Nostalgia

I am nervous to review this scent because I only just purchased it on the weekend. I went shopping for a new signature. Nothing was really speaking to me, and the Santa Maria Novella shop was the last place I wanted to go before giving up. Shoutsout the indefatigable Estelle who came with me and consulted – she works the Gucci counter at the international airport so she knows her stuff. The shop attendant explained the backstory to me. I'm not into cars–I haven't driven a car since my driving test (which I passed with flying colours, I just don't like driving because I get crash premonitions)–and I don't really like Italians, but as a trained Medievalist and the chicest inhalant huffer around this appealed to me. It was love at first whiff. I instantly loved how plastick-y it smelled. It evokes packing peanuts, motor oil, grease, keyboard cleaner, gasoline. The word 'Holy Grail' comes to mind... "It's styrax," said the attendant. "What the fuck is that?" I replied "Burning rubber." "Well, take my money." I wore this for the first time to a gallery opening the night after we 'broke up' for like the fifth time. Of course he showed up. He said I made a good choice and that it suited me. The night was a car crash–How did we end up at a wedding? Why did he leave me on the side of the road? How did I wake up next to him again? Nostal-gia... The bottle is infallible. I like the uncomfortableness of the fogged glass, like a chalkboard, against my nails. It is certainly animalic. It reminds me of pigs, all squished in against one another on a truck, oinking..oinking.... I told myself I wasn't going to get another woody, dark fragrance, but I couldn't help it. It stays very close to the skin though, unlike other woods. My only qualm is that it does not last very long, maybe two to four hours before it fades. I have not had a perfume like this before, one that I have to spray in like five different points (shoutsout Jeremy Fragrance who taught me where the best, most sexiest places are). Be careful because this scent is really seductive. I was turned on for like three days after I started wearing it and, as you read above, we had 'broken up'–FOR THE LAST TIME I PROMISE–so what was I supposed to do except sit on my hands? At $215AUD I think it's reasonably priced. I was looking to shell out that day anyways. I love that it really popped off amongst Fragrantica users in 2011 and since then has fallen somewhat out of favour. It sprays on smelling like a catastrophic spillage coating ten thousand white swans in tar, and dries down pretty masculine. What more could you want.

I must let you know that I [love] this fragrance. NOSTALGIA SANTA MARIA NOVELLA is art. It instantly transports you to another time. Of polished farm-made leather-meets-guilty pleasure petrol. But also of varnished lacquered wood, and antique old world books with covers built of hide. Yet it is art, and despite, I can Not wear this for public or fun. One of your first ideas in the joys of fragrance finding is the idea that strong perfumes are better. I'm sure however that you may enjoy the experience of something in the background over something that reminds you its right next to you all the time. And NOSTALGIA is really strong! I can't stand to wear one spray because it makes my skin too noticeable (of leather polish and a hint of petrol, even!) Another reviewer below me also acknowledges it makes this a bit unwieldy in wearability. However! I found the perfect use of NOSTALGIA SANTA MARIA NOVELLA. Home Spray! Now why would you pay $195 for a glorified home spray? Because NOSTALGIA is exactly IT-- NOSTALGIA SANTA MARIA NOVELLA is the [holy grail] scent to make any home smell of lacquered wood, and polished leather. (And a bit of petrol if you spray too much, but that might just be your thing if your house looks industrial.)

Having first discovered Nostalgia at the Santa Maria Novella boutique in Florence in 2015, this fragrance became the first that I always made sure I had a bottle of. Having worn it consistently since then, imagine my dismay to learn this week that Santa Maria Novella have discontinued this fragrance. I'm unsure of the exact point it stopped being manufactured, but the last bottle I purchased was in October last year (anticipating this fragrance would disappear during the rebranding that SMN went through). The company informed me all remaining inventory has been sold. Nostalgia's aroma, distinguished and unique, will always remind me of evening walks in Florence and aperitivo in Venice. I have one boxed bottle left to ration, forever reviving memories of the trip it was first bought and countless memories beyond. For a fragrance whose name refers to a wistful affection for the past, it seems only fitting.

The scent description of SMN Nostalgia was intriguing enough for me to purchase. I found a vintage bottle with the wood cap and the uninspired label on Ebay. First spray and I was in love. The nostril hairs in my nose immediately curled and I harkened back to the time when I used to sniff the leaded gasoline (not habitually, just when I visited the gas station). The top notes of bergamot, petitgrain and styrax are what make this scent unique. Sadly, this intense rush dies down quickly and what remains is a fairly common leather, tobacco scent. Don't get me wrong, even my wife likes the dried-down scent, but I bought it for the gasoline punch and sadly that aspect of this cologne is too short-lived. Re-application is a must.

This is like a shot of high octane testosterone. Smells just like unleaded fuel and vintage leather. It's a splash bottle and I get more gasoline top notes when I spray it, and stronger leather and citrus when I splash it. I'm not sure how they created this vibe without violet (likely Styrax and Birtch Tar) but they hit it out of the park. The citruses used are top notch and I get mostly musk and cedar in the base. Performance is very strong for a cologne concentration. Strong projection was expected, but it also sticks to my skin and clothing for 4 to 5 hours. If you love cars and want a wearable, high quality car scent without use chemicals, this is worth trying if you can find it. ⛽ Scent 9/10 Performance 6/10

I bought this on a whim and on the back of my love of SMN's Patchouli and I wasn't disappointed. I really didn't know what to think of that first spray but after literally two minutes, it was settling into a beautiful blend of tobacco and leather - both scents I adore. After an hour it again transformed into a more familiar and softer vanilla-tobacco although the leather was still lurking somewhere in the background. This is a bit of a mystery scent and you'll either love it or hate it. For me, I love it - it grows on me each wear.

sprayed this on myself at their new york store and ended up buying the discovery set (which does not include this scent) even though nothing else i smelled blew me away as much as this. i spent the rest of the day sniffing its spot on my arm; a hint of the benzene opening still remained on my skin for a fair while. lasts surprisingly long for a cologne. couldn't stop thinking about it for the next few days so i just sprung for the full bottle. i also can't drive.

AMAZING. When I wrote about Fahrenheit I mentioned that I wanted a perfume that smells like straight gasoline and this is IT. I’m so sad Nostalgia is no longer available, I would buy 50-200ml of this immediately. It’s a go kart track: gasoline, rubber tires, hot asphalt. I love it I love it I love it. Message me if you have it for sale.

Total dark horse with SMN—the employees even try to talk you out of buying. It’s become one of my signatures... gives you freshly showered mechanic in leather jacket ready for a night behind the wheel of his favorite whip.

Smells like an old car sat out in the sun, absolutely stunning scent, unfortunately I used up my bottle then returned to Italy and discovered it was discontinued and couldn’t acquire more, I’m in deep regret

Asking the universe to bring this perfume in my life again. Thank you! (Universe, I am in Europe)

Great unique scent inspired by the racing world. Wish it would not be so linear though.

Well, I couldn’t say that I spent much time around vintage Italian sports cars; therefore, I don’t know how close to the brief Santa Maria Novella came when they put together Nostalgia, a perfume that, according to the brand, is trying to capture that certain smell. If I didn’t read anything about the backstory of this fragrance and were to dive into it blind, I don’t think that I would have made that association. Yes, it captures specific smells that to me have a nostalgic feel, but I never would have guessed they were hinting at sports cars. As a perfume, this one is quite an oddity. I would have gone as far as to say the weirdest in their line, but then there’s Marescialla. I think both are unusual and difficult, in different ways, since they smell nothing alike. And even so, something is appealing in both. Some bits make me recoil, while there are also parts that I love. Both of them prove to be a “difficult relationship” case for me, and yet they smell so unlike anything else that owning them is the only way to remind myself of such peculiar compositions. The opening of Nostalgia makes me smile, recoil, crave more, and run for the hills, all at once. It hits on all fronts with no backing off: smoky leather, burnt rubber, plastic, glue, wood laminate, turpentine, and an old-school aromatic accord that reminds me of the vintage shaving foam my grandfather used to use. I still don’t know what to make and how to feel about this introduction. Luckily, it settles down quickly, with the lesser appealing facets dissipating and the more appealing ones sticking through. Hence, once the more “synthetic” nuances burn out, what remains is this smoky leather accord, quite supple, not harsh, paired to the aromatic component that is so prevalent in all the house’s compositions, and an increasingly strong resinous warmth with subtle sweetness. It remains distinctive still, but now it feels more recognizable as a perfume and less as chemical warfare. At this stage, if not for the aromatic component that runs through it, it could have been linked to other resinous, smoky, leather perfumes, but the former anchors it nicely into a slot of its own. It’s quite a bumpy ride, one that starts with a crash for me, only to improve as the race moves on. A race in reverse, if you want. I know some folks love the opening, so I guess for them it starts with the number one finish. So yes, a race in reverse, nevertheless, and whether it’s going to be “a crash” or “a win” upon first sniff, it’s up to you. Just be patient, it gets really good shortly after. IG:@memory.of.scents

If you'll ever have the chance to visit Florence don't miss the opportunity to go to the Santa Maria Novella's museum / shop / headquarter located in an ancient chapel from 1200 that's absolutely breathtaking for its beauty and majesty. Said that, Nostalgia it's not the kind of scent you would expect form a company founded in 1612 as it's quite modern and somehow weird. Rubber and leather that smell exacactly like the interiors of my grandad's old FIAT 500 during the summertime, when odors are emphasized by the high temperatures of the season. A great fragrance if you like challenging smoky rubber/leather scents a-la Knize Ten / CDG's Garage / Lisa Kirk's Revolution. I do. Downside: the drydown is quite conventional if compared to the opening, but still pleasant. One more thing. In italy SMN is sold at a reasonable price. 100 ml for 75 euros. Rating: 9.5/10 for the opening 7/10 for the drydown 8/10 overall

What is wrong? The reviews I had read of this made it sound like a leather, rubber, and petroleum skank-fest, but the first thing I smell out of my sample vial is sweet, prickly green tea! OK, there’s a leather-like note and a dry woody note that could, with prompting, be construed as rubbery, but they’re not the dominant ones. It’s not all that unusual a fragrance, except in the hype. There are plenty of prickly green-tea fragrances out there, so adding a bit of leather, myrrh, and dry wood does not make it unique. The main phase lasts for 3-4 hours, after which all that’s left is the musk. I would probably have liked this if I had not been expecting to find the smell of a car and/or garage. Nostalgia just doesn’t evoke this image for me at any point.

In my search for a smoky, leathery, unique fragrance, it was suggested that I sample SMN Nostalgia...also, based on the many positive reviews here on Basenotes, I thought I would give the fragrance a try! SMN Nostalgia is a great scent but it is definitely not for me. Yes, it is absolutely a leathery, smoky very distinct fragrance and I like it a lot...but not on me. Oil, petroleum, a little floral here and there...very unique, very nice. But forgive me, it is an extremely masculine scent. I don't want to sound sexist but I cannot vision this fragrance working on a woman!

Santa Maria Novella and Caron have always been my favorite Houses. Nostalgia is a unique and somewhat improbable release from SMN. Take an old Fiat with leather interior and place a few vanilla beans on the driver's seat. Park in a busy auto repair shop for a few years. Drive to a beach, pour some gasoline and oil on the seats and leave the car out in the hot scorching sun for a few weeks with closed windows. I love it! The drydown is quite smooth and vanilla-like and not very original, but overall a manly and interesting release from SMN.

I needed some time to appreciate this perfume - my first experience last year was negative, but after almost a year, this summer I tried it again and it hit me with its original, unique scent, not similar to any other perfumes. Really beautiful on my skin from the very opening to the drydown. I just wish this stunning opening lasted longer. Nostalgia will remind me of last days of my summer holidays spent in a beautiful medieval city in August 2013. Suitable for any season. I will definitely buy the next bottle.

I can't believe this has never been a referenced leather scent! To me it's MUCH more realistic than Tuscan Leather (and many other leather fragrances).. maybe it lacks the fantasy (and sex appeal)? The leather here is a little rubbery but not the screechy kind like in many commercial fragrances; it's much more refined and comforting--smooth like a leather jacket, not animalic like some belts, shoes, or even hides

Holy crap, this hurt my nose at first. The opening is very harsh, is it safe to smell? Smells like rubber/steel/iron being lit on fire But then enters an angelic powdery note to rescue it all. I'm going to keep sampling it but damn, I don't know about that opening. 🥴