Cimabue (Italian Journey no. 8)

Perfume heaven. I've been looking for the ultimate Christmas perfume and I do believe I need look no further! From top to bottom this is a deliciously warm tangy/spicy gourmand.The spices are smooth and sweet (a lovely blend, but cinnamon is maybe most present) the orange citrus rich and authentic and there's a comforting milky/nutty depth reminiscent of rice pudding or basmati laced with saffron, but never veering toward sickly. Most gourmands are sickly sweet and one-dimensional, then there are others with a more balanced savoury bite, such as Jeux de Peux, Omnia or Theorema, but even those left me wanting something more rich and complex. The balance of Cimabue is perfect, between comforting, sweet/tart and spicy/soft. As it develops into dry-down it's slightly less gourmand and the florals make an appearance, particularly the peppery carnation which complements the soft spices perfectly, and a subtle chewy beeswaxy honey that lends a skin-scent slightly animalic feel. There are so many notes in this but throughout its development it retains its nutty warm spicy citrus heart. I can't imagine anything more suited to the traditional smells of Christmas - mulled wine, orange studded cloves and lashings of brandy butter on your Christmas pudding!

I have been longing for the perfect spice cake perfume and Cimabue is as close as I've come. It begins just slightly savory before settling down as a delicious, though linear, spicy gourmand. One of my favorite types of cookies to make, all year round but especially in the fall, is soft ginger molasses cookies and Cimabue smells a lot like the dough. So many scents containing cinnamon go the dreaded craft store and candle route, but thankfully that is just missed here. Sadly, the longevity is kind of bad and I'm not even a strong frag fan. I'd happily purchase a full size if it lasted more than an hour or two on my skin, but at the price, I can't foresee getting more than a travel size bottle. I appreciate how Dawn uses abundant naturals in her blends, you really can tell the difference if you are sensitive, but unfortunately the strength can suffer because of it.

Love this. There was a flit of something freshly herbal for just a couple of minutes in the opening (anise?), then the warm spices and white flowers rolled in. It's beautiful. The drydown, with it's combination of warm spices and sweet, creamy white flowers is sort of an olfactory root beer float (but it's never TOO sweet). This combination of citrus, nutmeg and cinnamon was what I wanted Givenchy Organza Indecence to be, but that one didn't work for me and this does (don't let the citrus + spicy put you off - this always smells like a proper frangrance and not a Christmas time room spray). I'm a big fan of warm, spicy orientals and I like that the citrus in this is adding an element of freshness that saves it from being too rich or formal. Actually, for me, it would be a perfect daytime counterpoint to something like Coco. Eyeing a full bottle now.

Ah...Cimabue...how to describe you, you spicy little minx? I'm reminded a little of Gingembre, in that both are all about the spice notes, but while Gingembre is a Diva -"just call me Ginger, baby!" - Cimabue is more like the classic barbershop quartet ... a harmony of different spice notes all singing in unison, and perfectly on key. Cimabue was supposedly developed as a result of someone asking DSH to make a scent that smelled like L'Artisan's Safran Troublant. To my amateur nose, it is nothing like it. The saffron is not dominant, and it is deeper, darker and definitely more complex. I like it immensely, especially when it is cold outside and I feel the need to have a "warm" scent on my skin.

Now and then something comes along that speaks directly to your heart, making you write a review as clever as a teenager just discovering love. Welcome to mine: Saffron here is delightful, gentle use of spices & honey making this a sweet experience boarding on gourmand while flowers and fruit adds natural & fresh notes keeping this safe from being any cake. It's a perfume. And one that fits together like a perfectly tailored dress out of finest natural material. This is what you wear on a winter wedding. Might be your own. Its the feeling of smiling while having tears in your eyes - just because life sometimes is so incredible beautiful.