South

Sometimes, when I test perfumes, I am caught by surprise as they stir up strong emotions, fragmented memories in a patchwork of symbolism and image, snippets of poetry, lyrics, words and loops of songs. This is such a scent that brought forth so much for me to the point of tears and joy. To me, South by Mendittorosa is ...... the first time I smelled pure mountain air, up in the Austrian mountains. I had been driving with my partner on a road trip in our converted lorry, where it had been a steep climb up some of the most beautiful scenic routes I'd ever seen, and we took a break to stand outside and take in the view. There it hit me - this scent I had never ever experienced in my life. Something so fresh, clean and pure. Something so natural and like the perfumed soul of the alps itself. It was crisp, crystal clear, like freshly laundered linen and a whisper of flowers carried on the wind. I burst into tears and ecstatic joyful wonder the moment it hit my nose. I couldn't believe that the air could ever smell this clean. It was at once a moment of happiness and also a sorrow in thinking of what our atomosphere might be, could be, what perhaps it once was, should pollution cease to exist. ..... Hazelnuts being picked fresh of the tree on an autumn afternoon, with a carpet of many gold and yellow leaves underfoot. The scent of the hedgerows, soil and undergrowth - Fat, dreaming dormice sleeping in their woodland beds -Rain drops on brambles and the shiny wet bark of trees, glistening like amphibian skins. ...... My new house, with dust cloths covering the wooden boarded floors and the old leather sofa, with the wooden ladder and it's patina of paint and plaster sitting in the morning sunlight - the light moving across in thin strips from the partially open blinds. The central heating on, hearing the boiler breathe in the silence of dawn and the heating drying the air in the room out. Deep inhalations of freshly plastered walls, drying out, beige and smooth as silk, chalky dust particles in the air. Everything clean, new and a blank canvas to create a home. I sit and dream of how to decorate the walls as I eat a slice of freshly toasted bread and butter. ...... My grandmother's kitchen, her cyclamen plants on the centre of the table in a pot, the bread baking in her bread maker machine, her ironing the bedsheets next to me as we chat about the birds nests she's found in her garden this spring. ..... The basil plant I kept alive for months on my wooden windowsill. ..... Chalk .... The white cliffs of Dover and chalkland meadows of home .... PJ Harvey 'white chalk' playing in my head. Crying at her live performance of this song. .... Hazelnuts and rich brown, warm bread .... Happiness, comfort, warmth, deep woods, high mountains, the heart of the home, autumn and spring, the tears of emotion, running clear streams down grey and brown stoned hills.. The earth and life! LOVE! I love this so much.

Somehow this perfume does the impossible and gives you a first impression of mountain air. Very fresh yet dry, it makes your nostrils tremble. You feel like standing on a mountain top, smelling the woods and greens but mainly you get gushes of fresh air. The second phase of this perfume is more about carrot seeds and bread. I feel almost uncomfortable smelling so much like food. One more thing you get is a very acidic vibe throughout its entire performance. Still not 100% sure whether I love it or just like it a lot. It's a really fascinating scent, likable but a bit weird.

This is so good. Ugh. A sharp turn from the redundant florals and gourmands. This is an experience more than a perfume. It has a way of evoking emotion, of memories from your most calmest moments. The nuttiness of the bread is very subtle in the opening then it dries into the most purest air. It's a very mute perfume in my opinion, it doesn't scream at you at all. It only whispers as you walk by, hoping not to disturb you but to give you the most calmest waft of mountain air and nuttiness.

A young and clean perfume ... I really like her originality, and her way of being sweet/acid-sparkling. More woody in drydown, well-balanced ... it is a good, clean and special fragrance. The sillage is strong, the longevity is very good. I like it!!! Sillage: 8.5/10 Longevity: 9/10 Scent: 8.5/10 Overall: 8.5/10

Thoughts on a full bottle... * Bought this 7 years ago and have not touched it in 5 years. * The hot humid weather of Fort Lauderdale did no justice to this rarity. * However winter in the foothills of North Carolina is another story. * And this was when I really rediscovered it. * It is gourmand to the very letter of the word. * Tastes, I mean smells of bread just out of the oven with a hard crust but a spongey springy inside. * Not your run of the mill bread. * More like the gourmet bakery kind. * Don’t seem to notice any of the citrus or florals in this at all. * The hazelnut and wood are predominant. * Duration is a good 6 hours and remains distinctly detectable as a skin scent for another 4 hours. * However projection is poor. Barely arms length. * It is a fun scent to wear on occasion. Best enjoyed with some “me” time. * Tried several from this brand and while "South" is more of an artsy novelty it is surprisingly far superior to the others I have sampled except for maybe "Le Mat". Final thoughts... * Bread 🥖 is front and center and what this fragrance is all about. ** Think Bagel Shop 🥯on this one. *** I'll have a toasted and buttered Poppy Seed please.