Roberto Cavalli Oro

Cavalli Oro is one of those perfume Rorschach blots, where what you smell says a lot about what you want, what you expect, and what you already like or dislike. I came to it because I’m a girl from the American South who was looking for an interesting magnolia scent that didn’t smell watery or insipid, and that’s what I get from Oro: a long-lived, properly wavy and lemony magnolia accord buttressed by a classical Oriental base, with an appropriately Souttern peach note in the mix, and a thread of slightly boozy vanilla. I find it charming and easy to wear in relatively warm weather, which coincides with spring and magnolia season, so it does exactly what I want it to do. I don’t find Oro to be particularly spicy or regal; it’s not a heavy hitter like a lot of Oriental perfumes from other Italian fashion houses. It doesn’t feature the powerful Mediterranean orange and aromatic herbs that I associate with Italian classics from houses like Krizia, and it’s not as busy or as commanding as the classic Valentinos like the first, eponymous Parfum (a crazy Roman Empire-era fruit salad stuffed with all the treasures of the East) or (the very aptly named) Diva. The early Gucci perfumes also have similar, sunny, almost outdoorsy profile, suggestive of citrus groves and rosemary plants, fig trees and sage—gloriously evocative perfumes with a distinctive style that has carried over into the newer niche houses like Masque Milano, whose perfumes seem to come from a place closer to the earth or at least to the garden, rather than the dedicated floral plantation or especially the laboratory. Oro is softer than these, sweeter, and perhaps a tad more confected—but it is also lighthearted, a little flirty, easy to wear, conventionally pretty without being boring, and—particularly virtuous in these days of increasingly outrageous pricing—very inexpensive. So if you have a serious yen to bring the ephemeral scent of magnolia (they sadly lose their aroma within seconds of being picked), Oro is a fantastic choice. It’s also just an easygoing warm weather Oriental for times when more powerful scents might be overwhelming, or when a more serious-minded perfume doesn’t suit your mood or your ensemble. Mini sizes are particularly generous and easy to find all over the aftermarket. It’s not thebperfume I would have expected from a designer as exuberant as Roberto Cavalli, but it has a perky personality all its own, and right now—late March through late May—is the perfect time to enjoy its carefree company.

I remember a time when sweet, spicy, cinnamon(y) type fragrances were considered orientals- and, gourmand elements were said to be "spicy". Gourmands were an olfactory sensation within the spicy/oriental category and not a category unto themselves. Oro falls into this slot, as being a spicy/oriental fragrance with some quasi-gourmand notes that is not an official gourmand fragrance. The heart of this fragrance contains pepper, which sets the stage for an acrobatic act of spicy accords. You have the sensation of sweet and spicy nutmeg, with a vanillic kick- thanks to pepper. It's warm and sightly pungent and certainly sexy. But it's not all about the spices. There are lilting top notes and a soft woody base that rounds out the composition. This fragrance claims to last a full 11 hours, and does if you use the entire line. But, for the EDP by itself-expect about 4 to 6 good hours of scent. The bottle gets a little bad reviewing for several factors. It is assumed that the pattern on the bottle is snakeskin. But, it's not. It's actually a wave pattern designed to represent sand ripples in a hot desert. The snake covering the top of the bottle is a sidewinder- a common desert snake. However, I think it would have done better to be made of metal or glass and include more detailing...and perhaps be affixed to the bottle. This is not a gourmand fragrance that reminds us of holiday desserts. It's intention is to bring us to the world of the exotic with sultry warmth and forbidden spice accords. Instead of thinking cookies and parties, imagine yourself on a desert safari. Opulent, silk tents furnished with tapestried carpets-incense burning, hot winds and drifting dunes turning to gold in the evening sun. That's the message of Oro. Exotic. Sensual. Hot. Sultry.

Maurice Roucel is one of my fave noses, because he does really rich and sexy scents, and almost unconventional ones! cavalli oro is really not a shy perfume - it's sultry and sexy in a 'romantic' way, not nasty! starts juicy with delicious apple and mandarin, cinnamon kicks in very exiting, the magnolia is creamy and soft and gives this woody-spicy oriental a very feminine touch in the heart. soft patchouli, woody spicy cedar and quaiac wood are calming down the sweetness, but the juiciness of the top will still pop up sparkly from the background. heart settles well down to that wonderful and tempting oriental bottomnotes of sandalwood, amber, musk and a hint of vanilla. all notes are nice blendet to a very rich, honeylike composition, bold but comfortable to wear. a scent that make people remembering you because it's very attractive and distinguish, feminine and for good - not very popular. this juice is shurely not offending but it's remarkable: sweet flowery oriental trails will surround you for some hours without having to reaply. put it on your hair too! sillage very good, staying power very good. the bottle is really cute, i like this feminine and elegant design and the plastic snake suits it very well without making it cheap-looking. well done cavalli! thumbs up! btw. the pink one is delicious too! not at all to compare with this one but very pink in a elegant way, sweet and very distinguable. not girlish, but feminine and romantic. love both of them!

Oro is a Super Strong SPICY powerhouse ! SWEET, very very feminine, lively, exotic, very oriental ! Oro is POWERFUL, like the classic oriental perfumes of the late 1970's and '80's. Like those classic fragrances, Oro is unique, memorable, well blended, and definitely a classic oriental. ORO emphasizes SPICES, and these spices STAY with you......they don't fade away. One quick spray in your hair will last until your next shampoo. ORO lasts incredibly long on clothing fabrics, too. On skin, the scent calms down a bit after an hour or so, but clings until your next shower. For those whose skin "eats" perfume, you might want to use ORO Body Lotion, then spray the perfume on top of that. ORO will last on dry skin if you use the body lotion first. Another way to make perfumes last is to add just a very thin layer of mineral oil or Vaseline to skin, then spray perfume over it. If you like the Original formula of Yves St Laurent Opium, you will probably like ORO. Oro seems a bit sweeter than Opium, and more "sparkly and lively." ORO is strong , so very little goes a long long way.

I am gradually adding to my Roberto Cavalli fragrance collection; I have yet to discover one I don't at least like! I made what I now know to be the - bad - decision to buy this last year. It has been discontinued and is now hard to find - so naturally, I've fallen passionately in love with it. Oro opens with a peppery, savoury-spicy punch. This calms down within about 15 minutes to a warm and creamy, slightly sweet and powdery, woody-cinnamon fragrance. I can't detect apple or any citrus at all, but there is a persistent hint of apricot throughout. I think I would describe this as a spicy oriental/borderline gourmand. I think it would be a good perfume to wear if I need to channel my inner bitch. This is one of my favourite perfumes and I am SO cross with myself for falling in love with it; it's already expensive on eBay but I have to get a back up bottle before it's too late. Moderate longevity and sillage. Definitely not a safe blind buy.

The tall golden bottle and box are absolutely beautiful as is the fragrance inside. To me, it smells "Golden" The sharp cinnamon and creamy vanilla together are lovely. The vanilla takes the bite out of the cinnamon. The apple and pepper at the top are quite sharp and invigorating, but are soon mellowed by the amber and musk. The cedar in the middle notes is long lasting for me and I enjoy it well into the dry down. It is powerful and heady potion, so apply with a light touch. Then be prepared to enjoy each phase as the warmth develops with your own body chemistry. It is quite hard to find, so I snap it up every time I find it. I went without it for a few years and thought of it often. My newest bottle will go very quickly because I reach for it time and time again. Day or night. Any season. It is one of my all time favorites.

the best blind purchase i ever made! absolutely incredible. there isn't one aspect of this perfume that i don't love. from start to finish, she keeps me interested. she's dark, she's sexy, she's complicated, mysterious and intriguing. Mistress Eva compares Oro to a Turkish harem and i have to completely agree. this perfume is so exotic and confident, it makes you feel like a seductive belly dancer. i too get incense from this gem, even though its not listed. a little incense is ALWAYS a good thing in my book, to evoke a little darkness and mystery about the wearer. the price tag is completely off for the goods contained in this bottle. will be wearing this for hot summer nights(aka right now) and with buttery soft leather jackets in the cooler months. timeless, season-less.

This was suggested to me as something similar to CD Dolce Vita, and was a blind buy. I've worn it a few times now, and the more I wear it the more I like it. The opening spray is very similar to Dolce Vita, but that's where it ends. Oro is smooth and warm, spicy with a hint of sweetness, where DV is bright, sweet and joyful. Dolce Vita uplifts my mood, Oro gives me a warm hug. I don't find Oro overly strong, and it lasts about 4/5 hours before I need to respray. I need to stock up on this beauty while it can still be found for a bargain price.

Initially there was something slightly off-putting to me about Oro, but because of all the positive and glowing reviews here, I decided I must give this one another opportunity to win me over. So glad I did. While I felt compelled to wash it off the first time, this time I just waited patiently and lo and behold, within 30 minutes or so that aspect that had put me off before somehow morphed into that dark and mysterious something or other that another reviewer described. It IS deliciously complex and is definitely growing on me.

Spicy is RIGHT!!! But gorgeous if you can just give it about 10 minutes for the pepper and the coriander to settle down into a creamy almost chia tea vibe. I HAVE to preface this with the fact that I LOVE pepper and cinnamon notes in my perfumes. Some of my absolute favorites are Madness by Chopard and Si Lolita by Lolita Lempicka. The sandalwood keeps this one grounded in a soft spicy creamy accord. I recommend. Happy Perfuming!

LOVE IT! I'd call it a woody spicy orintal, I dont get much pepper (thank you very much as I usually dont like pepper) Light on floral to me. I think it will definately be in my top 5 if it lasts, I've only had it on a tad over an hour.. However I hate the plastic rings around the stopper of the .17 mini I got, cute to look at but hard as heck to open as the rings just slide up and down not giving me much to grab on to.

Update... Can now buy it for a song,(Cheap) and I have bought another bottle 75ml.... Have learned to appreciate the difference between Opium YSL,(the price) as Oro has way more sweet limy citrus and is a more sparkling scent, but still similar. Just apply more to the skin, make sure you do not knock the fragile, tall, slender bottle over and the perfume should last...lol...x

Christmas in a bottle! Last year, my daughter remarked that I smelled like spiced eggnog when I was wearing it. While this is spicy, it isn't over-bearing in any way--the cinnamon and pepper are strong for only the first few minutes, and then after that it is a soft, warming and comforting scent for this time of year.

Would be a really lovely perfume if it lasted on the skin. Expensive in Australia and hard to find. Is exotic and very oriental, but tries to be like Opium YSL. Opium wins hands down and lasts forever on the skin. Oro does smell good, but I will not buy another one, I look at it and admire the bottle in my collecton.

...because of this perfume I fell`d in love with Roberto Cavalli `s scents .Always original and best quality ,no fake .All of them are just perfectly good ,nothing reformulated.ORO just one of them,most suitable for cold spring in my opinion,it has warm golden aura,so sensitive ...Just Glowing ...

Absolutely love it! Oro is smooth and woody, with just the right amount of apricot and apple. On my skin, it feels unisex, leaning slightly masculine due to the woods. I highly recommend that both gentlemen and ladies give this beauty a sniff.

It reminds me very much of Dolce Vita by Dior. I can also smell a hint of Givenchy's Organza Indecence (cinnamon) and Kenzo Jungle Elephant. Thus I guess admirers of the above mentioned will go crazy about Oro as I have!!

I can ́t find it anymore here in Brazil, nor the lighter pink version. Was it limited edition? I just love this one! rich, creamy spicy floral, very beautiful scent and cute bottle... now I just use some drops at a time!

My signature fragrance. Very wild as is rapresented, long lasting. Dear Cavalli I just wanna know why the heck this is discontinued, I have two more bottles and then what?? It's impossible to find this perfume nowhere.

Love this....has all my fave notes......will wear it for everything & anything. It's strong & long lasting so gotta go easy on the spray down. Very woodsy-musky-moss with a touch of cinamon.

Initial blast of black pepper & cinnamon.. As someone below said a real spicebomb.. Warms up with the woods & amber.. I really love it! Very strong with good sillage & longevity.

Love this in the fall and winter. Big, bold black pepper and lily on me. Pretty great combination of notes. Yeah, I can't count the times I've tipped the bottle over!

This fragrance is an explosion of seduction. I feel it in the air like velvet waves. It is covering me like a gold dress and I feel me so radiant.

Wore this perfume today and it was simply beautiful. Warm, exotic and sexy. Compliments galore from both men and woman. This is a keeper!

this one so different for me but truly i love the smells its like a cooking biscuits :D spicy and long lasting

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS ! IT IS WONDERFULLY SPICY AND SWEET . . . IT SMELLS SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!

Jsem z něho nadšená-nádherná,orientální vůně-na těle se krásně teple rozvine a drží....

I love it, it smells unique! so diferent.

I was lucky to get a sample roll on of this in a swap. (Thank you Agatha) I am extremely impressed with this perfume. Not only to my nose does it smell absolutely fantastic but the lasting power is incredible. I could get a pleasant wiff of myself over the past 5 hours and still going strong. What is enjoyable about this scent is it's not gushing floral. Initially it goes on with a strong kick but a warm and fuzzy strength. As it settles and soaks into the skin it gets even better, richer and just plain sexy. It seems like a great evening fragrance but can also work in the day if applied with a light hand. It has the feel of a colder weather fragrance and I am loving it completely! Looking for a large bottle in swap :) One thing to note and this is really strange. I was soaking up this gorgeous aroma for 5 hours and loving it. I had to scrub out the bath tub with bleach and ajax and somehow the fumes from the cleaner mixed with the perfume to create a pungent gross skunk smell. Cleaner never touched my skin it was a chemical reaction. This has never happened with any other frag and only when exposed to chemicals - otherwise great frag. Moral of the story is, clean your bathroom on a different day your not wearing this. Otherwise I stick to my original review it's fabulous.

Brought this perfum online I'm a collector and it's becoming hard to find and the notes are usually what I like I really wouldn't call it an oriental vanilla the floral notes illuminate there presence then spice/woody scent but I do get the vanilla scent but not in a gourmard way. Love the bottle it's a form of art work on its own. This is a powerful fragrance and longevity is unreal. It's a true power house frangrace not for the faint hearted or the serial spritzer the key to the this one is less is best one spritz is enough for 24 hr of fragrance. I would advise do not blind buy this one you with either love or loath it. First time I sprayed it I scrubbed it off after two hours and it still stayed on my skin till the next morning. I'm wearing this today to see how it goes very light application. I must admit there is on note I don't like I think it is the freesia comes throw very floral on me. Probably not the best fragrance for office or confined spaces. but it will get you noticed that's for sure it's an out there scent no personal space scent. Great for winter wear to warm you up from the chill outside wrapped in a cashmere scarf.

I fell in love with this after receiving a decant from a wonderful fellow Fragrantista. Thank you, D! I immediately went on line and saw it on E-bay up for auction, an auction that was ending within the hour. I put my bid in, and kept an eye on it, telling myself I would go as high as $30. I didn't want to shell out top dollar for something on E-Bay out of concern regarding counterfeits. Anyway, long story short, I paid less than $25 for it and it was 100% the real deal. I am enjoying it immensely these chilly days. This is equally good for the daytime - a real cozy sweater type of scent - as it is for the evening. Just a very pretty oriental for those who like their spices, woods, and resins with a dash of sweetness. It's a love! EDIT - I have downgraded this to a Like - a very enthusiastic Like, but as my collection has grown, I realized that there are other orientals I prefer. It's still a great scent! It's just that my nose has become more discerning.

I've just picked up a 50ml bottle for £10 at Tkmaxx on a whim after reading reviews here (I'm blaming all your wonderful reviews for my rapidly diminishing shelf space!) So, first spray and it wasn't love, it's nice but a bit sparkling for my taste! Does that make sense? In the same way that Notorious has a big glittery opening - oro has quite a metallic wallop that's just not me. After first hour or so, lurking in the background is lovely cinnamon, wood, patchouli combo that really comes into it's own on the drydown. It's gorgeous, and smells much more than it's price. Very comforting, surprisingly sophiscated and well worth the wait.

Oh, my, very lovely and different spicy fragrance......it does have some similarities with Nu YSL, but Oro is spicier. Actually, I even smell something reminiscent of Kenzo Jungle Elephant. Beautiful bottle too....but the snake had to go right away. On my skin the sillage is great, 5 sprays and I can enjoy it for a few hours. Overall, I am impressed with Cavalli fragrances....unique scents and lovely presentation. Having looked up the nose behind it, no wonder I like ti so much.....one of my favourite Guerlains were created by the same person.

I absolutely love it (as well as the rather suggestive bottle) -- it is one of my new signature fragrances. It is extremely sensual & warm, to me evoking images of a decadent Turkish harem. It is probably an evening scent, though I often wear it during the day as I am prone to overdress. If you like something exotic, bold & darkly sexy, you might look into this. I don't imagine those who prefer sugary, fruity or edible-smelling perfumes would care for this one at all.

Starts off with strong sour apricot and bitter woods with something medicinal along with spices. Very intense and some might be put off by the opening but as it settles the sour fruit subsides and a soft powdery marshmallow smell similar to divin enfant comes along. Combined with the spices and woods it smells very oriental and alluring. The more it develops the more the amber becomes stronger. Definitely try before you buy because it's quite intense.

I took a quick sniff of this at a friend's and found it inoffensive but not compelling -- then after reading reviews on here, I bought it, and oh I LOVE this. It's definitely a shapeshifter on me -- it goes on very sweet and creamy and cinnamony, with just enough amber to anchor it, and dries down into warm peppery woods with just a ghost of sweet spiciness. It definitely turns into a skin scent in the latter phase, but it really is lovely throughout.

I'm not really a fan of apricots in fragrances. I always thought that Daim Blonde would have been perfect if not for that note but here it adds a bit of depth so Oro doesn't come across as a boring fresh, slightly spicy uninteresting fragrance (the coriander helps too). The drydown is a bit powdery which makes it feel a bit more old fashioned but in saying so, it's not a heavy hitter like the Opiums etc of old - it's definitely a modern fragrance.

Just a short note regarding Roberto Cavalli's "Oro." I recently bought the 2.5 ounce EDP and was wondering what year this fragrance was launched. According to Basenotes: it's from 2004. I did an unsniffed "blind buy" of this based on the notes, reviews, and kind recommendation of a fellow Fragrantican. I have yet to try it (on my skin.) I'll return with a review shortly. Enjoy!

This is on special at TJ Max right now for 15.00 for 75 ml, 2.5 ounces. I smelled it. It does have a stronger note of cinnamon. But I think it just doesn't round off well. I didn't care for it. I think if you want something that smells expensive and oriental that you should go for Cinnabar, or something by Estee Lauder...It is spicy, but smells sort of cheap.

Cavalli Oro is Dolce Vita's Italian counterpart. It is spicy, floral and amazing. For my lifestyle Dolce Vita is my work-safe perfume, never too sexy or strong but with a distinct character and unforgettable smell. Cavalli Oro is my night-out Dolce Vita. Strong cinnamon blended with peppery florals, amber and sandalwood... Really sad it's discontinued...

🙂 a ladylike floral, wood, and apricot combination. all blended to create something feminine, yet individualistic. the coriander and pepper give it a slight "edge". somewhat deep and sweet in a very "natural" way. for cool weather, suitable for any age. work appropriate if used in moderation. puts me in the mind of a Burberry scent. tasteful and unique.

This smelled quite old-fashioned to my nose. Old flowers, sandalwood and citrus, not so much fruity as slightly fermented. It has spiciness at its heart which rounds it out, somewhat similar to Aqaba in that. It doesn't speak to me otherwise. Updated: I've tried this again... wow spicy woods underneath... this scent is really growing on me...

It’s very unique. At first it’s smelled a bit medicinal/herbal, but when it dried it’s smelled warm, lush, and opulent. The lasting power is amazing! I took a shower and washed my wrist with soap where I sprayed the perfume, and I can still smell it afterwards. One bottle will last you for very long while.

This is sooooo incredibly strong! I just held it for a while in TJ Maxx and took a few sniffs, and all through the car ride home I could smell it on me! The smell is very nice though, very classy and mature without being matronly. I just wouldn't have the guts to wear something this strong.

"Sexy!" Is what my husband said about this one. Spiced blood oranges that become powdery as the hours go by. The low cost surprises me, nose Maurice Roucle created Bond no 9 and Amouage perfumes as well. This is great quality. I do prefer this on fabric rather than skin

Amazing spice bomb with enormous lasting power. Very powerful opening and after 10 mins the miracle is presented with majesty. Do not hesitate at all and try it.One of the best oriental perfumes. The bottle is unusual and must be treated gently. Thanks R Cavalli.

the bottle is a piece of art..the scent is a little heavy for me...but my husband loves it..I just spray it after shower lightly in the air and walk under..and it's on my skin forever..incredible longevity..makes me think the Egyptian Cleopatra would love this!!

It smells like powder and flowers, which remind me of my mother and walking through a garden. A little less sweet and a little more wood for myself. But I'd wear it on a gloomy day to make you wonder every so often where live flowers are...

very nice, i can smell the cinnamon at the opening. with time the scent gets a lot lighter, turns into clementines, with a touch of pepper (or if I have to go by the notes, apricots and freesia).

I was wearing it out tonight and it was still going on strong after 3 hours until I came home and washed it off. This spicy scent goes really well with brown, cream and beige clothes.