Opera Grande

Oh my God, I love this scent so much. I received a sample of it in a Sospiro discovery set and, to be honest, didn't touch Opera Grande for a month. Based on the description of a fruit-rose opening, I figured it would be a very feminine fragrance that, as a straight guy, I would never dare wear. Holy cow, was I wrong. This is probably the only floral fragrance I've smelled that a dude could pull off without feeling emasculated. The ever-so-smooth and indistinguishable menagerie of fruits (no single one which is recognizable, which is a good thing here) isn't sweet enough to make it gourmand but, instead, is clearly meant to take the edge off the rose, giving it such a clean, non-sharp and not overly floral character. The leather is so slight -- reminiscent to me of the leather note in Memo Ocean Leather, like you might not even know it was there if you hadn't read the notes -- and gives off a subtle smokiness that smoothens out the rose accord even more. As a result, Opera Grande presents as genuinely and surprisingly unisex. Besides the rose, which is still the dominant note, one could classify every note in this scent profile as "subtle" yet absolutely vital to the totality of this very smooth and sophisticated scent profile. It smells elegant, expensive and versatile. A very well-conceived fragrance. And one that, as a guy, I will be wearing.

Opens up with a blend of multiple fruits with Turkish rose. In order to enjoy this fragrance, you HAVE to like a lot of sweetness, as it may be a bit overpowering at first, but as it mellows down, you will smell subtle hints of nutmeg covered with musky vanilla base. What is interesting about the opening is that you can actually smell a distant speck of leather, which boosts the fruit basket even more. It is a bit less woody than Xerjoff Opera, but the way middle notes blend with the base notes makes the drydown very soft and creamy. It is pleasing, yet I wouldn't say it is blind buy safe as some people may be turned off by the sweetness of the fruit basket. If you liked Erba Pura or Opera, you will like Opera Grande even more, that's for sure. Performance is very solid, you will enjoy it for at least several hours.

Opera grande is a very particular fragrance: passionate, original, with a clean, candid rose, surrounded by the intoxicating scent of Ylang-Ylang enriched with spices, of which nutmeg definitely stands out on my skin. It is impressive, cold but magnetic at the same time, and truly ideal for those who desire a spicy fragrance or one with a great personality. Superb and sublime, like the ‘Medea’ painted by Evelyn De Morgan. ‘Full is the woman of fears, and vile against strength, and when she sees an iron; but when she is offended is in her thalamus, heart is not of her most bloody. ’ From Euripides' Medea.

I feel like this fragrance really flies under the radar. All I ever hear when it comes to Sospiro is Vibrato this and Il Padrino or Contralto that.. and those are definitely great in their own right, but no one ever talks about Opera Grande.. and Im not sure why because I think it's one of their very best. Creamy, rosey, nutty sweetness, a tad green and a touch of citrus and fruit... all beautifully blended.. like a symphony, or in this case, an Opera.. just an intricate piece of work. 9/10

A fragrance Princess Diana would wear. A serious, cold, feminine white flower opening with a hint of leather. She is distant, classy, deep, a bit melancholic, yet unforgettable. To me, it is a white flower fragrance, enriched with leather, more than fruits or ylang ylang. Dry down is very similar to Ange ou Demon, Opera Grande is warmer and more complex.