Taormine

I would not characterize Keiko Mecheri TAORMINE as a citrus cologne per se--but I would say that it's a scrumptious perfume! There is some real complexity to this creation, beginning with a green, almost hyacinth-like opening, which is somewhat fleeting and gives way within a couple of minutes to a mid-stage where I thought that I was detecting ambergris, although it is not listed in the notes above. Am I misidentifying ambergris as leather, perhaps? In any case, as TAORMINE dries down, a whole different demeanor emerges, and I come away thinking of this as a heliotropin-almond fragrance. Perhaps I have only smelled heliotrope in fragrances which also feature almond, in which case I may be confusing some aspect of the two. But this definitely smells like slightly sweet almonds in a buttery floral-scented cookie. Yum! To me, this warm, feminine composition seems very well suited as a fragrance for cooler weather or wintertime. I hope that I can still get my hands on a bottle of TAORMINE, which I now see was a limited edition release... This is definitely my favorite of the limited edition Keiko Mecheri perfumes I've tried to date.

I'm transported to an Italian Renaissance ballet theatre--an enthusiastic yet genteel applause to commence: bright bergamot and the subtle herbal undertone of petitgrain and a creamy nuance of almond. Then enters the star of the stage, a young girl with the grace of a swan. Her tulle skirt grazes her knees as it billows with every pas de chat and jeté, with delicate rose scented powder and dressing chamber lipstick. Her soft, pink leather ballet slippers flutter nimbly across the arena with the mastery of a feather dancing on the wind. Taormine delivers a charming performance--most demure and delightfully well choreographed.

For the first few seconds I smell a sharp, clean mix of petitgrain, citrus and anise or basil, then it becomes sharply powdery, with a bitter almond note. As it dries down it becomes sweeter and muskier, with a light floral feel. It’s an unusual take on a citrus cologne, and I like it a lot. Sillage is moderate, and it lasts 4-5 hours on skin. Another good one from Keiko Mecheri.

too musked powdery almond...a light fragrance without any edges or specific quality.

Just put it on but I’m definitely not getting citrus citrus but it’s really smooth and well done. A tiny bit of sweet, even less of citrus, the smoothness comes from the almond but it’s not distinctive almond, which picks up the petitegrain and sits nicely on top of the leather. Overall it is aromatic because there is no distinct scent but it all melds so beautifully together.