3# nota di viaggio (ciavuru d’amuri) 2019 edition

I think I have found my holy grail fig perfume. Because of new restrictions on a couple of materials he used in the original eau de toilette, rather than discontinue the perfume altogether Meo decided to reformulate it and make it an eau de parfum. 3# nota di viaggio is a tribute to Meo Fusciuni’s mother and his homeland of Sicily, so it’s clearly not something he wanted to do away with because of some regulations, so instead he made an amped up version of the previous one which is more powerful, not only in strength but in feeling. It opens much greener and has an almost boozy, smoothly bitter aromatic quality, there is more heft in the base and structure, and the overall fragrance is more complex and dynamic. There is a very realistic leafy green aspect coming from the fig leaf, and enhanced by artemisia, it has an almost absinthe like quality to it. This is balanced by a beautiful jasmine, creamy ylang ylang, and in the base there is the addition of benzoin and woods along with the original incense. The overall feel of the perfume is heavier, but it still retains that sort of ethereal quality about it. But it’s not as simple as the sort of pure, white light feeling of the original, although that aspect is still included, it is more herbaceous, there is more creaminess, a gentle touch of smokiness, and a slight bit more masculinity in the base which makes it more solidly unisex. I believe this aspect was added to reflect his father as well, or family as a whole. The entire fragrance is beautifully balanced and maybe the most classically structured perfume he has done. There is such a beautiful quality about it, very refined, almost pristine, but it still carries that feeling of joy and contentment of the original. A perfect example of a reformulation done right.

I found my holy grail fig a long time ago in Fig Tree by Sonoma Scent Studio. I don't know why I am so obsessed with finding something similar to it. Maybe because when most fig fragrances claim to be fig, they actually smell like coconut. And that irks me. This is the closest to a true fig fragrance that I have ever smelled, aside from Fig Tree. It's a beautiful fig fragrance that deserves far more attention. It's clean, green and woody. Mostly I get a sheer, delicate feeling from this one, but as it develops it gains depth, rather than fading and becoming wispy. It has a borderline-shampoo vibe about it. There is a musk in it that reminds me of fruity shampoo, but its natural elements save it from becoming too synthetic. Because of the musk, it reminds me of Debaser, where I get a lot more synthetics. I would say this is somewhere in the middle of Fig Tree and Debaser. I notice frankincense in the base, which brightens it and keeps it going strong for hours, as well as *real* cedar. The feel is sunny, carefree, breezy. Not creamy and I don't notice any powder. I wonder if Fragrantica accidentally listed "powdery notes" instead of "musk," as the thumbnails look similar. In comparison, Fig Tree is more naturalistic, richer, creamier, and never reminds me shampoo. You truly get a lot of natural ingredients and can really smell the the white sap of the unripened fruit, the bark of the tree and the lush leaves. It's a matter of personal preference. If you are looking for something that feels more fresh, clean and reminiscent of the leaves, this is the cream of the crop of fig perfumes!

I find that my life is subject to serendipity more so than the average person. Because I don't have the freedom do anything at my choice time, which includes everything from taking a bite of food to how fast I want to type a review, I rely on two things. I rely on God and I rely on serendipity. This morning I decided to try on #3 and I have no idea why. Maybe to just mix it up. I was looking for something naturally aquatic for the past few days, but I was not thinking this had anything associated with that. Come to find out, about 10 minutes after I sprayed this on, I started to get a naturally occurring smell of the sea. I thought I was playing tricks on myself. Upon reading the description of the fragrance, Meo referenced his grandmother's house that resided overlooking the ocean. If he tried to emulate that in this fragrance, he succeeded. You get a gentle breeze Ocean water in the background. It is really beautiful and I think it takes a couple of tries before you know it. Especially if you don't try it in the summer. I am pleasantly surprised. This is where serendipity comes in. I had no idea #3 in that category. It's very similar to Squid from zoologist. But more so as a supporting character. The Jasmine and the fig leaf are the focus. This fragrance is a good example of Meo being able to create art through a different medium. If you allow yourself, you can experience and feel the exact location and the essence of his memory. The beauty and safety of his childhood home overlooking the ocean.

Excellent Fig scent that successfully treads the line between being too sweet and syrupy ( a la Pulp}, and not overly green (a la ninfeo meo). The latter is especially important to me as some green Fig scents can smell too much like ivy... And as a result, cat pee. But this stays far away from any of that. It's a beautiful creation that melds the fig together with supporting fruits and floral notes... With a slight resiny and woody base. This is a great scent that leans feminine in my opinion. No surprise there as this perfume is made with the nose's mother in mind. She must have been a strong woman... And while this scent is slightly feminine, it isn't overly delicate and has an underlying strength.

This is a very well blended, creamy fig fragrance. The bergamot plays very nicely here, not very noticeable, except in the way it somehow enhances the depth of the fig. It’s more dense and sappy, making it more like the fragrance can be tasted. I love the beautiful, subtle, yet present frankincense. Maybe that is what gives it a smidgen of sourness also. To me it leans masculine, but can be pulled off by a woman as well. One spray should last the day. It seems there is a spirituality that the creator was reaching for and that is the sense I get when I wear it. When I want to be in that frame of mind, I tend to reach for this.