Pomelo Assoluto

As a huge fan of Pomelo Sorrento, I knew I had to get this one as soon as it hit discounters. The two are completely different, and is therefore not at all redundant to own both. However, if I had to choose one, I'd probably choose this one for men and Sorrento for ladies, although both are perfectly unisex. My wife, who is not a big fragrance enthusiast, immediately thought this smelled like the spa of a cruise we took through the Mediterranean. It gives off great Italian coast vibes. Very clean, very smooth citrus--not overwhelming at all. It's got a lot of projection and sillage also is perfect. Grapefruit is the main note I'm getting. Just the right amount of sour and smells very mouthwatering. It lasts a full office workday for me + shower after leaving it as a bit of a skin scent. Super impressed with the longevity. Overall, incredible performance for a fresh, citrus-centric fragrance. The presentation is also excellent, and the atomizer is well above-average. Huge sprays. This is my 3rd from Gritti and am consistently impressed. Super underrated house!

Pomelo Assuluto is similar to Blue Talisman by Ex-Nihilo and I'd wear it in the same situation and context. The opening is this lovely tropical mix of pomelo and grapefruit which is sparkly and juicy but not sweet. There is some spice and green tea, a jasmine floral mid and a musky white wood base. I get more ginger than rose but there is a sunny magnolia here too which gives the florals a bit of oomph. Running through it all is a gorgeous juniper berry accord that, along with with the citruses, dominates throughout. Everything else here is designed to place these notes front and centre and give them a much greater longevity than you might expect. It is very, very close to Blue Talisman and has the same performance but not quite as sweet and leans a little more feminine. If you close your eyes, it is transportive. The sun came up over the Gulf of Thailand a couple of hours ago but already the heat is incredible. I went to the gym for some cardio and some weights when I woke up but did not work with the usual intensity as the Changs from the night before were still stubbornly echoing in my temples. I missed breakfast but asked the hotel kitchen to make me a fruit plate which they did and I pick my way through the melon, grapefruit and orange segments hungrily as the double espresso starts to rouse me from the post-gym lull. Far out in the bay I can see someone parasailing. The noise of the speedboat engine is lulled almost to a sleepy groan against the song of the light breeze through the palm trees. A cold tonic water with a slice of blood orange in it arrives seemingly of its own accord and I watch the condensation pick its languid, zigzag way down the side of the glass, mirroring the slow pace of all around me. A bead of sweat runs down my nose as an impossibly beautiful woman walks up to me and asks if I would like a massage. I politely decline and she nods in slow-motion, with the sun glinting cinematically off the shine in her jet black hair. Maybe later. I look down at my phone on airplane mode and resist the urge to check for work emails, put some music on or search for validation on social media. What are my plans for today? Cocktails after lunch. Beers and spicy food later. Perhaps a nap before that. An hour or so by the pool perchance? The girl from the spa comes by again with a little bowl of radiant Thai orchid blossom in fragrant jasmine-scented water in, and places it in slow-motion on my table. I do not wait for her to leave and pick it up to smell it. There is an olfactory meeting of jasmine, grapefruit, the warm, saline sea breeze and her perfume that is viscerally beautiful. I wish my mind could take a snapshot of the sights, sounds and smells of this morning for me to remember when I am far away from this place. Layering suggestion: White Cedar by 4711, just to deepen the woods without turning them bitter. Outfit suggestion: pool wear. Three Word Summary: A Different View Scent - 8/10 Sillage - 8/10 Drydown - 7/10 Bottle/packaging - 8/10 Performance - 9/10 40/50

It opens very citrusy (pomelo, right?), but quite different from other citrus fragrances that I've smelled. Towards the drydown it becomes a bit salty, and it reminds me a lot of Sel Marin by Heeley. All in all it's a nice fragrance, I'm not sure that the opening is very suitable for men, and also the price point will prevent me from adding this to my collection. For 200+ EUR I expect a fragrance to blow my mind, which this one does not. I still like it, and would rate it 8/10.

I wanted to like this so much, and had hoped that it's just a more concentrated version of sorrento. But it is so chock full of ambroxan that it's just an artificial cloying mess. It's only saving grace is that its opening pomelo note is quite nice. Juicy, sweet, and realistic. But the ambroxan quickly overpower that.

A very realistic pomelo peel opening with some grapefruit there to round it out. Some noticeable aquatic notes. And the green tea makes this such a relaxing, soothing scent. I love pomelo and I love tea scents so this perfume just calms me down.