Cielito Lindo

The latest release from Rasei Fort (owner/perfumer of Fort & Manle) under his own brand, Cielito Lindo, originally released earlier this year as a 100ml EDP but was since re-released as a 50ml extrait. It is inspired by a love story set in Guanajuato, Mexico, and is a boozy, sweet, resinous, and somewhat floral mix, featuring notes of tequila, labdanum, rose, tonka, cinnamon, and caramel. The sweeter side of it is very sweet, sort of the fancifully confectionary side of liquor broadened by resins, but it is balanced significantly by the spicy floral side of tequila, which has its own sweetness but is largely tart and floral in real life and that comes through in the in the fragrance, as well. It definitely leans sharp rather than dull, and it captures the biting side of tequila in a way that is softened by some the sweeter side of the tonka and labdanum. Overall, it’s a fun, artistic, high-performing exploration of tequila and resins in fragrance with just the right amount of sweets and spices to make the blend feel grounded while still innovative. It’s emblematic of Rasei’s creativity both in Fort & Manle and his own named line that includes Kolonya and La Whatever. Certainly I’d recommend checking this out. Cielito Lindo is sold in the US via Tigerlily and Luckyscent at $150 for 50ml, as well as via the Fort & Manle website. 8 out of 10

I had a feeling that I would love this, hence the reason I ordered a sample. Cielito Lindo is a moment - and emotion - captured in a scent. It's like a balmy summer night with a sultry stranger, who smells of the world's best tobacco - offering to buy you the best shot of tequila in the house. And just like that stranger it's romantic, sensual, and maybe a little bit dangerous. This beauty opens with a heavy shot of tequila and lime at the beginning, but then a decent slice of vanilla a cinnamon is served shortly after. At this time it becomes this balmy, aromatic cloud that's equal parts calming and arousing - basically witchcraft in a bottle. It's a seductive scent, and I wouldn't be surprised if this garnered compliments - and then some! I know for a FACT that I'm grabbing a bottle when I get the chance!

Remember Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown? No reservations? I'll come back to Tony in a minute. Cielito Lindo is made up of many things you would be familiar with by themselves that somehow in the hands of Rasei Fort capture something so special. This manages to bottle the smells of traveling through a new place and getting lost and everything blending together, familiar things food being cooked, drinks being shared fun being had and all those smells and sites of a new place will forever be remembered you can still smell those places when you close your eyes. That is what you get here that jolt of adventure and excitement new yet familiar. Tony showed us that in his TV shows just like Rasei Fort shows us in his perfumes especially this one go out find a sample or better support good art and get a bottle.

I just received this today, I absolutely love it. I just want to share my initial thoughts upon first spraying this - bear in mind I have the 50ml extrait which I believe is the same, only more concentrated. This, to me, for the first hour or so, smells like Christmas. Specifically Stollen, the German spiced fruit bread/cake laced with booze. The cinnamon must give it that spicy feel, I honestly feel like there should be some type of dried fruit note to this. It's such a well blended, beautiful scent. The ambergris is present for me but I think that gives it the salty vibe, as if you are doing a shot of tequila in Mexico. Really beautiful, and totally unisex IMO.

Cielito Lindo by Rasei Fort is an incredibly artistic fragrance. The tequila note is prominent, but is balanced by spice, especially cinnamon, vanilla, and tonka beans, as well as the most beautiful rose note. This fragrance really takes you on a journey and you can almost feel the warm Mexican sun as you drink in this gourmand gem. A hidden masterpiece. 10/10

This smells like christmas. You know, those unrealistic, tacky but beautifully painted sceneries on chocolate advent calendars. This is exactly that. I really like this aromatic scent but the sentiment makes me love it.

Grabbed a bottle (along with Kolonya) recently. First and second impressions are this is a gourmand for people that don't like overly sweet gourmands. It kind of dances back and forth between a well balanced sweetness, floral, milkiness, spicy cinnamon and an every so slight sea + salt vibe. I don't really perceive Tequila personally in the few wearings I've had to date. Really interesting from a blend perspective but aside from the analysis it's also just really nice to smell! It's perfectly unisex imho and I would say more of an evening or cooler weather scent given its edge towards warmth. I feel (probably the cinnamon giving me associations) this is one I'll be using a lot this fall.

Well I'm glad I tried it, but I wouldn't call this oriental. It starts with a salty, sweet, blend of rose and tequila with a smattering of spices. In this phase it is quite charming, and enjoyable. But (on ME) it dries down to someone's breathe after too many margaritas. Not BAD breathe, but just the smell of alcohol and a bit of lime and... that's it. Very flat, and unrelenting. It goes on this way for HOURS in this single monotone that eventually becomes grating. Sadly all the spices that made it interesting in the top don't last (on me, ymmv) and it becomes a one note gourmand without the oriental base that would have made it a stunner.

An interesting Oriental gourmand influenced the perfumers travel to Mexico, this is a pleasant and evocative scent. The scent opens with notes of cinnamon, tequila, caramel and tonka bean. The heart is rose, labdanum, incense and slight ambergris. The perfume settles into a powdery bed of vanilla, synthetic musk and vetiver. The unisex scent has moderate sillage and projection and good longevity. Recommended for fans of gourmand boozy scents and unusual Orientals. Enjoy!

It is like those Christmas lit candles. Yummy and cozy.

I received a decanted sample of Cielito Lindo from LuckyScent. The opening is a wonderful blend of tequila, cinnamon, and florals.. but once the scent settles it takes on a saccharine and powdery quality, and has an impressively dominating reach. Before long I started feeling nauseous, and after a few futile more tries to give it a chance, I had to toss it. :(

Cielito Lindo by Rasei Fort is an absolute masterpiece from my whole collection. It's a sweet-spicy-salty fragrance. Though it starts off with a gourmand blast, gradually spicy notes and sandalwood take over the sweetnesses, and then it turns into a spicy-powdery scent. At that time, it smells exactly like a spice store, where all kinds of spices create a beautiful aroma that is so warm and peaceful.The dry down is so stunning, which is salty, spicy, and powdery. I can feel the presence of ambergris, which makes it salty and musky. I get a very mild lactonic vibe from the beginning to the end as well.To me, it's not a sweet or gourmand scent. It focuses more on spices. Very unique and complex fragrance from my whole collection, which is sadly discontinued. A perfect scent for fall and winter. ****Cielito Lindo was inspired by the tragic love story which took place in Guanajuato, Mexico. A couple (Maria Gonzalez and Juan Hernandez) who wanted to be together until their last breath but they couldn't. ****

I dont know if I like the pieces or the puzzle. The piece that stands out the most is a gunky caramel accord tantamount to something you would find in New Haarlem. When the labdanum joins, it instigates the caramel note turning the whole fragrance into pure mocha. The vanilla confluently joins the other sweet notes forming a river stream of sugariness. The gentleness of the rose allows the saccharinity to bully the atmosphere. Cielito is a fun fragrance in the margins although the merriment is outlined by gloominess.

Spices and Caramel are the dominant force in this scent. You get a little rose and something fresh in the opening as well, but the spices and caramel are what drives this scent. Reminds me of Serge Lutens'Le Participe Passé without the cumin. It's not a gourmand by any means. The vanilla is very faint in the background so it doesn't give off that gourmand sweet vibe. A real cozy caramel scent for autumn/winter.