Ripley scenes in Italy before everything goes wrong!) I'm not a fan of big aldehydes myself, so I was pleased to find that this didn't have a big dose of those. Though the opening is aldehydic it balances out with a certain softness very soon. This does feel old fashioend because of the aldehydes though, the associations really. I'd say Aria di Capri leans toward feminine, unless you're used to perfume being very sweet or fruity. It could be worn easily by a man seeking a soft spring/summer scent that isn't sportsy though I definitely get the mimosa - a note I'm just becoming more familiar with through various perfumes. It lends a milky/soft/sweet quality, which is what makes this spring-like perfume different from the eau de cologne scent you might expect from the notes involved (citruses, bayleaf, petitgrain particularly). It is citrussy and sunny though I don't find this perfume too old fashioned in an obvious way (for point of reference, I find perfumes such as the Guerlain classics such as Apres l'Ondee or L'Heure Bleue quite vintage. I wouldn't personally wear those). But pleasant as it is, I find it dated in feel. Sillage moderate, longevity good, especially on clothes

Before this one I've only tested bright, summery scents from Carthusia, often with a hefty dose of citrus. Aria di Capri is quite a departure from that, and from my own usual tastes as well, but I like it as well - it's a different, less obvious kind of mediterranean. The opening is challenging, though: it's nice, but both extremely soapy and extremely musky, which makes it quite sharp. It reminds me strongly of a piece of floral-scented soap made with animal fat, albeit a very luxurious, expensive one. Which I guess is an unpleasant way to describe what's actually not a bad scent by any definition - just rather oldfashioned in a good way. Based on my personal taste, I wouldn't consider going beyond sampling at this point, but I do appreciate how well this opening is made. And then after a while the musky sharpness settles down a bit and is joined by a lovely sweet note that makes me reconsider whether I shouldn't add this one to my wish list anyway. I'm not sure, but I guess this wonderful note must be the mimosa - and whatever it is, I kept catching whiffs of it and thinking "wow, who smells so good around here?" before realising it was me. And best of all, this part last for hours. Who knows, next spring might see me with a little decant of Aria di Capri on my shelves after all.

There seems to be quite a lot of disagreement about Carthusia Aria di Capri. To me, this creation is obviously a classic floral green chypre with a big dose of soapy iris. Very classic, I reiterate. It reminds me a bit of the original Shiseido Zen, in fact--which is very different from the new versions! I do not regard this as a floral aldehyde perfume, but some other reviewers certainly do. I was actually convinced that there was galbanum in this composition, though it is not listed among the notes. I rather like this creation, and the next time I'm in Capri, maybe I'll make Aria di Capri my take-home souvenir bottle.

Aria di Capri is a fresh, soft and at the same time harsh floral. Mimosa, iris, jasmine and bergamot are prominent. Yes, it has hint of aldehydes at some stages. The bergamot is a fresh, harsh and bitter one softened by the flowers and gives the fragrance a greenish effect. It is perfect for spring and summer time. It reminds me of some Chanels: 1932 for a while and then Cristalle Eau Verte or even Bel Respiro. Long lasting and office friendly.

A great introduction to the brand from my perspective Such an elegant fragrance with nostalgic vibes that reminds you of the great aldehydic era What even greater is the performance of this scent And it pumps around you for a good while I enjoyed wearing it and it wasn’t an issue at different climates I’m sure it’s not something groundbreaking but it definitely delivers and gave me a good introduction to this house looking forward for more

This fragrance seems to be no unisex at all, it's quite feminine. On me it's creamy and very slightly aldehydic. It reminds me a luxury handcream when sniffed far from the skin. On the skin it's floral-aldehydic and a little old-fashioned. I can't say it's something original or outstanding, but still it's a quite pleasant scent, not overwhelming good for everyday and evening use and it lasts long enough.

In my opinion it is a timeless beauty. I totally agree with serchina that there is this Chanel vibe to it. Due to the loud aldehydes bang in the beginning it reminds me of Chanel 5 edt. It is classy, elegant, high end scent. Italian hols in a bottle

Soap. Nothing but clean fresh hands.

The two things I liked about this fragrance were the opening and the bottle. Todate I have not yet found a fragrance marketed as unisex that I can tolerate. I had great hopes for this one as I really adored the opening and found the scent very intriguing. Once it dried down, it became like so many of the others, dominated by citrus that was made dirty by the other ingredients. I never before wore a fragrance that claimed bay leaf in the composition. It may be one of those that ruined this for me. I found this scent to be very masculine and not old fashioned at all. 6 hours was all I could take and ended up having to scrub it off several times. It did have a very mediterranean feel to it, but it definitely is not a good match for me.

An old-fashioned floral that smells like the sort of perfumes my grandmother’s friends might have worn when I was a kid. It’s bright and aldehydic, with way too much peach aldehyde, giving it a sour-dishrag, spoiled note. There may be even more of the sour-dishrag smell coming from the iris accord. In any case it contains many notes that I don’t like. When combined they don’t improve each other. The bottom line is that the combination of powerful generic florals, overdosed peach aldehyde, and sour iris made this a scrubber for me. After a full scrub, I could still smell it, so had to cover it up with some smoky Indian synthetic oud that I wanted to test, and I could still smell it. Both thumbs down on Aria di Capri.

I was introduced to this fragrance by a sales person stating that it was somewhat similar to Chanel's No.5. I cannot entirely agree. I initially hated aldehydic fragrances when I first started collecting perfumes, however it was due to the fact that I was trying the wrong ones. If everyone had the chance to smell Aria di Capri they may just change their mind altogether. While the scent is powdery, it's also fresh, a touch lemony, feminine and delicate. There's a beautiful honeyed mimosa note followed by a subtle, yet slightly fruity peach note. Aria di Capri would make a lovely Summer scent, however it's more for a scenic trip through the countryside in a white sundress on your way to a picnic, rather than a lazy day on the beach. Despite the fact that the house of Carthusia is rather Mediterranean in its approach, I find this fragrance the least exotic. It reminds me of an English countryside for some reason, not the island of Capri. The florals are so perfectly balanced in this fragrance, being quite sunny and energetic. Despite its powderiness, thankfully this fragrance doesn't have that all too familiar soapy accord. It's fresh but not clean. Aria di Capri is supposed to be unisex, however I feel that it leans towards a more feminine side. While this was my favourite out of the Carthusia line when I first tested it, I'm not so keen on it now that I find it a little linear. The lasting power is great however and so is the sillage, which keeps me interested.

I can't understand why I don't like this. The description (from above and other sites) sounds perfect. I'm typically drawn to very fresh smelling scents and uncomplicated "natural" scents...and what could be more fresh, uplifting and natural than the scent of flowers in the breeze on a Mediterranean beach? Or at the very least, not a repulsive smell. To me, Aria di Capri smells like generic soap products and deodorants that you get in the hospital, if you have the misfortune of a multi-night stay in one. It smells like something you would never choose to buy that serves a specific purpose in a specific and unpleasant situation. So while the scent itself isn't exactly nauseating, the image I get from smelling it just clashes so much with the buoyant image of the perfume's description - walking by the ocean and breathing in the smell of flowers in bloom and just generally being free. I'm glad I only bought a sample; it reads exactly like the sort of thing I would have bought on a whim.

I see this scent is quite polarizing, you either love or loathe it. I love it. It's a comforting scent with flowers not so prominent and aldehydes not so powerful but well balanced. Mimosa adds a melancholic vibe that I find very beautiful and, paired with bergamot, which balances the other flowers preventing the composition from becoming too sweet. On the contrary: it has an interesting bitter background which I find very elegant. Yes, many find Aria di Capri a bit old school, but let's not forget that the "Old School" has created many a masterpiece that we still love and wear today. Aria di Capri is a lovely, powdery floral where no note is emerging from the others but they all melt in harmony. It's a safe scent that you can wear in your workplace or at a dinner without risking to annoy those who are around but not a skinscent. Very sunny even not a merry scent, but very beautiful too.

A bottle of Aria di Capri could possible last for a very long time, not at all because it ́s bad but because it is strong and longlasting. I received a sample of this from F_A and I sprayed one tiny spray on my wrist and have been surronden by the fragrance since. It is a pleasant, airy and still powerfull perfume. Strong on the flowers but never overwhelming. Smells like a really well done perfume with quality notes. My only problem is that I find a bit masculine, not much, but in my opinion I think this would suit my husband very well. Accept of that I think it is a very mediterrean kind of fragrance.

Launched in 2003? That's not accurate since it was already around in 1983 and I can imagine a while before that too. Classic aldehydic perfume with a huge vintage vibe, indeed in the style of old Chanel nr. 5. It brings back the good old days for certain. Airy, flowery and classic. I bought it out of nostalgia, I was in the Carthusia perfumery on an excursion when I was still in my teens when this was sprayed around us with flourish. Needless to say as a young girl you don't like this. Now I appreciate it :0)

I’m glad to have bought this beautiful floral/citrus scent. I would classify this as a aldehyde scent. Does it smell like No 5 hmmm, not sure but it’s a very bright floral. I will take this scent to Greece with me, to give me that scent memory. I wish it did last longer on me. Probably only an hour, that’s sad. I also think anyone can wear this. I will be ordering more from this house!

Mmmm... aldehydes. Aldehydes well done. Mimosa and a low indole jasmine, with a clean musk and some herbal aspects to it. The bouquet is shy but graceful, the bergamot shines, the geranium acts as a frame. This is really similar to Pikovaya Dama sans vanilla, and comparing side by side, Aria di Capri is stronger and smoother. Really good, must try for classic Chanel lovers.

An old fashioned fragrance, I didn't like it for the first twenty minutes until it settled into a balmy mix of suntan lotion, vanilla candles, mimosa and jasmine. In June, here in east Texas, the mimosa trees are in full bloom and their fragrance hangs heavily in the warm, humid night air. This fragrance reminds me of that... not a favorite, but certainly one to try.

Io lo amo, mio marito lo detesta... mi ha chiesto di non metterlo quando sono con lui; io lo trovo avvolgente, elegante, anche un po' sofisticato, anche se preferivo la versione precedente al 2003, lo trovavo un po' più delicato e "semplice", ma va bene anche così, continuerò ad usarlo anche se a mio marito non piace!

Gorgeous, sunny, fresh, aromatic, extremely feminine fragrance. She's floral and citrusy in a classy way that will not screech, ever; she's a time capsule of beauty! She is most definitely a memory box of long-lost romances and dreams close to the sea water. She's juicy and unforgettable like a kiss in summer.

What I like in this fragrance is the note of mimosa which appears to "play" very nicely with the green and fruity notes. Like rebella I also find it more suitable for men. The staying power is amazing even though it seems quite a light fragrance. Aria di Capri must be at their best in summer:)

Only after the aldehydes subside does the golden mimosa emerge clearly - sun-ripened and honeyed it then mingles with the sharpness of cedar and bay, before settling into powdery rose goodness. And missk's right about that peach note :)

I have reciently bought it. I realy love it. I feel myself so special every time I wear it. And I don ́t feel that it would be suitable for men or if it is mascualine at all! Very very feminine and classy!!

I'm going to cut to the chase here. I enjoyed the citrus opening. For a while this was sunny bright springtime. Then upon drydown this turned into a soapy, citrus men's cologne. A No Go for me. Too bad.