Zàgara Paradiso Mandorlo

Long overdue review for my signature scent. I'm not good at reviews but here's my hype. It's a cheap and cheerful perfume that was suggested to me by a lady at Catania dutyfree when I travelled alone for the first time in an increasungly hopeful part of my life. I have an emotional connection to this fragrance and to its orange blossom sister, though the story is slightly different for that one. They are both fabulous perfumes for the price. I've explored a lot of almond scents since this one, but I think Mandorlo is rather unique. It's not a vanilla-y, saccharine or powdery scent, as often found in almond scents. Vanilla is in the notes and the middle is ever so slightly powdery, but overall you get an almost playdoughy almond elevated by the ylang, orange, balsam and a smattering of musk. There's something a little balsamic and spicy that makes it feel more grounded and versatile. I don't know if I can call it a gourmand even though the almond prevails. It's got the charm of something nutty, but it's laid back and a little serious. It just goes with everything to me. In heat or overapllied it has a bit of a funk to it so be careful. But I still love this perfume to bits. It's fun and unique, but in a grown up way. A warm scent that makes me feel loved. Silage and longevity are okay. Not the strongest performer, but good enough. I don't know if I can think of a fantasy for this. It's a perfume I want to talk about when I'm 80. It's not the most groundbreaking perfume ever but for my own tastes it's a solid 10.

Dear gourmand lovers who will have the pleasure of visiting the wonderful Sicily, I invite you to try this little gem. As mentioned above, the similarity with Acqua di Parma's Mandorlo di Sicilia is remarkable. The projection and longevity might not be incredible, but this fragrance will surely delight your senses! It puts me in a good mood and I always feel that with such a fragrance on, it's practically impossible to have a bad day. Now that we are reaching 45 degrees in Italy, it is not at all unpleasant. I would consider it a beautiful year-round fragrance: a refreshing dessert in summer, a comforting treat in winter.