Loafer

Smells like a leather and a good cigar

I was back fragrance shopping and noticed that the Roberto Ugolini fragrances have been heavily discounted. So I figured I’d give them a try and see whether they’re my cup of tea. I’m aware that Roberto Ugolini is known for very distinctive niche scents, but right from the first spray, this one reminds me of a lubricant or a strong glue you might find lying around in a workshop. It doesn’t smell medicinal—more like a product used for manual work. The fragrance is hard to describe, but to me it smells unpleasant. Overall, it comes across as woody-floral, but the composition is dominated by an unpleasant floral note (clove). The clove is far too strong and adds a strangely chemical/industrial nuance to the woody-floral character, making it feel more like something from a workshop than a perfume. Aside from that one floral note, the scent is okay. The best way I can describe it is as an alternative plant-based lubricant or all-purpose adhesive—not a chemical one, but a plant-based lubricant or glue. Something you’d find in a hobby workshop. After about 3 to 4 hours, the clove calmed down and the fragrance became noticeably more pleasant and sweeter—but by then it was only a skin scent. It’s wearable during the day—ideally in a creative environment. Maybe for an art dealer, a painter, or a fashion designer. It works best in autumn and winter; with just a couple of sprays, it could also work in spring. It won’t necessarily win you a lot of new friends, though. Sillage and longevity were very good—on skin it remains clearly noticeable for around 3–4 hours. As you would for a proper fragrance test, I didn’t wash it off after applying it—I wore it and tested it for hours. A true niche fragrance, far away from Hugo Boss and Jean Paul Gaultier. For me, it’s absolutely not for me. For an art dealer or a fashion designer, possibly.