Opoponax

This fragrance is an exquisite blend of opoponax and resins that takes olfactory artistry to new heights. The opening notes of this perfume immediately transport you to a world of opulence and warmth. The opoponax, with its sweet, balsamic undertones, embraces you like a soft cashmere shawl on a cool evening. It’s a sensual, inviting embrace that draws you in from the very first spray. As the fragrance evolves, the resins come into play, adding a rich, deep complexity that is nothing short of mesmerizing. The resinous elements infuse the scent with a velvety, amber-like quality that exudes both sophistication and comfort. It’s as though you’re surrounded by the finest wood and incense, creating an aura of timeless elegance. What truly sets this perfume apart is its impeccable balance. The opoponax and resins harmonize beautifully, neither overpowering the other but instead dancing in perfect synchrony. It’s a fragrance that manages to be simultaneously opulent and understated, making it suitable for any occasion, from a formal soirée to a cozy evening by the fireplace. The longevity of this perfume is exceptional, and its sillage is just right - enough to leave a lingering trace that elicits compliments but never overwhelms. I find it to be a fragrance that becomes a part of you, an intimate signature scent that whispers sophistication and confidence. In conclusion, if you seek a perfume that celebrates the opulence of opoponax and the depth of resins, this fragrance is an absolute masterpiece. It’s a symphony of luxurious notes that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on anyone fortunate enough to encounter it. Embrace this scent, and let it envelop you in its warm and captivating embrace.

The gold label Opoponax is an earthy, fresh, slightly bitter and spicy fragrance that smells like it was made with very expensive and hard-to-find ingredients. To me, it seems expertly mixed, as every note shows up in perfect proportion. Opoponax is also linear, but that’s a great thing in this case, because you can pick out all the notes listed at once. I think the “Italian barbershop” analogy is perfect, largely because, to my nose, the patchouli is more mint-like than other patchoulis tend to be (they are in the same family, after all), and that gives the fragrance a fresh, almost eucalyptus-like accord. With all of that understood, I have a hard time imagining this being anything close to unisex. To me, this is a gentleman’s scent, and I can’t see anyone under the age of 30 really pulling this off. A caveat though: Judging by feedback I’ve gotten, other people interpret the smell differently than I seem to, and women respond to it better than I expected. It might just be that I can’t see a unisex application for it, and I could be wrong. Regarding sillage, I don’t think it would be wise to spray more than two sprays (three is probably the limit if you care for the people around you); while it’s a nice scent, it’s also very powerful. Lastly, I have trouble understanding criticisms about Opoponax’s longevity, as I can still smell it on my skin the following day (musk turns ripe-smelling on my skin over time, and I just hate it). Opoponax smells like nothing I expected, and it’s wonderful. I don’t think I could wear it every day, but it’s one I’ll be keeping in my collection permanently.

I am really struck by the intonation in SMN Opoponax, like a sun coming through the clouds to warm the icy chill. Wrapped in its uplifting glow, its elements of citric, bitter, sweet, resinous and earthy, revive me in the doldrums of January. The opoponax resin itself imparts the feeling of smoky oak wood, old leather, celery seeds, lovage root, and bitter treacle. A saddle soap feel here is reminiscent of that in SMN's Peau d'Espagne, but here it is all lighter and brighter, with a texture more like velour. The development after an outstanding opening is no less evocative, as it is here that the duskier qualities of the resins are more apparent, growing drier and smokier, hints of evergreens, reminiscent of the aroma of the opoponax resin that I have in my possession, especially if I were to rub the grains between my fingers. A warm, dry and sensual musk is what carries Opoponax through to a skin scent, with suggestions of the resins still detectable hours on. What is most noteworthy is just how measured it all feels: a perfect pace. A wool Pendleton sweater, a cup of Lapsang Souchong, and reading Keats, would make great accompaniments for Opoponax.

I was visiting the Santa Maria Novella church in Florence few days ago and while walking through the cloister , I couldn't help to notice the interior of the officina profumo-farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. so Immediatly after my visit of the church, I went to the perfumery, the interior is superb, I asked to smell the male fragrances, the lady at the counter offered several mouillettes of their fragrances, somes citrusy, some woody, some floral and an other citrusy one, nothing that really caught my attention or that I've not scented yet and then she said " this one is my favourite, it's different and special it's called opoponax" and oh boy, wow, it opens with strong resins and citrus, halston z14 comes to mind, and then it dries down, and the opoponax shines, giving to that blend a floral vibe, but not the kind of white florals, more brown and purple florals, I love it. It is masculinity shown in a poetic way. Very italian in a sense. Update : This stuff shines on a mild weather and rainy day

Loved it, wore it. The scent was opoponax and resins on me, with a hint of patchouli and a bit of musk. It gave me no sweetness at all, but freshness - it did, as if there was a brook, and light summer wind was blowing from it to me, bringing the freshness, and at the same time I got a very dry feeling from the scent, with not a drop of water in the dryness. Both impressions coexisted beautifully and made me quite happy.