Colonia Nobile

This is nirvana state of bliss in a bottle! I just can't belive how much I like it or how much it puts me in a peaceful, serene and joyful mood! Good vibes indeed...a bit contemplative too, but also enticing and sexy...in a strangely refined and detached sort of way! The brand and many reviewers talk about this as a special "cologne" style fragrance, I didn't belive it...I mean how much can another classic "colonia" stand out afterall? I have to admitt I was pleasantly surprised. Actually, the more I use it the more it seems distinguished to me. It is modern and sophisticated, just what I am looking for in a scent as of now. It even brings to my mind the glory of Gozo by Jeroboam and of Calacas (Zesty) and Karma by Lush Cosmetics. The scent opens with a burst of bergamot which is not only sparky but also extremely fizzy! Quite the textural effect, as usual for Giardini di Toscana fragrances. The aromatic part of the scent shines bright without being bitter or too dry herbaceous, it is deliciously green since it brings with it an honey facet and it is quite dewy and humid. In it I detect something chlorophyllic, as in watery green, and also something lemongrassy, but it is quite mellow, never bothersome or bug spray like. Petitgrain and neroli smell a bit fresh spicy and like marinated in a lemony essence, however soon after they become so powdery and sweet...one of the best neroli ever in terms of how is treated, not so common to find it declined in this way! Do not imagine anything old style, or chalky or talcum like since both the mild sweetness and the powderiness are given by the balsam and the amber in the base. Infact, benzoin has a central role in the perfume, I think it is the main base component (besides the background of amber), it gives character and vibrancy (it stays transperent, nothing smoky about it); benzoin is one of my favorite notes ever so maybe I am a bit biased in liking this perfume so much...it always smoothes things out elegantly. The flowery part, like the aromatic one, is equally important, neroli is more predominant while jasmine is used with a light hand and it reads as green, pure and diaphanous, with a tea facet. Very pleasing those florals....specially played on that sexy benzoin and amber, the result is both candid and candied! The gummy quality of the balsam makes me think of gummy bear candies (but there is nothing properly sweet in here). In the middle ground between the flowers and the aromatics there are citrusy and zesty accords, they appear in the opening and persist until final stage of the middle, it is like a mix of citron, lime, lemon and bergamot (maybe dihydromyrcenol? This kind of notes seem to be dear to the brand). Dry down is sexy! The amber is crystal clear, a tad sweet and so musky! The result is clean but warm. It's not reported here on Fragrantica but the brand declared to have used ambrettolide musk. I am reminded a bit of the base of perfumes like Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue edt, probably because they have almost the same ambroxan, but while they share many traits such as the fruitiness of citron, Light Blue remains more woody, and the oakmoss makes this superior, it imparts that extra classy touch; it's used lightly and it isn't dry at all, which closes everything perfectly. Performance is good, after all this is an edp concentration despite its name; it lasts for the better part of the day and projects moderately for the first three hours while dry down persist until night, it attracted many compliments! It is not beast mode like some others from Giardini di Toscana such as Christos or Celeste but it performs like a good niche product, if oversprayed lasts better. About the mood of the scent: as I was saying before, it is niravanesque, and there is kinda a spiritual vein about it. Infact, in a synesthetic way, this made me recive images of mandalas, which rapresent the cycle of existence (or the archetypical circle), and I percived them as multicolored from green to mustard tones. This must seem gibberish, so to clarify a bit I would add that the vibes of Colonia Nobile are similar to that of Gozo by Jeroboam, pretty much chic glittering 70's and new romantics, a mix between psychedelic and sacred (must be the greenery + balsam). Also they both make me think of lush, paradisiac forests full of green foliage, zesty sweet citrus pending from humid trees, immaculate white flowers and exotic colorful birds gelously patrolling the sky! There is no patchouli here but the oakmoss does its part well in the base, there is the same mellow zestiness and balmy quality, and the same "enigmatic" muskiness. But they are more similar in terms of style and uniqueness then proper olfactive nature. Colonia Nobile shares some attributes with also Karma by Lush Cosmetics, and Calacas (now called Zesty, formerly known as Day of the Dead/Dia de Los Muertos) by Lush Cosmetics, which remaind me too of the charchter of Gozo. Probably it is the resins that add that gummy quality to them, or the mellow and sweet zesty elements (lime and olibanum in Calacas, orange and lemongrass + fir balsam and elemi in Karma) but to me they appear as similar in style. They even share some vague green to conifer aspects and the peculiar musky base. In a way, they all remaind me of the bewitching atmosphere of Halloween, and of fizzy/sour Halloween candies. This layers beautifully with many many scents, I have tried quite a lot of pairings and it seems to lends himself so well....if you crave more beauty and uniqueness then try it layered with scents such as Zara's Sunrise on the Red Sand Dunes or Waterlilly Tea Dress, Calvin Klein's One, All or Truth, Nabeel's Dan Dana, Ma' Alaina or Raunaq, some gold old cheapy like Tesori d'Oriente Matcha Green Tea, or even the above mentioned Gozo by Jeroboam and Calacas by Lush (or Zesty body spray). I promise....you will smell otherwordly delightful and even eatherial! I am using quite big words here but that is how much I enjoyed Colonia Nobile. These are the official notes declared by the brand: -Bergamot, Petit grain, Neroli -Karismal, Jasmine, Benzoin -Ambrettolide, Ambroxan, Oak Moss.

Bittersweet, soapy, green, citrusy petit grain and neroli flowers, warmed and sweetened as time goes and the scent dries down by benzoin and ambers. On me the jasmine is very noticeable, almost as much as neroli flower and the petit grain, especially in the dry down. Goes without saying that Colonia Nobile is a stunning, natural and photorealistic petit grain/neroli flower scent. The jasmine, the bergamot and the resins from the base offer a more nuanced and warm dry down to the juice than it is in the opening. For those who love this genre of perfume, Colonia Nobile is a great representation, with a decent longevity, (better than Tom Ford anyway) and a fairly affordable price. I would say it’s more of a feminine cologne style of a freshie, because of how pronounced the jasmine is once the fragrance moves past the opening! I think everyone is still obsessed with Bianco Latte, but Giardini di Toscana is more than just a one time wonder/scent brand! Bora Bora is gorgeous if you want something 100% tropical floral, Blue Indaco is a stunning powdery, almondy, marzipan, musky scent with a tropical twist and Colonia Nobile is great if you want an everyday fresh white floral, with a soapy neroli opening.

The opening of Colonia Nobile is remarkably clean. The first spray is pure bergamot freshness, with a hint of green bitterness from petitgrain. The citrus doesn’t feel sharp. Instead it brightens the air, almost as if a window has suddenly been opened in the room. Soon neroli rises to the surface. It carries a soft powdery quality, a very light white floral note without sweetness. In the heart, benzoin adds warmth, giving the scent a gentle, honeyed softness. Supported by oakmoss, the fragrance becomes more grounded and stable without losing its clarity. The structure is very clear: citrus, florals, resin, and moss. The overall impression stays fresh and green while also feeling warm and clean. A very well-composed fragrance.

I recently purchased my first perfume from the house, and had Colonia Nobile as one of the samples sent to me. I am very very pleasantly surprised with the scent. It reminds me of the cologne I used during my childhood with a spicier, more sophisticated note. I live in a warm, humid country and this is just perfect. The projection is there, and I could smell myself throughout the afternoon. I'm definitely planning to get a bottle soon.

I was tempted by jasmine in the composition and it is really delicious: gentle, elegant, feminine. Citrus opening is a nice frame for it. On my skin it is a warm scent, honey-sweet, bit musky. Oakmoss is noticable, but the scent is more green by neroli and petitgrain. This effortless, bright perfume has a sunny vibe and I like it. A bit oldfashioned or not, the fragrance is pleasant. --- Moderate projection, good longevity (6-7 hrs).