Cruise Collection - Escale a Portofino

Do you remember when this fragrance came out back in 2008? I was immediately seduced. First of all the ad campaign: so classy, so Fifities...On the left, a black and white picture depicting a sophisitcated lady in summer outfit, wearing a huge hat seated outside on a marble staircase. On the other side, a full blossoming garden in front of the sea. Wow.... It was about time seeing something so elegant. And then the bottle: so classy, tall and styled but sexy at the same time, with this typical Dior cannetage but rounded somewhat, sensual: you felt like you wanted to hold the bottle in your hand all day. And the the frag...in the very moment i tried it, I fell in love on the spot. Fresh like bergamot, citrusy like a splash of tangerine and cedar, a delicate orange blossom ...just a hint of bitter almond at the begining that makes it different and deeper compared to the many resembling eaux fraiches on the market. White flowers like honeysuckle, the crisp part led by bergamot being predominant in all the developping stages of the fragrance. The dry down is again very fresh, some grapefruit and a musky creamy cedar. Smells like a mediterranean posh place in the Fifties. Smells like you would love to smell in summer: on holidays and always refreshed! My only negative is the poor staying power. You have to reapply often (but a decant in a purse spray bottle will do). In any case a staple in my collection.

I really wanted this perfume for quite a while before finally buying it. I remember when I first tested it, I didn't pay much attention to this fragrance (I'm not a huge fan of Dior perfumes). Luckily, I did sampled it on my skin, rather then on paper, as I usually do. So, I got home, took a shower and started reading. After a while, I realized an alluring, sexy scent was all around me. It took me some time to remember which perfume was on that specific patch of skin ( I sampled quite a few that day :D ). First burst is very citrussy. If you can survive it for a while (a maximum of 15 minutes), you're in for a surprise: very feminine and perfumed flowers. I do get the scent of honeysuckle, rather then orange blossom. And this note lasts, and lasts, and is quite amazing. Now, for the base notes, woody, somewhat powdery, but nothing out of the ordinary, thou I have to say, it's the appropriate ending for such a fabulous fragrance. As for the time and place to wear this, well, it's true, I goes well with a warm temperature, but now, in my country, it's freezing cold, and I have to say it also goes well with this weather (I sprayed a few drops on my synthetic fur coat, and whenever I go out this scent surrounds me and keeps me warm and shiny). Uplifting, fresh, so feminine!

I bought two 75ml bottles of Escale a Portofino for $30 each at My Chemist. When I tested it the male teenager serving me was horrified by the sharp citrus opening and directed me to Gucci Flora, which he had just given his girlfriend. I laughed and told him to give me two bottles of the Portofino. He looked even more horrified –‘are you serious?’ I finally eased his fears by asking for a bottle of Gucci Gucci as well. Still, he was shaking his head all the way to the cash register. This is a lovely and refreshing eau de cologne type scent – very similar to 4711 but more rounded, sweet and woody. Instead of lasting 15 minutes like 4711, I get all of two hours from it. How sad. But I solved the problem of longevity when I realised it was fabulous, sprayed liberally, after a cold shower on a hot night before going to bed. I feel so cool and fresh in a cloud of bergamot and sweet orange blossom; it’s practically better than air-con. I drift off to sleep before the scent disappears - it’s my favourite eau for this purpose.

Recently I was at a department store looking to purchase something on impulse. I was sniffing away and then came across this very different EDT in a stylish bottle... Escale a Portofino has a very sharp, slightly bitter, bright scent. The dominant notes for me are most definitely citrus and cedar which gives it a somewhat Pinesol cleaner scent. Unfortunately on me the bitter almond note is unnoticeable. I noticed that many reviewers say that this could be unisex and I believe that is because it is not overly floral or sweet. However, for me it is too light and airy to be a man's scent. I love that it is not fussy or girly and that it is beautifully simple and chic. I can easily imagine a cool, elegant woman wearing this. This fragrance is perfect for daily use since it is so light. You literally can not spray on too much of it. It is not sensual enough to ever become my favorite fragrance in my collection but it is such a refreshing break from my other fragrances that I know I will keep coming back to it.

I fell in love with Escale A Portofino when I was working on a cruise ship. I was told that it was composed of notes from ingredients in the Portofino area, and this enchanted me. I spent as much time in Portofino sniffing as I did looking! And this is how this relatively simple, fresh fragrance has become a vacation in a bottle for me. Sure, there are plenty of gorgeous colognia types out there - 4711 and CK1 come to mind EAP has a unique and distinctive herbal story. My mother told me that cologne types could be worn over other fragrances to add freshness during the day for touch ups. EAP, however, is too distinctive to run in partnership, and must be worn solo. Which I do, particularly in the middle of a snowstorm, for my own enjoyment. I only have about an ounce left, and I'm metering it out over miserable days just to get a whiff of warm sun on my back and the ease of a wide brimmed hat. Cheers!