Animanobile

This underscores the Italian romanticism in me. Green, natural, diffusive, evocative of the Italian countryside with fig trees, neroli flowers and tea fields. A transition. There is sweetness in the same way you smell in the air rolling across green meadows, or taste in mineral water, a cup of fresh milk, or smelling in icing sugar or a young, wild flower. A velvety creaminess and a pinch of powder - like the memory of an almond dessert made by nonna when you were a child. What a divine scent. Another winner from Omnia Profumi

This is one of those scents that smells quite different when sniffed very close or compared to its sillage. It begins dewy, green, creamy and powdery, with a fig leaf and sap accord, but at the same time mixed with what is akin to orris root, settling after 10-15 minutes to open up into an ethereal, fruity-floral sweet scent with a slight gourmand touch. The powdery aspect remains, but becomes even creamier as the fragrance heads into the mid, giving the fragrance lift, and a gentle, but noticeable sillage. In the air, the scent trail is quite beautiful; the sweetness is reminiscent of the style of Profumum Roma's Sorriso and Dulcis in Fundo, restrained and sweetly intriguing but also innocently playful at the same time. It reminds me of marshmallows and almond dragees coated in icing sugar. Great for a casual setting during Winter, Autumn or Spring. Decidedly unisex, and certainly very good as a comfort scent before bedtime!

I picked up this 75% bottle of Animanobile from a fragrance group for an absolute steal - AUD $60 and it turned out to be far more intriguing than its note pyramid initially suggests. On paper, the blend of almond, vanilla, sugar, neroli and musk leans gourmand but in reality, Animanobile opens in a completely unexpected direction. The first impression is fresh, slightly green and quietly woody with a nuanced nuttiness threading through. The almond here isn’t immediately creamy or sweet, it leans closer to a subtle bitter almond facet, giving the opening a drier, more composed character that borders on traditionally masculine. As it evolves, the fragrance softens and deepens. The almond gradually becomes milkier, almost like lightly sweetened almond milk, while the sharper edges fade. This transition allows the heart to breathe. Neroli flickers gently in the background, adding a soft floral brightness without pulling it into overt sweetness. The true beauty of Animanobile reveals itself in the drydown. A smooth amber-vanilla accord begins to unfurl, enriched by tonka bean and vanilla bean, wrapping the skin in a warm, slightly powdery sweetness. It’s soothing, almost meditative; a quiet contrast to the restrained opening. The musk anchors everything, keeping the composition refined rather than indulgent. There’s an interesting duality here: a fragrance that starts composed and slightly austere, then melts into something soft, comforting and gently gourmand. To my nose, it shares a conceptual space with EPC Pistachio Haiku. Both explore nutty accords in a refined, non-literal way. However, Pistachio Haiku leans greener and more overtly woody, with its fig-forward opening and richer pistachio presence, whereas Animanobile feels more restrained, smoother and more focused on the almond to amber-vanilla progression.