Roberto Cavalli Nero Assoluto

❤ PURE LOVE ❤ Just got gifted this beauty for my birthday so excuse my rather ineloquent review, I'll update later. Oh this is beautiful! Everything from the gorgeous black bottle with gold topper, to the scent is sheer perfection. If you're not into "dark and heavy" fragrances, don't let this beauty put you off. It's creamy, sensual, comforting, sweet and feminine. A lovely mix of orchids, vanilla and woods which mix together perfectly, surrounding you all day. Not overpowering like some typical dark fragrances. This one is sensual, yet safe enough for all occasions and all weather. Perfect for the colder seasons, yet light enough it can be worn in warm weather too. My perfect "safe but sensual" black scent! ;) Update: So I've been wearing this beauty all year round and decided it was finally worthy of an update, since my tastes change so often these days. It's summertime here now and I'm still able to wear it without feeling overwhelmed by the vanilla unlike some other vanilla-heavy perfumes. I find my skin projects the black ebony woody notes and a bit of citrus (which I couldn't detect before), much better in warmer weather. Yes it's fairly linear, but that's what I enjoy about it; no nasty surprises. It's the same gorgeous scent from beginning to end. On my skin, I get a full-bodied, floral woody vanilla, with hints of citrus popping out at random times. Longevity on bare skin is average 4-5 hours, which is better than most scents that seem to disappear within 2 hours on me. Sprayed on clothes it lasts forever though! I spray my usual pulse points, then walk through a cloud of fragrance sprayed in the air. Finally, a decent spray over my shirt. Maybe it sounds like a lot, but this way it lasts all night for me. The best part is; it has a tendency to settle into fabric. I sprayed my t-shirt once, after coming home and changing I could still smell it, it must have gone through the fabric and the scent settled in my bra. With this you get lovely little wafts of orchids just surrounding you all day or night. EDT: I don't think this smells like Euphoria at all. I have and love both, but for different reasons. Euphoria has a more amber-mahogany woody scent; giving it a masculine edge some women don't enjoy. NA is floral woody and the vanilla gives it a creamy, sensual feel. Very feminine unlike Euphoria which is perhaps a bit powdery at most.

"Ochid" & Vanilla-Woods Flanker. Opens with a burst of citruses & the fantasy note of orchid - which here is code for Roberto Cavalli Signature and is built with other florals that most definitely include orange-blossom, grape-leaning jasmine and soft purple tones. That deepens into heart with additional vanilla tones, resting on a shades-of-wood base. This scent isn't as bombastic as Roberto Cavalli Signature, but still definitely contains the DNA, and softens it with some vanilla and woody tones. A true flanker IMHO. This is really pretty, and will be easier to wear for some than the original. This flanker is similar to the original, Roberto Cavalli Signature, in the way that Liquid Gold Euphoria CK is similar to Euphoria CK (orchid is also code for the original in the notes breakdown here). I understand the comparison to Euphoria Calvin Klein with the tart purple-violet floral tones, although these are different and Nero Assoluto doesn't feature patchouli or whipped cream. This layers amazingly well with rose scents for a jammy vanilla rose, for example Nirvana Rose Elizabeth & James or Oscar Rose Oscar de la Renta. Overall slightly above average performance, and a beautiful orange-blossom-jasmine & vanilla-woods scent profile. It's a love for me. Enjoy! Update 08/11/24: Sprayed this on my hand this morning. To me it most smells like the original, and a traditional flanker. I keep waiting for the woods to intensify. Maybe I haven't sprayed enough out of the bottle, or maybe that's how it is. If it evolves more I will post another update.

This....is....FABULOUS! I had "lost" this perfume for a couple of years. Then I found it behind my dresser. It kept well in the dark! I had forgotten how much I loved this perfume. First spray, it smells very masculine, but after a minute or two, it really opens up. It becomes sweeter, deeper, very smooth, rich, decadent, sexy, and boss lady. Like others have said, it gives off a bit of a plum vibe even though that is not a note listed. The woody undertone is deep and smooth, very creamy and blends so well with the vanilla. The vanilla is not very sweet, it is a smooth, raw, natural vanilla. Absolutely gorgeous perfume. So glad I found this again. I heard someone compare this to Burberry Brit. Funny story, I had just gone upstairs to my collection and sprayed Burberry Brit on my left arm, and Roberto Cavalli Nero Assoluto on my right....total happenstance. Anyway, they do have a lot of similarity on the dry down, however, the Burberry Brit feels very musky, hazy, and thick with a more "old pear" smell. The Roberto Cavalli Nero Assoluto is so much more smooth, transparent, well-blended, sensual, mysterious, and on and on and on....Roberto Cavalli Nero Assoluto has won this match-up for sure! I could see them layering really well together, too! However, I feel like I want the RC Nero Assoluto to shine on its own :)

I don't think I've owned a fragrance that transforms quite like Nero Assoluto. It slowly and coyly shape-shifts from stinging peppery woods, into the most sensual orchid-vanilla blessing I've ever been gifted. When I bought it for a mere $25 on ebay out of curiosity, I wasn't expecting much in the first place. I first sprayed it and was disappointed by its first impression, which was quite prickly, as I described above. I was afraid it would settle into a generic woody fragrance, and for a while, it did. "Boring. Guess I'll resell this", I thought. UNTIL... until... the sultry wafts of orchid and vanilla reached my nose a few minutes later, mingling with settled woody notes. Oh, my heart. Absolutely marvelous. Just give this one some time. I am fully seduced by this gothic orchid perfection. I keep reaching for this bottle now, as it has become my latest addiction. Befitting for a poetic soul. It could be considered a winter fragrance, but I will personally be wearing this whenever I feel like romanticizing life. Note: I find the references to Black Orchid unfounded, despite sharing similar notes. Black Orchid is a disappointing vetiver beast on me, while Nero Assoluto is smooth like top shelf whiskey. CK Euphoria? Sure, I could see that.

I've been looking for an everyday, lighter Black Orchid alternative and i think i finally found it. It may still be heavy for some, but its much more warm weather friendly than BO. It has a very similar vibe- from the woody orchid notes down to the bottle. Im surprised my beloved Black Orchid is not on the list under similar to Nero Assoluto. Overall I think its perfect for anyone into somewhat dark fragrances who's looking for something more citrus-y. Speaking of citrus-y when i tried the new repackaged Nero Assoluto I couldn't smell any citrus- it was a two toned woody vanilla with something oddly sweet. Perhaps it was reformulated...for the worst- the new bottle screams cheap and i mean it. The minimalistic design that almost all Roberto Cavalli perfumes now have makes me sick! The generic zara vibes bottle, in my opinion, leads to many people missing out on even trying it. Many people have told me that the scent of Nero Assoluto screams luxury, the bottle of it as well...meanwhile the price is relatively affordable (30€ on a black friday sale). Must buy.