Aqua Allegoria Anisia Bella

I recently poached Anisia Bella and Jasminora, two discontinued AAs, off ebay for bargains. Jasminora I had already smelled and therefore knew I loved (I'll review that one too) but, unexpectedly, I think I like Anisia Bella even more. I do have to qualify that statement with the caution that *none* of the discontinued Aqua Allegorias are worth shelling out a fortune in my opinion, especially when buying blind. That said, if they're going at a reasonable price (and some of them really are) I think it's great to buy them due to how fascinating they often are and for the sake of sustainability (buying excess stock of perfume and actually using it up). Anisia Bella is totally as you'd expect for a star anise-tinged Allegoria, spicy but also citric and utterly pacifist, with no harshness or acidity but rather a soft, undulating aura characteristic of this line. It has as much ferocity as a little girl in a sun dress with braids (called Anise). I used some star anise in a curry not long ago, and out of curiosity after frying the whole spices in oil I ate one of the seeds present in the pod. It was aromatic and anisic as you'd expect, but not overly harsh or pungent. Anisia Bella is gentler still, and is buoyed far into the sky by abundant, hyper-naturally fresh herbs and citruses, but with a central note of softly milled anise. It has only the FAINTEST whiff of anything mentholated, and is actually subtly woody on my skin and has a total absence of sweetness (thank God). It makes me assume (I'm probably wrong) that this must be what star anise smells like when fresh and not yet dried, i.e. with green stems and pods and misted with morning dew. It is unexpectedly matutinal, and smells like a personification of the warmth of a sunrise on a wet meadow. What a shining masterpiece of a cologne this is... I hope Guerlain one day returns to spice and aromatics in the Aqua Allegoria line, if only for a limited edition.

Bright, bit spicy, bit floral, anise. Unique. Light black velvet sultry vibes. Licorice taste. Very interesting and unique. I enjoy it but not sure I'd regularly wear it. Testing from Pleasure Scenter Guerlain Sampler #3, next to Cologne du 68, which is a bit more transparent, less floral and feminine. Scent: 7 / Sillage: 7 / Longevity: 6

Pretty. Licorice accord and green notes. Fresh. Perfect for spring and summer. I like the licorice in this, it makes it rather unique and makes it stand out from other Aqua Allegoria offerings.

Lovely, crispy, it feels like a summer day in a reccently cutted grass field

My bottle of Guerlain Aqua Allegoria ANISIA BELLA was MIA for some time and just resurfaced while I was searching for something else. O Happy Day! This unique fragrance opens with a marked anise/licorice note but shortly thereafter transforms into an herbaceous melange with a dominant bitter green character not unlike Bond no 9 CENTRAL PARK, which was also produced in 2004. There must have been something in the air... I like this composition a lot, but I also like CENTRAL PARK. Both are slightly masculine, or at least not sweet and flowery. I find this herbaceous green quality quite refreshing, especially in the heat. Because ANISIA BELLA has a strong anise opening, this one is best for licorice/fennel/anise fans, I think. The staying power is good, as is usually the case with the AA edts.