Art Collection by Jacomo #08

Note: Posting this again with a few edits coz I didn't realize I'm not signed in. Sorry for the previous post as Guest The bottle itself is very nice, but I did have a tiny problem with the box packaging. They have put images of Lord Ganesha on the cover. I really wish foreign companies stopped doing that - going straight for religious icons in the name of exploring culture. It might not pose a problem for most people but I'm still holding on to the box because we just cant throw something with a picture of a god casually into the dustbin. Please, I wish they would take this into consideration. ______________________________________________________ This is one of the most unique pieces I've smelled, yet it took me a really long time to come up with this review as I finally figured my thoughts about it. However, fist things first, I don't think this is a masala chai scent. I'm from India and a regular homemade masala chai is quite different from the packaged teabag, and I quote, "exotic spiced Indian chai tea" (The most intense form of pretentious redundancy I've encountered in the west) version sold in other countries. I recently moved to US, and it has come to my notice that people's version of masala chai is quite different from our own, the former one being rather more elaborate in it's ingredients while a home made masala chai is rather more simplistic, with fresh cut ginger and cardamom taking the lead in a balanced proportion well infused with the chai. The supposed spiced tea I've tried here just feels like spice water rather than tea, probably because they put too much quantity of spices(esp clove, which is weird) for commercial purposes. That being said, I don't get the masala chai whiff from this. I was confused yet enchanted with the first whiff. I got cardamom, face first. The most delicious form of cardamom, and not in a foody way mind you. Cardamom is an essential ingredient in most Indian desserts, which is why I'm vary of it being in a perfume because it always reminds me of home food. But not this, it did not in any way took my mind towards desserts. In fact to me it was like experiencing cardamom on its own for the first time. I was trying to work out the notes that alongside cardamom created the lovely first experience. I thought it was a little bit of clove combination but I was really surprised when I checked here as ginger and tea being the other top notes. Honestly I don't get ginger here, maybe it has been combined so well or it's just my skin. I don't get the tea either, so chai is out for me. As I said, it took me a while to work this out but the first whiff kept reminding me of something and no it was not the synthetic masala chai flavour of the west but rather something else. And then it hit me today as I put it on. I don't think anyone would have heard of this product, I think it's only used in India. It's called "Chyawanprash" - a jam like cooked mixture of sugar, honey, Triphala, ghee, sesame oil, berries and other naturally available herbs and spices(around 25 - 28). Its origin lies in the ancient science of Ayurveda. This concoction is an immunity booster and keeps various illnesses at bay if taken regularly. Cardamom, ginger etc are also part of this and the smell of this fragrance is exactly like the sharp tang of chyawanprash. This really surprised me because like I said I don't think of food upon smelling this but it is that smell just in a non edible way. So this is not masala chai, just the masala rather. (And stop calling it Chai Tea for the love of God and English) Coming back to the notes, the top one is cardamom dominated. Not the sharp greeny raw cardamom but rather like a bit roasted and creamy. This is probably due to the milk and honey. It has a pleasant sweetness to it but not in a overtly candied way. I don't know what Freesia smells like so I can't talk about it but I think it contributes to a very well hidden floral note to it. The dried fruits blend in well with the other notes. You'd think honey, milk and dry fruits will be too sweetish but it's not really. The perfect blend of cardamom cuts down the sweetness. For me the transition from the top notes to the middle notes is very fluid. You won't detect it until you pay attention to it. The fresh yet warm opening will turn creamier gradually, without losing it's body. The drydown is pretty much the mentioned base notes. I do get the amber as it combines so well with honey and milk in this. The cardamom remains till the end, well infused. The drydown is slightly more sweetish but never in a candy way. The term warm & fresh spicy is really apt. Although the spice is mainly cardamom here, nothing in your face. This perfume is like a very comfy and soft blanket that engulfs you and keeps you going. The ambery undertone makes it perfect for cold days. The longevity is decent, it's stronger in winters. The sillage ranges from medium to skin close, and trust me that's how this should be as you don't want the cardamom filling up the room. The dry down is pure delicious, I can't stop sniffing myself. I do think that the drydown is more amber dominated though. Though I do wear it sometimes in all seasons, it still is perfect for winters. It doesn't turn sour or foul for me in summers but the effect is not the same. This is simply because of the nature of cardamom itself. We increase the consumption of cardamom and ginger during the winters only, because it's comforting. The same goes for this. I used this a lot in the heavy winters and snowstorms this year in Iowa and it kept me warm and happy. This is rather well blended scent and its fluidity is continuous. So if you're kind of the person who looks for complex notes and bases, this might not be the one for you. This is a simple piece with specific notes, blended so well that it's magic. There is a reason I guess why this is the Art series because this one is. It has a rather sweetish quality to it but I definitely think it's unisex. A man can pull this off. This reminds of Delhi or anywhere in northern India in winters. The coldwave-chilly nights and fog covered morning when the visibility is down to zero and you just crave warmth or rather an illusion of it.

Finally I have this wonderpoison - like masala chai, but at the same time not gourmand. It is clearly a perfume and not some food you spray on. I second and laudate the review by NebraskaLovesScent. But where she smelled no fruits, for me the middle notes are clearly detactable and stay with me for a long time. The 3 stages are all identifiable and transit smoothly in another. The glorious concoction of uplifting spices from the topnotes,blended togehter wih a bit of lightness from the dried fruits and the milk, and all throughout you really feel the energizing effect of cinnamon and ginger. The uplifting and "fresh"(for lack of a better word) character fits geniously together with the understated sweetness of the honey and the depth and earthyness of the amber and milk! Oh - the longvity and sillage is great, even after 11 hrs I faintly smell it on my wrist, and I just had to use 1 spritz. The projection was quite detectable - to other people ;) This scent is a mixture of notes which all of them I dearly love, so I can do nothing else but HIGHLY recommend this, love this, and thank the perfumer for creating this! Might have to stock up on this... Now I'm dying to test the other two of the line!

The perfumed equivalent to a lightly toasted hot cross bun and a glass of refreshing iced tea :) I find similarities with Diors 'escale a pondichery' Both have the tea and cardamom notes. There is almost a freshly baked bread aroma with this scent, interlaced with dried spicy fruits,hence why hot cross bun springs to mind. The cardamom helps to boost 2 ingredients in this. With cardamoms spicy, herbal quality it combines beautifully with the dried fruits, to give this fragrance Pizazz, and it also helps give the tea note a boost in the longevity department,as i normally find tea notes in perfumes abit fleeting (sadly) but that is not the case with this scent, thanks to cardamom. Ginger also plays a prominent 'zingy' role Im finding it hard to detect freesia and honey, i think their main part is to provide this fragrance with a creamy,sweet presence and to stop the ingredients from becoming to spicy. This is my 2nd favourite from the collection :) this fragrance would be particularlywelcoming in the spring/summer months to provide a refreshing feeling, but it would also go down a treat on a balmy summers night too :) xxx

I had never heard about this fragrange before a couple of members recommented it to me (based on my profile, and especially my love for cardamom and black tea). And they were really right! It lives up to what it promises, so if you enjoy the notes listed, I believe you will most likely enjoy the scent. The dried fruits had worried me a bit (it was a blind buy) but while they - and their sweetness - are definitely there, they are balanced by the cardamon and ginger. The black tea smells natural (and not musky-sweet-perfumery, as tea notes smell in many fragrances). #08 is spicy and sweet, fresh and warm, dry and mouthwatering - all at the same time. The naturalness and type of scent make it different from most mainstream fragrances I know of - I doesn't have that typical 'perfumery' smell. I got Jacomo #08 this summer, but enjoy it more now in autumn/winter. Recently, I listed it as one of my "happy" fragrances, because it has this effect on my mood. This fragrance has personality, but it is very approachable and easy likable, I think Medium sillage, medium/below medium longevity.

To my surprise, #08 is my favorite of the Jacomo Art Collection scent. It's very gourmand and smells just like the spicy masala tea I drank from the tea stalls in India, and which we usually refer to as "chai" here in the U.S. There's lots of ginger and cardamom in this spicy brew. I don't smell the fruit and flowers at all, but the milk, honey and cinnamon are all there. Truly, it smells edible (or should I say drinkable?) upon first spray, but gets less sweet and more woody as it dries down. It stays close to the skin but has excellent longevity. I agree with pandorosa that this will be great for autumn and winter. #08 has a lot in common with L'Artisan's Tea for Two and Fendi Theorema. I believe both of those scents are now discontinued, and if you miss them, you may find #08 to be a worthy substitute.

Sweet, spicy tea. Ginger and cardamom make the opening exciting. This reminds me of summer though I can understand why people prefer it in colder climates. Today is summer here, and I am wearing this, and it lasts longer on me than ever before. I love tea and admire its many forms and their health benefits. I love Bvlgari Omnia which is a cold-cool tea. This is its passionate sister, full of hot passions brought by the dry sweet hot air. Instant teleportation to an Indian vacation. The artistic package is amazing, so is the bottle. Reminds me to the Kipling novels. I can imagine the King of the Indian Jungle on his elephants back carrying this scent in a lovely breeze while riding and leaving some waft behind. (Only the Indian jungle, because the African all belongs to Kenzo's Elephant).

This is one of the most spectacular concoctions I've ever had. Successful blind guy, and believe me, I've had some shockers. Beautiful, real cinnamon fragrance, real dried fruit, cardamom beautifully done. So sexy, spicy and mysterious. Reminds me of that wonderful darkness of Mirage... but such a different fragrance. THIS is what I've been looking for, that real Christmassy plum pudding scent. I am in awe. EDIT: Absolutely no staying power, on me, and poor sillage. Like falling in love and finding out the guy is married :( SECOND EDIT: Sprayed it on the sleeves of my top and on my scarf 3 hours ago, and it still smells devine. I can actually SMELL it, just sitting here, so that will be my solution for this frag :)

Being Eurasian it is perhaps not surprising that I love my spices. I do drink a lot of tea and add my own masala. This smells very close to my masala. I am so glad there is a good dose of cardamom, cinnamon and ginger in this. Three very warming spices. These strong spices not surprisingly somewhat overwhelm the smell of the tea note but it is sweet like chai from the honey. I do vaguely pick up the smell of sweet fruit and milk on the dry down. I was hoping SL Gingembre would be like this. My only sadness is that it fades to a faint skin scent after only an hour on me! I have to say I was surprised considering the notes in this. Oh well, lovely while it lasted.

The opening is a cool cardamom and sweet black tea. The drydown is a warm, soft, smooth blend of milk, cinnamon, cardamom, and honey. I notice some fresh, floral notes that balance the perfume so perfectly. It reminds me of Samsara or Allure due to its ability to morph from cool to warm. I have worn it in both warm and cold weather, and it works great in any weather. It isn't a heavy-hitter but it lasts several hours on me. This is my perfect chai perfume because it isn't so literal and overly gourmand. I don't like being a walking dessert. Side note: If you love creamy cardamom, you should try Kulfi by L'Aromatica

I blind bought this one based on reviews (on my quest for a chai-tea scent) On first spray, I got hit with enticing spicy cardamom, which quickly mellowed into a milky cinnamon-y scent fairly quickly with a touch of spice at the back. It did satisfy my chai-tea smelling cravings but unfortunately, it just doesn't have a lot of sillage/longevity on my skin. It's a great scent for cozying up inside under a blanket in the fall/winter - or if you're after something unique and comfortable at the same time. I just wish it stayed longer and had more projection on my skin.

This gorgeous creation opens up with spicy tea notes. It's like Indian chai to my nose. It settles into a lovely and gentle creamy cinnamon fragrance with the sweet shades of amber. This perfumes sounds like a Christmas/winter scent, but it isn't really. This is a softly flowing, silky stocking which throws sweet shades of creamy, milky essence around you, clinging lightly and casting a glimmering shadow of loveliness. Beautiful, unusual, elegant, soft and very Jacomo.

Ooohhh I love this gorgeous perfume!!. I adore the bottle too. I would say cardamom makes a very bold appearance at the beginning, but beautifully blends in with ginger, tea and honey after couple of minutes. I am so glad that I found this unique perfume. Its gourmand factor does not come across sugary and sticky. Rather, it has a dry, rounded and well balanced feel to it which makes it so warm and cosy during those cold winter days. This definitely has won my heart.

Airy oriental, light spicy and aromatic perfume. Best for hot days during summer. The most distinguished notes are ginger, cinammon, cardammon. The sweetness is not cloying while the combination of spices and dried fruits is nicely done. Medium long lasting but you can spray more than usual as price is very low. Men can wear it too. Simple purple glass bottle with unusual print on the packaging. Good choise for this rather optimistic perfume from Jacomo!!!

Oh my good lord do I love this one! It opens with a heavy dose of clove and cinnamon, but the drydown it so sexy and sultry, smooth and creamy clean(tea)and sweet. This should NOT be worn by any man, this scent should be worn by a woman only. PerfecT for winter makes me feel warm. It lingers on forever but only very subtle, I can cathch a wiff every now and again! I am so glad I have this in my collection.

A beautiful spicy sweet milk tea scent, long lasting. Great for casual wear. Works in warm and cool weather but I prefer it in the winter. If you like the idea of Omnia by bvlgari but find that it is too soft and doesn't last long, I highly suggest trying Jacomo's 08.

I am very impressed with the new Art series from Jacomo - they have managed to create a beautiful trio of interesting & wearable scents with a heavy lean towards an artistic interpretation for each theme. #8 is a warm spicy-fruity scent on my skin, which fits the beautiful artwork to a T. The first blast is an astringent ginger/tea combo with a heavy dose of spice (cinnamon, clove, cardamom, black pepper) & strong, tart red-berry hit (redcurrent?). From this first stage I feel this scent could easily be worn by either males or females. All this could seem far, far too heavy to wear bar a once a year Christmas spritz, but this really is not be the case. #8 is only a mid-weight fragrance with a rich ruby glint - a transluscent scent with a "sun-rise in India" luminescent quality & a formidable persistance & sillage. As this perfume settles it warms, sweetens & lifts the overall feel with a slightly fizzy citrus edge before cosying down to a creamy spicy number. The fruits & spices are still very present to my nose, but now less sharp & far more honeyed. I do not get the heavy lactonic milky tones I expected from reading the notes alone (indeed, it is not the chai note that I know & love) but I feel this stops the whole composition from souring or becoming stodgy & heavy. If I were to liken it to chai it would have to be a red-berry version, with skimmed milk! Those who adore fruity scents but are longing for something with a kick & an edge or those who love Elle, but find it a little synthetic or lacking in spice should definitely try #8. I hope that a few men may also give it a shot as it has a universal appeal. A spicy winter warmer that won't leave you feeling bloated or heavy. Bravo!

The sweet smells of India... What a beautiful fragrance! I love to be surprised when I try something new... and Jacomo Art Collection #8 was a lovely surprise for me. This one is inspired by the wonderful smells of Indian spices... green cardamom, cinnamon, hot ginger, and spicy indian black tea (called "masala chai"). If you have ever been in a spice market somewhere like in India, North Africa or the Middle East, you can find the "sweet" section where you can see dried fruits, fresh aromatic spices like dried cloves, raw cinnamon, spicy cardamom, coriander, nutmeg etc etc. This takes me back to those places (which I have been lucky to experience), and the aroma is fantastic! I think this one will appeal to many people because it is quite light. If it was any heavier than this it would be similar to a Serge Lutens fragrance, this is almost like a "lighter" version of a Serge Lutens. The floral note of freesia gives this an air-like quality that stops it being to heavy. To me this also reminds me a lot of the "real" spiced Indian ginger tea I used to receive when I visited a Buddhist monastery. It's so green and refreshing with a hint of spice! This can work in summer as it is light and not too heavy, but in my opinion this would be great in cold weather (in winter... by the warm fire). It has a very "warm" quality to it which is very nice... Like a cup of hot tea! Well done Jacomo !

When I first smelt Jacomo Art Collection #08, it strongly reminds me of Serge Lutens Five O'Clock au Gingembre, which is not too surprising, since both are relatively sheer and tranluscent in the oriental category and share a few notes. However, when compared side by side, there are still quite some differences. Upon spraying, Jacomo #08 has prominent cardamom, ginger, pepper and tea, spicy and dry, like smelling dried black tea before pouring hot water into the mix. This opening of Jacomo #08 is much spicier and drier than the sweet juicy ginger, tea and woods combination of Five O'Clock au Gingembre. After about an hour, dried fruits gradually become dominant, providing a leathery edge and some sweet flavour to the spicy tea. I don't particularly pick out amber or honey, but the scent becomes much less dry and smoother as time wears on, probably due to their contribution. Jacomo #08 wears very close to the skin, but it lasts for about 8 hours. Jacomo #08 is a light, gauzy oriental, which makes it also suitable for warmer weathers. It's actually quite spicy, but its sheer quality prevent it being aggressive. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy black tea and spices.

This is a perfect Christmas perfume for people who can’t wear strong scents. It’s the kind of perfume I’d wear when visiting my family as my mother is very sensitive to perfumes. To me, I it genuinely smells like mince pie filling! A cup of tea with a Mince pie - but no pastry so no odd biscuity smell. It’s light and fruity with Christmassy spices and a soft honeyed sweetness. The milk smooths it out but I find that the dried fruits and cinnamon are the main scent here as soon as it dried down. It’s bright and fresh but also totally winter appropriate thanks to the fruity minced pie vibe. A very easy reach for any November / December and it’s a bargain on eBay UK so although it’s not long lasting, it’s cheap enough to respray as much as you want.

I got this one and #02 at quite a cheap price (spurred by the packaging, bottle, and reviews) and this one's my favorite of the two. The reason for that is simple: I'm a tea addict and a chai lover as well (except I take my chai with no milk and sweeteners which is probably blasphemous to a number of people). This is pure unadulterated bliss for a tea/spice lover! The cardamom and clove reign supreme here, but the cinnamon, ginger and astringency and bitterness of the black tea are there as well, making for a rather masculine, but oh-so-seductive, perfume. #08 might not be very wearable, but it makes my spice/tea-loving self crave some chai (or my version of stripped chai, i.e. spiced tea).

I bought this blind, based on a deep and abiding love for Tea for two, Five O'clock Gingembre and Burberry red. It's alot more on the Burberry red side of things, but decidedly less stridently sour in the opening. I don't think I can add anything new to Migotka's excellent review, other than I did get the freesia note for about half an hour, and while it sounded slightly out of sync with the other notes it blends beautifully. I think this is going to be a daytime alternative for my two favourites Tea for two and Five o'clock. Sillage isn't great, but it does seem to last albeit very close to the skin. Absolutly lovely.

Soft, lulling, fragrant, but fatally weak chai tea - pleasant but short-lived and the tea is barely there. Cinnamon and cardamom present and correct, along with a surprisingly un-cloying milky note for me - exactly like chai brewed with a bit of condensed or evaporated milk - though lighter than that may sound. Like everything else in this, a bit too discreet. Tiny tiny sillage and hard to say when it runs out, it's so transparent. Fine for the price, but I was hoping for something a little gutsier even at this lower end.

one of my friends said this smells like Christmas :)) with all those lovely warm spices (cardamom&cinnamon). The tea note is also very detectable. So far did not get much of the milk or the honey but that might come later (hopefully, I love them both) High five, this one worth a lot more that the money spent on it (taking into account this one is very affordable).

I really love the artwork in this one. And the notes in this perfume really intrigues me, especially the cardamom, dried fruits, milk & white honey. OMG it seems like a dream. Sounds lovely. Must test this! I *love* honey in perfume *a lot* !!

its opening a bit masculine and reminds me cinnamon candies. then it turns to a milky tea with some spices and a spoon of honey. suitable for autumn/winter months also it is not overpowering.

citrusy up front that is green and tea; then into dried fruit then down into a soft, sweet powder; unlike anything else that I own but it lasts for the blink of an eye on my skin

It's beautifully fresh and clean, a chai tea WITHOUT the cream. I adore it but wish it were a bit milkier and warmer. I think it will be lovely in the summer as it is.

Magnificent scent. Can be a great unisex fragrance, good lasting power. It is very unique and will make anyone to stand out from the crowd.

In my quest for the perfect chai scent, "Jacomo #08" flirts with victory, yet stumbles fatally at the second hurdle. A sweet, spice-infused opening yields promise: green, lemony cardamom, zesty ginger and tingly cinnamon strike a pleasantly aromatic, gourmand tone that absolutely calls to mind the scent of fresh, black chai-blend tea leaves, at least before milk or sugar have been added. I thought this might be what I had been searching for, but unfortunately on my skin the beautiful cardamom and cinnamon faded far too quickly, overpowered by a clean, floral/tea note (hedione) and a peachy, soapy fruitiness (I'm guessing undecalactone). After 30 mins, all I could smell was this generic fruit-scented 'hand wash' accord that became increasingly shrill, squeaky and synthetic. It went from chai spice to dime store shampoo in no time at all. It wasn't a huge surprise, if I'm honest. Jacomo's rather cheap-looking bottle design was a hint as to the quality of the ingredients inside. The composition is crying out for base notes, like a creamy sandalwood or vanilla, to bind the top tier and give the perfume substance, texture and depth. Alas, everything is floating on this thin layer of cheap aroma chemicals, with a flat, reedy one-note range. The overall effect is too sanitized and boring. Also the fruity shampoo vibe I'm getting from this really pushes it into the 'feminine' category for me. A disappointed thumbs down.

this smells like honey layered anis and cinnamon christmas cookies, sprinkled with caramelizised dry fruits. the ginger is little bit sharp in the beginning, even made my eyes watery. the floral aspect of this perfume with freesia get lost completely to my nose. it calmes down very quick to a just slight warm and still very spicy gourmand scent. the milk i can t destingue from the other notes which seem to be more prominent in this composition. for me this is an ultra masculine and edgy scent for its remarkable spyciness and lack of something round and soft. very well blended, not harsh but stroooong in the beginning, lingers wery well after a while, perfect for cold days in winterperiod. good sillage, longivity average, after an hour it sitts really close to the skin. will never be disturbing anyone as people would have to come really close to catch a whiff. the pink black bottle is very nice. add. note: the drydown is wearable also for women definitively but wouldn t wear it because i don t wanna wait near an hour to get what i want. but i want still to point out: this is a great smell for a man who don t like all the common fresh citrusy or woody scents and even more if he s a chai tee lover as my beloved it is ;) i find it a little bit a shame that the promising rich and strong opening ends up after 2 hours in a very shy, cosy scent, almost noticable by yourself than others.

I see the resemblance of masala tea, candied orange and spices. very interesting mix but smells terrible- and masculine on me. Ended up giving it away : (

Having been curious about the Jacomo Art Collection series for quite some time, I was happy to receive a sample vial of #08 from the generous SystemeD. Thank you! Thin orientals are not really my thing, and that is what #08 is. The core of this composition is a bundle of chai spices, and they are not sustained in a substantial oriental base, so the overall effect bears similarities to a weak cup of chai tea. I do not think that the blend is bad, but it's not really viscous enough for my wintertime perfume tastes. It reminds me in some ways of the original Bvlgari OMNIA perfume, although the longevity of this creation is better. Many people have compared this perfume to the tea offerings from L'Artisan Parfumeur, but I do not find this to be a facsimile of chai or a "spice-cabinet" chai, so to my nose this presentation is somewhat more compositionally appealing. Smelling like beverages and foods which I enjoy to consume is not really my preference when it comes to perfume. The quality of this "Art Collection" creation seems lower to me than those of L'Artisan Parfumeur, as I have found to be the case for Jacomo perfumes more generally. The somewhat pretentious name and higher price notwithstanding, I do not notice any real difference in the quality of the materials used in this perfume, as compared with others from this house. The good news is that I am quite sure that Jacomo #08 could be worn in hot weather, so it may be the perfect solution for oriental lovers wishing to enjoy spiciness year round.

Will cut it short for the beginning - total success for the blind buy. 100% unisex, truly would be great on both men and women, spiritual and active ones, ayurvedic, body-enveloping like a spicy expensive projecting and lasting body cream, its a Eau de Parfum, not EDT Soft, but not round as the cardamom and ginger with the note of cold-tea, create edgy balanced shape. Its spicy, but not ultra spicy and never edible, if you look at the notes – the development will be processed exactly like that, you get you cardamom-y cup of refreshing tea, then you get your cinnamon-y honeyed milk, and – freesia with amber on the dry down. Ginger here plays role of a referee, pushing cardamom from being too macho and cinnamon from being too soft and faceless. Its a mouth-watering fragrance – exotic summer in a bottle, and trust me I will use at least 30 ml for the next few months. Therapy, feeling different and refreshed, somewhat connected by spirit with the body.. Everyone compared this fragrance with something but – I didn't find any resemblances, pardon me, with those been mentioned. But let me ensure you, it has A LOT in common with Westwood's Anglomania) I realise that Indian people might get upset seeing their God on the box as an art image(mind you the box and bottle are fantastic with iconic woman enhanced by two protective Ganesha) but I would never have thrown such box in the bin anyway, will keep it forever, sorted.

First thing I can say about this, is that it is difficult to find spicy and yet not too spicy fragrance. Serge Lutens' fragrances are full of spices, however, they are also too heavy for a lot of occassions. The reason that I bring Serge in the game is that I actually find Jacomos #8 very similar to SL Five o'clock au Gingembre. They both feature ginger, tea and cinnamon which play a key role in both compositions. Out of the two, Art Collection #8 is a more toned down and appropriate for daily wear. The notes are delicious. I am at the moment enjoying my 'afternoon blend' cup of tea, looking outside the window and sniffing my wrist. It does not matter that my mug is chipped and that I cant see much because it's quite foggy here at the moment, and that the view is not that stunning. It does not matter that it's cold and that I urgently need to finish my essay for tomorrow. It does not matter that I will probably have to work on it until midnight and will wake up tomorrow wich dark circles under my eyes way too early in the morning. I dont find the fragrance sharp or masculine. On the contrary, to me #8 is such a conforting, soft-spicy scent that I find really soothing and relaxing. Milk and honey blend fantastically well with cardamon and cinnamon. A real treat during stressfull day, alongside my cup of tea :)

Upon first spray I was greeted with a very strong blast of green tea & cardamom. Though not sweet it was quite refreshingly unexpected since I had been expecting a sweet, milky scent from the start. This fresh greeness lasted a mere five minutes before an almost sickly sweet pickled fruit note emerged. My nose was asulted by mostly rotting mangoes and a hint of boiled milk. For the briefest moment I was tempted to scrub it off but opted to wait it out. Thankfully within seconds the rotten fruit mellowed into a soft tropical fruit cup in honey. Assuming this was the end I went to make lunch. Twenty minutes later after I had eaten I kept getting faint wafts of cinnamon and honey. It has now been a grand total of two hours since I sprayed this juice on my wrists and all that remains is the barest trace of cinnamon milk. As short lived as this perfume is it truly is a journey. Sadly the loveliest part of the whole composition is also the weakest. Short lived as it is this perfume is was a fun experience on a cold, windy day. I rather like the fact that it doesn't last long. I am intrigued by this juice. This experience was the start of what I now know will be a long quest to find the perfect chai scent. I am grateful to the lovely Fragrantican who sent me a sample.

Well, I really don't know about this one... I found it for a decent price online and it was a blind-buy. Because the notes sounded mouthwatering. However I think something is wrong about this one. It definitely smells like masala chai, yes, but a cold one. There is one note missing to warm up this perfume. I was expecting something more "smokey", steamy, or more skin warming, maybe little bit creamy also. But this scent is fresh, it really is despite all those cinnamon accord. I can not smell beautiful freesia at all, or dried fruits. Cold tea with cinnamon scent stands out for most of the time and it makes me dizzy, literally. It's true that this one is really an unusable parfume. Wanted to love it, just, couldn't.

This fragrance is currently making me sad... I wanted to love it so much - and I sort of do for a few moments in the beginning - but I find it seems to lose all its allure within a really short time on me. At first it's fresh and spicy, full of cardamom, cinnamon and ginger - I even get a bit of lemony zesty-ness but then it's suddenly just dull and flat like old spices that should have been discarded years ago... It even becomes a bit dirty smelling on me :( I'm going to keep trying it but it's so disappointing right now!

Just got it and didn't get true "chai" from this at all, more spicy and very masculine. Don't get me wrong it's not a bad perfume but it is one that I would buy for my husband unless I layered it with something like Vanilla Bourbon by Laurence Dumont to give it a more well- rounded chai vanilla scent to make it more feminine. It does not have lasting power.

A great aromatherapeutic fragrance. Prada Tendre has some similarity, though more earthy and resinous. You might also like Hanae Mori HiM, which sometimes feels like this Jacomo mixed with Jay Z Gold. One con is that the cap poorly fits the bottle head and might tend to fall off.

Ginger ginger GINGER! So much ginger. Sadly it's not the most long lasting perfume but if you love ginger, you'll love this. Cinnamon and clove is there as well but it's not heavy on my skin. Not much tea in here. Sweet and spicy and warm

Ooohhh I agree with all the positive comments on this little gem. It's devine. If I had any negatives to comment on, it would only be it's staying power - however in saying that I like my perfumes strong.

Very nice, opens up with a strong tea note before fading to a lovely smooth cinnamon, cream, honey smell. Not too strong or overpowering but unusual and classy smelling.

I feel a kind of lemon tea with a hint of milk. I'm not a fan of tea scents so this one doesn't impress me more than other tea scents.