Porpora

MY TWO SCENTS This elegant, quality niche fragrance is often compared with Frederic Malle ́s Portrait Of A Lady. I own both of them. Here are my 2 cents on the matter: I agree with @Smellafella ́s review below. I would only add that Porpora is a bit more transparent than POL. There's a "paper" accord in Porpora that could be orris, that might account for its added transparency. While POL lasts forever and has a juicier or more fruity opening, it is also a bit sweeter than Porpora. POL is darker through all of it ́s phases, it has a bitter undertone which I cannot place, perhaps it ́s more incence or oakmoss what makes POL more bitter and dense than Porpora. I love both fragrances, but I prefer Porpora, mostly because of the price difference and because I find it just a little more versatile. It's perhaps a tad less complex than POL, but ELEGANT, SOPIHISTICATED and BEAUTIFUL in its own right, and perhaps even more palatable to most noses than POL, as I believe most noses sometimes have difficulty accepting very dense fragrances. Plus, if I ́m being honest, though I find POL to be a poetic masterpiece, there ́s an ingredient in it that gives me a headache. This is in no way a negative critique on theTOP quality of POL, only every body is different, and my system doesn ́t agree with that particular ingreditent, where as it accepts the POL body butter just fine. I will certainly make another purchase of Porpora after I finish both bottles. I love the paper/orris note; perhaps I ́ll layer it with POL body butter to extend the longevity and add some of that juicy dark quality.

Before we dive into Porpora lets address the Spices. The Clove & Cinnamon are not reminiscent of Baking Spices. The Clove gives both a Peppery bite & a mild sense of warmth, with the Cinnamon note adding a feeling of Aridity. It gives an impression of "Warm, Dry, Sandy, Air". The two Musky & intensely Floral Rose notes are enhanced by the sweet fruit nuances of Raspberry. With Patchouli lending its waxy green Earthiness to the impression of leaves & stems. While the Poppy adds soft floral powdery undertones. The Incense note is enhanced by Benzoin, Amber, Musk & Myrrh. With Chestnut adding a soft woodiness. The Incense in this fragrance isnt at all smoky, heady or intrusive. ....& just to give an example of the way the Rose notes are used in this fragrance. They're very similar to; if not in fact a niche quality version of the Rose note used in Cartier "Declaration Dun Soir". Overall with Porpora; just as with Frederic Malle's "Portrait Of A Lady", you will get the scent of Fresh Roses blowing across the warm evening desert sand with faint wafts of Incense in the background. While both Porpora & Portrait Of A Lady are Unisex, I personally find them to lean more on the Masculine side of Rose based fragrances. Tiziana Terenzi's Porpora evokes the Mystery of the Arabian Desert so sexy & elegantly. Yet, with beastly performance. For me its another high compliment getter that can be worn year round, Day or Night. Another 10/10 fragrance for the House of Tiziana Terenzi.

I must choose carefully when I'm buying something in this price range. I have such a vast collection that it has to be 'worthy' I spotted a piece online about this stunner, when I was looking for new rose based frags - I've gone off road from my usual violet/iris/orris and have enjoyed learning about the various rose spectrum. So imagine my utter delight when one kindly soul (thank you so much Aik) from my fragrance group on SM offered me up a specimen, totally gratis - it spilled all over a backpack. There's nowt like a fabric spill to put you off a scent, no matter how much you liked it, because you're forced to smell it regardless. Sometimes for days. Anyway, onto my take. This is simply beautiful. It's a full bodied and juicy red rose, drying down to jammy. First blast is strong, even overpowering, with Benzoin, Amber, Myrrh and Clove, but they settle quickly so just don't overload it. One wrist and one on my neck and I've been able to smell it for nine hours, the rose in symphony with the incense, musk and a teeny tiny bit of patchouli blending in well. This is absolutely divine, and I'll be putting my had in my pocket for a full bottle very soon. I simply can't stop sniffing myself.

After 3 bottles I thought it made sense coming back here to review this fragrance again. Just because it's relevant I need to mention that my perfume collection is bigger than I'd like to admit and although I offer a lot I still have too many fragrances... it has been an addiction since I was about 8 (obviously there's something psychologically deep about scents..) however, I've always been looking for the "perfect" scent. A scent that could be identified like me as a person and that could fit any occasion and weather. POAL almost hit that spot if she wasn't a bit too much for the summer (and yes I did wore it in 40degrees holidays) but it didn't scratch my itch completely... I will always play with fragrances and trying to match people's personalities to perfumes I will also always go on shops and stay hours enjoying and studying new fragrances but... if I'd have to let go of my entire collection and keep only one perfume this would be it. It has become a total love and I know I'll never go wrong using it regardless of the occasion. And not that it makes a huge difference... it gives me the most beautiful compliments ❤️

Porpora by Tiziana Terenzi – A Fragrance Masterpiece by Tiziana Terenzi is, quite simply, a mind-blowing fragrance that exceeds all expectations. The scent is mesmerizing, offering a unique combination of depth and elegance. It has a truly rich, layered complexity that makes it equally captivating and versatile, suitable for nearly any occasion. The fragrance is anchored by an enchanting, slightly smoky undertone of dried grass, which feels both natural and refined. This grounding element is surrounded by rich notes that seamlessly blend to create a scent that’s warm, intriguing, and luxuriously inviting. There’s an aura of timeless sophistication here, making it an instant favorite for those who experience it. What sets Porpora apart is its astounding adaptability. This fragrance truly shines in diverse settings, whether formal or casual, with a remarkable acceptability rate of 95% – a testament to its universal appeal. In essence, Porpora is an olfactory masterpiece that defies simple description. It elevates the art of fragrance with a profound elegance that lingers, leaving a lasting impression.

Porpora...where have you been all my life??? This is such a beauty! And that bottle? So beautiful! But it is the juice inside that is just divine!! I am a sucker for ALL rose scents. I have a large amount of Rose centric fragrances, in fact, I can never have enough....Porpora is at the center of my collection for its ability to bring in a green rose, patchouli and incense together like no other! Does it remind me of Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady? Yes and no. Yes because: Rose-Patchouli-Incense are common to both fragrances. They do open quite alike but no because: where POAL quickly veers spicy and warm and sexy, Porpora stays green, fresh (to a certain extent) and bright. I own both and love them both equally for their different qualities and their similarities. In fact, sometimes, I’ll even wear them together! One on one wrist and the other on the other wrist and trust me, I smell atomic but I smell darn good♥️✨🌹🌹

I first tried Porpora at the height of the Summer and had a hard time getting a true idea of how it smells. Now that the season has changed and the weather has cooled, I am revisiting it. I don’t know how I missed that this is a rose fragrance before. Like, SERIOUSLY a rose fragrance. It has the spice and warmth of a fall cider with a heavy dose of roses added. It is not sweet, but rather a tad smoky (from the incense) and mature. I absolutely love it. This is an intimate fragrance, just a little bit above a skin scent. I’d say it projects about an arm’s length. As an Extrait, it is heavily concentrated and lasts quite a while. I could actually see the oil on my skin when I sprayed it. This is a fragrance that truly shines when warmed up by your body heat. Definitely a good choice for the holiday season.

Usually i go for something "rounder" and sweeter, but a decant sample of this perfume resembled me a perfume that my mom was wearing when going out on theaters, concerts or any other events you'd expect "red carpet" look. I remember coming home late from music school and I sensed THAT perfume at home - I instantly knew she was out and when she came back she would wear her best clothing. Probably that's the reason this perfume resembles me an evening dress, well done hair, diamonds and pumps - it makes you up even you are wearing hoodies, and trainees like a well matching red lipstick. Another thing is - this is one of those rare perfumes that I could never immagine on a 20 year olds. For me - very feminine and long lasting! Pricy, but the bottle is amazing and it will last for ages!

Dear Porpora, oh how can I describe my love to you. You embrace me with your smokiness, cuddle with soft musky raspberries. I drink your dark rosy syrup. You're never moody, always loyal and linear, always there. You're like a beautiful marble statue - standing still in your foundations, never changed with time. You're the pure perfection with your balsamic heavy nature. The queen is only one and her name is Porpora Longevity - 12+ hours - I can still smell it on my clothes after they've been washed Sillage - excellent

Feels like wearing a robe made of rose petals Lasts for a full day, but not an overwhelming sillage. Incense and patchouli are tamed. A safe scent, nothing too wild. Very different from the Arabian roses. Porpora is not loud. It could be a safe blind buy and maybe full bottle worthy for those who love roses. Price is reasonable too. Classic, mellow roses. Now let me head to the Laudano Nero page and write a negative review about that one...

I love this scent. I don't know how PoL smells like (never found a tester) but what I can is describe what this one smells like without the ingredient list and all bla-bla. You can portrait this as the closest thing to being a perfect mix between the OG oriental / middle eastern (rose oud) combo, but made european without the OUD and replaced by incense. IT'S GREAT. Very strong performance. It does give mature vibe and it is also unisex.

The opening is a Damask rose and therefore smells like rose water. Then a strong vegetative warm spicy patchouli comes up and lingers. The overall scent reminds me of some other familiar perfume (perhaps Chichi Sapil for women). This fragrance is not for the weak of hearts. The longevity and sillage is fantastic. I am not talking about hours; it lasts for days. I love the bottle design and the story behind it.

When rose meets raspberries and cloves, pleasant and sympatic connection is for sure. To keep this impression permanent and deep, it is patchouli and incense part. With warm base of benzoin, myrrh and amber, composition get amazing performance. Strong, feminine, sensual, appealing. Regardless of comparison to Portrait, this fragrance is intoxicatingly beautiful. --- Strong sillage, longevity more than 8 hours.

OMG! I think I've found my favorite rose fragrance. Just got this in the mail and smells fantastic, there is an aromatic nuaces coming the spices, I can see a bit of simmilarity with Ambre Sultan at the opening, is the not the same but the spices gives them a simmilarity. The Rose is present all the way, beeing wearing it for a few hours and is amazing. Will give more of a deep review later on.

If you're looking for a sweet, subtle rose....THIS AIN'T IT! Porpora gives me 'Dirty Diana' vibes. She's a sensual femme fatale who can bring you down to your knees with one innocent glance. Stunningly beautiful in cooler weather and longevity and sillage is exceptional. I love wearing Porpora at night when I go to bed or in the daytime under a thick sweater. Will be a staple in my collection.

It seems that I’m the only one who gets a big herbal opening on first spray- I actually find it strikingly herbal- I can’t figure out what note that is- maybe the balsamic element? But it’s like sage or something to me. Then it dries down to more like what I recognize in these reviews, the patch-rose, PoaLesque lovely.

Omg... this is wonderful! I love POAL and have a FB of it but use it sparingly because it is pricey. This is very close and at a reasonable cost. Now I can indulge myself with this more often. Longevity and sillage are beast mode as others have said. If you like POAL but balk at the cost, this is definitely an option.

i own Portrait of Lady and i love it to death!! after completely wearing Porpora i can surely say that its shockingly amazing and similar to POAL, however the deepness and richness of POAL stands out! but still Porpora is a great value for money in case u want to have something like POAL in less budget ;) 9/10

Very close to Portrait of a Lady. If you love a realistic rose then this is a great buy. Rose, Incense and Patchouli are some of the main notes that I pick up, rose being the dominant one. Can definitely be worn by a man if you're into rose scents. Has just enough darkness to be unisex. I love this one.

Beautiful juicy rose. After application you get at the opening juicy raspberry accords with strong rose. And after few hours it is mostly sour patchouli and rose, which is bit of a disappointment. Very close to portrait of a lady. This is a real love. Scent: 8/10 Performance: 8/10 Versatility: 7/10

If you’re wondering whether or not this is similar to Portrait of a Lady... Random woman in elevator: “somebody has on a lovely cologne!” Me: “it’s patchouli and rose.” Random woman in elevator: “Yea, it smells like Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle.” Me: 😉

I absolutely love this fragrance, super sensual and delicate the only thing I don't get is the same longevity and sillage that everyone talks about.. this perfume has a beautiful opening then soon becomes a skin scent and after 3 hours it's gone

dark rosey incense. not for beginners for sure, but its holy and mesmerizing once you start appreciating darker and rose based frags. like it but not full on love just yet. bottle presentation is unbelievable, so is performance. 9/10

Have been looking for this type of fragrance for the longest time—the smell of an inside of an old Catholic Church, walls smelling of centuries of incense, decorated with hundreds of roses. Just heavenly.

Big rose presence with incense and spices to support it. Performs like a champ. Like everyone before me has said, it is indeed exceptionally close to Portrait of a Lady. Great fragrance

I know this may sound strange but this fragrance compliments my skin better than any other. I wish I could understand why. Regardless, it is really lovely.

Beautiful powerful rose. Not sweet but realistic. I go nose blind to it after a bit but others tell me it is still very noticeable.

I don't have anything new to add here, yes, it's rose and incense, mush like POAL. I like it. But do I need both? Probably not.

POAL, but improved! I didn't want to believe it at first but after multiple side by side wearings its undeniable.

I am Portrait of a Lady Lover. I think Porpora is good choice for POAL alternative.

Selling my bottle, few sprays missing. Full presentation. UK shipping

An opulent rich rose 🥀 which could hangout alongside PoAL and roja’s AmberAoud but differs quite a bit . It is obvious that the raw materials were sourced from the best possible option available, he poured his heart and soul into it and it shows when you smell it. I get the feeling of layers of rose 🥀 amplifying on top of each other. The texture is unique . The way I can explain it , is the feeling you get when you have your face near a heat source feeling the waves of heat brushing against your face, substitute the hot air with rose , waves of rose .... After the phase I mentioned above calms down, a waxy feel gets added to this scent, which makes me think it is the chestnut 🌰 that is giving off the waxy impression. This texture was lurking there from the beginning but gets stronger as it dries down. Longevity and sillage of this full-bodied fragrance are ok. With prices of raw materials going up and the new possible restrictions will he be able to make new batches with the same quality again? I definitely hope so. Tiziana terenzi Porpora restored my faith in fragrances again. Showing me that it is possible to have natural smelling potent fragrances outside of "low-volume-true-indy-brands" , even under restrictive regulations.

Edit January 2023 (Summer) I’m much more familiar with this lady now and I’ve worn POAL. I know POAL is a stunner but she’s faded and watered down. Porpora is much spicier and full. She’s wears beautifully projects and is long lasting. The patchouli, spices and resins all read differently once you move past the top. I wore 2021 POAL and it was gone in 2 hours. Whereas L’Eau D’Hiver stuck around. Quirk of skin chemistry? Perhaps, but unlikely. Criminal what they’ve done to the longevity. I’m only assuming the POAL lovers are talking to older formulations? ~~~~~~~~~~~ Wow, I’ve never smelt POAL so no comparisons. I initially got a crisp fresh green top note, like crushed fir (patchouli perhaps), then straight into a resiny, smoke joined by a jammy rose...that then warmed and was countered by sun warmed musks and light woods to my nose. She is so clean and yet deep and multifaceted. It feels like a dance the spices step in and out to a rhythm a bit like a heart beat. I’m in love. She sits on my skin like warm sunshine, clean linen with all these notes twinkling around. Sigh... I save nothing for best and so will wear her often. Autumn is coming in the Southern Hemisphere so I know it will be a frequent dance. Just wow!

I'm a rose lover through and through, but I'm also very choosy about which rose scents will enter my collection because I already own several. I bought a full bottle of Porpora without hesitation. It's a realistic, spicy red rose that starts off as a fresh red rose, and dries down to a sweet incense. The rose remains present from start to finish, but the incense really makes itself known starting with the mid and lasting through the end. The patchouli in this is blended to perfection with the other spices, so it really just adds to the incense accord rather than being a dominating note. This is a rose-incense experience, not a patchouli bomb. Projection and sillage are moderate for me. It can be enjoyed at arms length, but I'm not filling up a room with it. Lasting power is stellar. If I spray it on the night before, I can still smell it on myself when I wake up in the morning. And it is perfectly unisex — it smells feminine while I'm wearing it but I can easily imagine this on a man. For me, a cold weather scent. The vibe is definitely a night vibe, but that doesn't stop me from wearing it in the daytime. This is a fave.

The best way I can describe this perfume is a gothic rose with a lot of powdery incense. In the opening the rose is a bit more jammy. However, it quickly settles on the skin into just these two linear notes. It also has that slightly too mature, powdery and perfumey DNA, but I can see how people would like this. Comparing to Portrait of a Lady, I notice this one has just a smidge of a note in there that smells chemical, whereas Portrait of a Lady doesn't. Also, Portrait of a Lady is stronger, punchier, and seems to have a couple more nuances, like a slightly animalic cumin note and an old woody cathedral note which make it more interesting. This one feels more linear with a slightly darker, more gothic rose. I got a 5 mL sample from MaxAroma, so that is what I'm basing my review off of. Smell: 7 out of 10 Strength: 7 out of 10 Leans feminine For reference, I'm female.

Like, so many reviews, I guarantee a beautiful rose syrup fragrance. To me I get the sweet rose scent in the beginning and it gradually after a long time turns into a shaper rose scent and then the dry down to a lingering leathery rose scent that stays with you for an extremely long time. I had it on for over 12 hrs and it is still there. The projection during this dry down time is arms length. I sprayed it once on my neck and it filled my bedroom. So beware when spraying this. Maybe next time would be my wrists to avoid the strength. My wife liked this scent but she thought it was too strong. Generally speaking she doesn’t like many scents. So this was a plus. If you enjoy rosy fragrances, this is a go to. Summary Class-XEdp Group-Unisex Floral Projection-10 Sillage-10 Development-9 Scent-9

Oooof. Okay initial spray I was like wow this really just smells like red wine/fermented grapes. This, to me, is actually kind of similar to Deviant from Wesker. Never smelled Portrait of a lady before. There is almost something powdery about this for me on the dry down though. Not sure if I'd go full bottle on this, only because if I'm looking for a gothy rose I usually reach for Elizabeth and James Nirvana Rose (which to me makes me think of sharper/green rose bunches outside in a storm, whereas Porpora is a warm bath of rose petals in a room lit with candles.)

Initially I get tart, jammy rose. Cinnamon, clove, resins and incense provide an interesting backdrop. This scent is hard to pin down. It's kind of classy and sophisticated, but also edgy and daring. Not incredibly sweet, but still provocative. I can see this really shining in colder weather. To my nose this gets a smidge sour as it dries down. Still jammy, but not in a sugary sweet way. I think this is a pretty unisex rose scent, i can see a guy pulling it off. If you want a gothic rose fragrance this will get the job done.

I tried this out of curiousity to try and get a sense of the Portrait Of A Lady DNA as FM is impossible to find samples or testers for where I live. I was expecting something totally unique but (likely cause I live in the middle east) this is something that I've smelled countless times while out and about. As a scent it's quite nice, has this weird sour tinge to it at the opening (likely the raspberry) which I dislike but once that fades away it turns into a reallyyy nice amber rose and smokey scent.

This was a little touch and go start with as there was something weird and sour on my skin in the first 10 minutes of wear. Wasn’t sure if it was possibly the chestnut note disagreeing with me. But this has dried down very pleasantly and any weird notes have disappeared. It’s now actually the perfect balance of jammy fruit rose with balsamic notes, incense and warm amber. An easier POAL perhaps not quite as tart and linear. I would happily buy this instead I think.

بما اني من المعجبين جدا بعطر بورتريت اوف ا ليدي فقد تحمست لتجربة هذا العطر البخوري والحقيقه انهما متشابهان كثيرا .. مع افضليه لعطر فريدريك مال من وجهة نظري من يحب ان يشتم البخور و والورد ممزوجين.. فلا يفوت احد او كلا هذين العطرين والعطران لهما مكونات عالية الجوده مع ثبات عالي وفوحان هائل وهما للشتاء والامسيات البارده بشكل عام تقييمي لهذا العطر 7.5/10 لعطر فريدريك 8.5/10

This definitely smells like POAL - so much so that I do not think I need POAL anymore. For me, it does not project as much. It is well blended and soft. Inoffensive and unisex. Rose, incense, and amber. There's a slight soapiness. Longevity is only moderate on me. after 2 hours, the projection is intimate, but the scent lingers for another few hours.

Honestly I'm not immediately digging this fragrance. I have no idea what Portrait of a Lady smells like, but I noticed this was similar so I gave it a whirl. I think I'd prefer to smell this on a woman. The florals are a little strong for my liking. Perhaps my nose just isn't ready for a fragrance like this. Will come back at a later time.

Porpora's patchouli is paltry and pales compared to the preferred Portrait. Ripe raspberry and red rose race around a rough remnant of incense residue. Alliteration aside... an acceptable aroma appreciated for its apt affordability. Eamon Bailey from The Circle wears this.

Yes, opens like portrait of a lady with an additional pronounced and inspiring poppy scent. However POAL is a way superior fragrance in its scent profile and overall concentration and aroma, specially in the dry down. Porpora is good but POAL is better and Night is best.

The best way to wear this one is to spray it on someone else and then shake their hand. Holy shit she's a big girl. I wish a little more clove made it into the dry down. But it's lovely really. Big Rose and church brazier.

Potent Rose & Patchouli combo that evokes sexiness. Strong silage with excellent longevity. Wonderful for cool summer nights & wintry days. Beautiful perfume IMO.

It is beautiful, but the rose is so watery to my nose, and the incense develops so much in contrast. I prefer the blending of POAL. 8/10 in my humble opinion

POAL's baby sister who plays dress up in her big sister's clothes while she goes on a dinner date with the son of a millionaire:-)

It REALLY was 2015 when I first purchased and reviewed several Tiziana Terenzi fragrances. For many reasons, I've always loved this house. I know people say the fragrances are synthetic smelling and nothing more than shameless knock-offs/dupes. And I still ADORE Gold Rose Oudh. But I never sampled, or owned Porpora... So, Porpora is a rough one for me. The dominant opening rose in this fragrance is a LOUD, fresh, green, cold, rather sterile rose accord that practically shrieks upon application. To my nose, the initial application on skin smells strong and harsh...almost like bathroom cleanser. I find the opening notes of clove, cinnamon and raspberry extremely brash and astringent. The opening almost feels medicinal. The fragrance develops with a bright, red rose note that includes lots 'n lots 'n lots of green. The rose is not soft and never fresh. I detect more patchouli than incense, or myrrh in the dry-down. After 30 minutes or so, the perfume seems to sour on my skin and lands with a rather ordinary, spicy, amber-musk base. Glad I sampled this fragrance 'cause I love this house, Tiziana Terenzi. But unfortunately, Porpora does not resonate with me.