Piper Nigrum

This is no ordinary love as Sade would put it. True, this is obsession. Amazing scent that makes me swoon over the places where it's been applied, like a child excited about the promise of a new toy - no other niche perfume in many years made me salivate and simply want to run with ecstatic craving of telling "all the people" that with such a smell happiness is easy. I expected something violent and harsh, and awaited with trepidation the opening blast of eponymous black pepper and intensive herbs to cause my nostrils and brain ache, yet on me it presented a mellow and moderate side. Just a passionate mint kiss that promises a lot of sensuality and finally delivers. The most dominant notes on me are: mint, cloves, nutmeg, anise, some spices forming the curry mix and juniper. Pepper is there, but it does not pierce or force itself upon me at all. Perfect aromatic blend with ingredients of superior quality that I cannot stop inhaling. But the best is yet to come: with development to a warm, resinous, balsamic, almost smoky concoction of myrrh, benzoin and some ambery tones with... bay leaf traces, similar to those from Ambre Sultan, only ending up with ambery feel from Lubin Akkad and the fantastically sensual and enveloping aura of vintage M7. Don't know how, but this perfume carries best elements of my beloved scents, and additionally offers a unique outcome. Piper Nigrum is full of contadictions: it's cold, fresh, reserved, herbal, aromatic, and warm, sweet, salty, powdery dry, resinous, cozy and sensual at the same time. A longlasting spring/summer scent to die for and I'm so thankful I discovered it finally - with a little boosting help from a friendly and inspiring soul I simply owe a lot:)

Piper Nigrum was the first fragrance from Lorenzo Villoresi that I smelled while in a now sadly shuttered fragrance shop in Provincetown MA. I recognized the latin name for black pepper and had to give it a whirl, and I was impressed with its arresting freshness and "pop" upon application. Yes, black pepper, in spades, pungent and bracing, but invigorating to the nose. A supporting mint and clove are what elevate this effect, but do not fear: this isn't like a visit to the dentist's chair. A panoply of other spices reach through and grab the wearer lovingly, like a passionate dance partner. I also discern oregano and rosemary in the heart, lending to this showy two-step through Lorenzo Villoresi's herb and spice garden. The piquancy of Piper Nigrum may almost be too overwhelming for those who can only handle pepper, spices and herbs sweetened and softened into amber or vanilla rather than laid bare and raw. It does, however, satisfy my yen in a way that Serge Lutens Serge Noire did not, as I find that it transcends my threshold for acridness and comes off as unsettling (a review to come soon). Here, Villoresi does bring it to the brink, and those who are familiar with his perfumes know his knack for bringing on the spices. However, his works often have a rustic, rather than aloof character, and this is no exception, especially as the base of Piper Nigrum enters this phase of warm, dry balsams and incense. If you want a real "Spicebomb," you've got it here.

The "french lack of hygiene" is a urban legend . And reality is more complicated than the legend . In France we had public latrines since Louis XIII ( around 1610 ) .The Versailles smells was a mix of horses , goats , cows , knights sweat . To hide these smells , it was used bellows , pellets to burn , censers and perfumed gloves. At the Court , you had to change of clothes at least 3 times a day to be well seen .... Louis XIV possessed , not a bathroom but a full appartment with 5 rooms dedicated to his bathrooms. The bathrooms had 2 baths : one for soaping , one for rinsing. Louis XIV even had a depilated body ( an aristocratic beauty fashion canon , which was launched by Henri III , around 1570 ) Marie Antoinette took a bath everyday . Not naked .But once a day Kings had their service attendants servants only to bathrooms , they were called "etuvist swimmers" . Galimard was already making perfumes for King Louis XV in 1747 (to sum up ) There were stinky places like all around the world . Anywhere in Europe , in the 16th or 17th , 18th , 19th , 20th century , peasants and lower classes were less "clean " than aristocraty and "bourgeoisie": question of money . Paris under the Baron Haussman ( 1850- 1870 ) became one of the cleanest and modernest city in the world . It's more complicated than a legend ..

I love this fragrance especially in the summer when it manages to give its best even during the hottest ones. I consider P.N. as one of the most reliable and truly persistent fragrance so that you can successfully wear it even in the hottest August (do not forget that P.N. is only an E.d.T!) when the majority of the frags wouldn't be so 'efficient' while losing in the comparison. The starting is surprising because it explodes in a fresh/warm sequence of spices where mint and pepper are the main characters. When I say "fresh" I say so because you can feel the lowering of the temperature on your skin, a curious, mechanical effect that I couldn't stand in winter, for instance. Then, I can admire the rich number of ingredients, happily stitched together as spices, nutmeg being quite evident, herbs, woods and (.....) amber, the latest is so evident especially in the dry down when the mixture becomes "softer" like to show the other side of itself: two fragrances at once?! Not so sure, it seems that the creator has decided to "play" with the wearer... and he has done it since the very beginning: so, pay attention as it would be advisable to spry it while keeping your eyes shut. Try it, and enjoy yourself! I love P.N. Definitely. p.s. I love also the good quality of the ingredients here employed.

potent...spicy opening. it grabs your attention. I was trying to figure out what this reminded me of. what It reminds me of is the way the original Pierre Cardin Pour Monsieur made me tilt my head back. that spicy crisp but somewhat sweet aroma, this is a different fragrance than that all in but just the initial impression I got from spraying this on my wrists, a bit darker perhaps and I could be all wet but that was the first fragrance that came to mind. I see this is listed as a unisex fragrance and I guess that is fine, but to me it is as masculine as they come. it really is quite powerful in it's presentation to the wearer. I like this!! The next time I wake up in one of those moods where I don't want to take any crap from anyone I am reaching for this. after wearing this for a couple of hours the aroma of this scent softens a bit but to me it is still not changing what I thought when I first put it on. classy and I guess manly.. well blended, all of the Lorenzo Villoresi fragrances I have sniffed have impressed me, not a inexpensive line though..i don't think they cut many corners I had always planned to get around to this one. I probably need to give it more time and check it later. I am hoping this can keep up the pace. it is worth checking out.. I would call it an ass kicker.