Magnolia Romana

Not a lot of surprise here for me. I thought I might enjoy Magnolia Romana and I did. I wasn't surprised by the watery feel. Even without the added water notes, magnolia frequently seems to tiptoe towards the aquatic in perfumery, at least in my nose. With lotus on board, it was inevitable. I wasn't surprised by the greenness. I was hoping for it. The cypress is wonderfully, freshly green. It has awareness, but avoids being sharp. I definitely wasn't surprised to find Magnolia Romana beautiful, feminine, spring-like. The magnolia note is one of my favorites in perfumery and it does not disappoint here. The lightness, the wisp, the delicate bone structure...no surprise. I WAS surprised by the slight sweetness. It's more than natural magnolia sweetness. It also doesn't 'taste' of nutmeg, which is listed as a note, though admittedly not one I can pick out in this composition. I WAS surprised by the longevity. Sometimes the trade-off for the breathtakingly pretty, which Magnolia Romana is, is a tendency to fade before you are ready to let go. Noteworthy Notes --Magnolia (delicate and very, very pretty) --Lotus (damp) --Cypress (green) --clear spring water --a top hint of sweetness, oranges and basil Try it. It might surprise you.

I bought this on eBay as a blind buy last year. Although I was pleased with my purchase, I didn't end up wearing it much last summer. Today, however, this turned out to be just what I was craving without knowing it. I needed something floral and clean after testing Salome this morning - which, in the sultry heat of my sunny balcony ended up being a bit too much for my nostrils. Spraying this on not only provided some welcome refreshment, it took me right back to summer holidays spent swimming in gently bubbling streams in the Italian countryside. Not that Magnolia Romano literally smells like an Italian countryside stream, it's much cleaner and more sanitised than actual nature. But that's the experience it invokes. The sun slowly evaporating the water droplets on your skin after having taken a cooling dip, the fragrant air of trees and flowering shrubs all around. Being stuck in (for the time being) sunny but distinctly un-Italian Manchester with no prospect of traveling more than a couple of miles from home for the foreseeable future, being so vividly reminded of holidays past is a welcome treat indeed.

The first word my mind reaches for is limpid. The magnolia here reminds me of not only Magnolia soulangeana (Saucer magnolia) and Magnolia stellata (Star magnolia), both of which release crisp, cool green, watery, lemon sorbet floral aromas. The blooms are now waning here in Massachusetts, and watching the flowers die each year is one of the most bittersweet feelings, and Magnolia Romana is wonderfully bittersweet in its own way. My nose also detects hints of orange blossom and basil leaves. The imagery it conjures are that of reflecting pools surrounded by cypress and magnolia trees, and a light warm wind carrying their balms. Nearby, is a pond with lotus blossoms on the surface. In Buddhism, the lotus represents spiritual potential. We can come out of the murky depths, pure, strong, and vibrant. It is a symbol of divine radiance; the purity of an enlightened mind arising amidst the suffering of samsara. Sadly, my favorite magnolia fragrance is now discontinued. Soundtrack for Magnolia Romana: "Orison" by zaké and City of Dawn.

Wasn't sure about it in winter, but loving it in spring! I would include "Windy" note in pyramid, instead of aquatic. Reminds me of fresh wind, when tall cypresses are dancing under the southern skies, but no sunshine, close to the rain type of weather. Beautiful fresh cut hay, blossoming magnolias and crispness of the lotus. Even without going out, it is like carrying outdoor aura of spring streets in your hair. So clean and so pure, but not plain and not polished. More like chaotic and exciting, still "windy" is the best word for it.

Magnolia Romana is as floral and light as a scent can get, but sharp, sharp, and far too present to be discreet. There is no citrus here. This scent is many shades of green, but nothing dark or herbal like a tisane or ointment-all is light, like spring grass and a man who keeps to himself, offering a mild impression from his watery fougere cologne. Magnolia Romana has no hint of sweetness, it's not very soft either-it's rather stiff but lively. Magnolia flowers really smell this way, from full bloom until the petals make a big pretty mess on the grass, there is this overwhelming pretty but sharp water-sweet deep but thin smell in the air. I prefer magnolia as a touch, or blended to be less sharp-a magnolia this strong can be as sharp as pure lavender! The lotus helps here, lotus can be quite sharp too. Nevertheless, this is very nice, and I might have to wear my sample many more times to stave off the winter depression here, if I don't pass this on to someone else who could use a bit of spring right now....