Condottiere

A rich, decadent iris scent - the fragrance that opened my eyes to the world of perfumery. Although perfectly unisex, there is something "old world" about this fragrance that continues to draw me in. The combination of iris and violet leaf is irresistible, brightened by a barely there citrus note. Thankfully, the leather is not detectable to my nose. It blends in perfectly with the orris butter. One day I will treat myself to a full bottle before Lubin does something ghastly like discontinuing this gem.

Iris butter, green violet leafes and fine leather in a wonderfully composed fragrance perfectly balanced and calibrated. For me the most convincing fragrance of the beautiful Aristia range. Great art that makes fun!

looking for a bottle for purchase or swap.

Lubin Condottiere is one of the six 2019 releases of the Aristia Collection and is centered around iris, brightened by citrus, with contributions of violet and berries, slightly sweet, slightly powdery, and slightly creamy/buttery. I’m not a huge fan of iris/orris-heavy fragrances and tend to be pretty cautious around them, but Condottiere is fairly balanced and agreeable, and a fragrance that I’d recommend most try out if they have the chance. Its use of violet is restrained, and the fruity contributions are pleasant, a complementing the iris while not taking away from it being the centerpiece. I like its performance, too. It has a nice consistency after a few sprays (total) from the sample atomizer, clearly a rich composition but not a beast, as I don’t think it should be, but it has some heft. It feels like it would be useful in most seasons and occasions, just not the dead heat of summer, perhaps. Priced at $290 for 100ml at parfum concentration, Condottiere and the rest of the Aristia Collection are priced higher than most Lubin fragrances. They’re currently all sold out at Perfumology and I’m unaware of another US point of sale. Overall, for me, it’s a like not a love, very good but short of being great, partly due to personal preference, but it’s well-executed. 7 out of 10

When I first smelled Condottiere, I hated the opening, it was too green, dusty and sharp at the same time. I believe the culprit might have been the angelica. But when it finally settled down on my skin... Wow, a violet+orris beauty, slightly sweet and powdery. Definitely subtle, but it gives me a feeling of power, commanding seriousness and respect without being authoritarian. I almost cried when I saw that it costs 425$ CAN here in Canada. I will have to treasure my sample... Alas, it is way too expensive for it’s performance and projection.