Papavero Soave

Papavero Soave by L'Erbolario is now a classic of "green" Italian perfumery, a fragrance that manages to be simultaneously reassuring and magnetic. Although the name suggests extreme delicacy, we are faced with a perfume with a strong and enveloping personality. Even though the poppy in nature does not have a strong odor, L'Erbolario has created a creative and "red" interpretation of it. The peach and mandarin give a juicy start, but it is the Brunella that makes everything special. It's not your usual citrus explosion; it's a sweet and slightly herbaceous start. Here the fragrance becomes an opulent bouquet. The mix of Red Poppy and Artemisia creates an interesting contrast: on the one hand the sweetness of the flowers (Jasmine, Lilac), on the other a bitter and powdery nuance that prevents the perfume from becoming too cloying. The real magic happens after about an hour. The base of Amber and Vanilla transforms the perfume into a "velvet blanket". Patchouli and sandalwood give structure, making it deep and sensual. The "Dusty" effect: It is a powdery fragrance but not in the "baby powder" sense. It is an adult powdery, floral and spicy one. For a herbal perfume, it has a surprising duration. Just a few sprays are enough to feel it on you all day. Seasonality: It is at its best in autumn and winter. Its warmth makes it perfect for cold days, while in summer it could be a little too "heavy" or intrusive. It can result in an intense and very feminine sillage. The Artemisia note can be "strong" for those who love pure florals. Ingredients of vegetal origin and cruelty-free. It's not a subtle fragrance; gets noticed. Papavero Soave is the perfume for those who love fragrances that smell clean but with a warm and mysterious soul. It is often compared to Flower by Kenzo, but with a spicier and less sugary twist. It's perfect if you're looking for something romantic but with character.

After having tried it some weeks ago, at last I bought Papavero Soave and... wow! A very interesting and sexy combination of fruity and smoky accords that I never smelled in any other perfume before! As just said, it's hard to describe this scent, but every time I'm smelling Papavero Soave, it reminds me something delicious that belongs to my best memories... and then I realized: every years, on June, my mother prepares a simple dessert made of strawberries dipped in Porto (a delicious spanish red wine) and sugar, and it does stand in the refrigerator some hours before serving it. Then the strawberries have become liquorous, and the wine is more and more dense and aromatic: it's a real treat to eat and drink. Papavero Soave has the same beautiful scent, with the addition of floral and smoky accords and a warm, sensual base that make it very classy and charming! This is another good surprise from L'Erbolario, which recently is starting to make very good perfumes, more original and interesting than the earliest ones... Papavero Soave is so lovely, I think it's going to be my springtime signature scent!

I wrote an email to L'Erbolario asking for the detailed olfactory pyramid of Papavero Soave. They answered me very kindly and quickly. Here it is. TOP NOTES: Peach pulp, Red Mandarin pulp, Prunella MIDDLE NOTES: Rose petals, Indian Davana, Lily of the Valley, Ylang Ylang, Lilac, Neroli, Jasmine, Poppy petals BASE NOTES: Sandalwood, Musks, Amber, Vanilla, Patchouli That's why I find some similarities between Papavero Soave and J'Adore (2011): I find Papavero Soave more interesting and complex, with a liquorous note that in J'Adore is missing. J'Adore is a bit more mild and soapy, Papavero Soave has a smoky accord that makes it more intriguing (IMO). UPDATE: Now Papavero Soave is my absolute favorite perfume! If I put the perfume on "Papavero Soave body cream", its sillage is incredibly loud, and it lasts all the day... I'm definitely in love with it, and with every single note of it: from the sparkle of mandarin and peach to the deep sensuality of amber and musks, Papavero Soave has literally hooked my senses!!

One day, in childhood while playing in the garden my friend and i came across tiny poppy glade (in the back of the garden) Then for the first (and only one ) time in my life i saw huge silky-scarlet poppy flower. It stunning in beauty flower with a bitterly- tart distinct scent; it is without exaggeration hypnotic! Well now Paravero Soave by L'Erbolario perfume is not exactly sound as poppy, but rather sweet- herbally & at the same time powder- poppyly, i think. Thus would smell like petals and stamens with seeds of poppy in powdered sugar. The aroma of poppy flowers in the fragrance is more than recognizable to me; i have never smelled a fragrance with a really solo poppy, so for me this perfume is unique, as well as that childhood memory about magic poppies from the garden. It is sweet & some how soothing, dreamy and refined scent.

I bought this in Florence three years ago. Loved it then, love it even more now. I have no idea what poppies smell like (do they really have a fragrance?), so I can't decide where that note comes in. For me, it is rather sweet at first, with jasmine and deep fruit. Then, a few minutes later the sweetness becomes more woody, with a some peppery smoke. A tiny hint of green and bitter, but those are fleeting on me. So, it's not an ordinary sweet and heady floral, it's much more complex than that. Many reviews say that the notes are difficult to separate out and I completely agree. Cynicalwish used the term red velvet, a great description, because the notes blend so well that there are no sharp edges, nothing shouts. It's a plush whole.