Costa Azzurra

The reason I am happy paying Tom Ford prices is because sometimes they can do something that no other fragrance house does for me: make me wish I could have sex with myself. It's only happened twice, with Ombre Leather Parfum, and now with Costa Azzura. Somehow both fragrances make me wish I could clone myself, or meet my gender bent version of myself, and also be the masculine ideal of myself, all at once. I don't know what it is about this fragrance, but I have worn at least 3 times since I bought the full size last week and every time I am ravenous for myself. I cannot stop sniffing my arm and smelling the air around me. It's so sexy and intriguing but also just very basic sophisticated fragrance. The spicier notes of vetiver (a personal favorite note of mine when trying to feel more masculine), cypress, and cardamom are the notes that swirl in the air around you as wear this, tingling the nose and drawing you in. But once you lean in close to the skin, the lighter, creamier, savory notes of seaweed, musk, and vanilla cling to the skin, offering almost a completely different perfume. If I could smell it on someone else exactly the way I smell it on myself, the outer, spicy aura would make the impression of a summer fling romance, one of those handsome men from Italy you see on IG from a pretty girl's European summer, but if you fit your face into his neck where he's sprayed this fragrance, the vanilla and seaweed makes him a man that could be cuddled in a cashmere sweater for hours. Definitely a more day time and summer fragrance, since body heat (and a little sweat) makes the scent really shine.

I never thought that a perfume of Tom Ford, fougere and "fresh" could please me so much, and since It wasn't going to do it If it reminds me (very slightly) my favorite fragrance from Issey Miyake L'eau bleue from Issey. I did not have the fortune to know Costa Azzurra edp when it belonged to the Private Collection, but now launched in the Signature line I have tried it together with its Parfum version and both fascinated me, the two compositions share the premise of the type of fresh fragrance that I and like it evokes the sea but is not a marine fragrance and much less aquatic, Costa Azzurra is the air of a Mediterranean sea of autumn or spring in that changing time where it is not completely bathed by the sun and that rhe water does not yet have a calm turquoise color, it is an airy sea next to a very dense, impenetrable wood full of coniferas; the cypresses, pines and tall oaks do not let the sunlight reach the earth so that air moves in this landscape is moist, dense, green and mossy, some trunks fall into the sea and the salt and the remains of green algae "marinates" these woods that are an essential part of this composition. If you are looking for a simple crystalline and summery fragrance here you will not find it this is Mediterranean class bottled, a perfume of good dress that can be worn almost all year round except the coldest days if you are a fan like me of this type of compositions and you like especially this one, a very good option is to have both versions and leave the Parfum for the nights where the presence of amber and the ladano will do the magic.

I must say, I absolutely love this. Just purchased and I cannot get enough of it. My collection consists of Creed, PDM and Christian Dior, mainly. This is my first from TF. Summer stunner. Marine without the overdone “blue”. The green and woody nature makes this so damn good. There is something in the late dry down that is similar to Silver Mountain Water, another one of my absolute favorites of all time. You can certainly pick up on the higher quality raw materials used here. There is nothing harsh or abrasive at play, which we should be able to expect for the price tag. I purchased from discounter and am extremely pleased with the value for the money. I am not a poet. So, I will not wax and wain beautifully with a romantic story. My experience = super wearable, easy grab and go for warm weather, don’t need to think too much about it or be in the perfect mood or wardrobe to be able to “pull it off” such as some of my Creeds or PDMs. Completely different from ADG and other aquatic/marine/freshies on the market. Highly recommend. I feel like this might be as close as I get to a summer signature. In the last 1/3 of our humid, Midwest summer I want to smell like this all day, everyday. Enjoy!

Costa Azzurra is a scent which is often overlooked, for I suppose it is technically not that special. I however, love the stuff despite the composition not fitting within my usual style. I feel it’s an impressively unique take on a masculine summer scent, and one that I don’t feel I will tire of any time soon. The bulk of the scent is actually built around a central theme of a classical mens ‘aftershave’ with certain fougere qualities - lavender, citrus, woods and cypress leave the impression of a mature, sophisticated gentleman. It’s from here that the added layer of driftwood and seaweed are placed on top, tying in a beautifully salty and marine nuance, like the rushing waves of the Italian coast splashing against your skin. As I said, most people overlook this. Is it my favourite fragrance ever? No of course not, but as an easy to wear perfume for the summer, I think it’s brilliant. Unfortunately the extortionate Tom Ford prices are a downside but in regards to the scent alone I think it’s lovely. The parfum is noticeably longer lasting, but overall the same scent profile which I don’t believe justifies a further increase in price.

Someone compared Tom Ford Costa Azzurra to Casamorati (Xerjoff) Mefisto. Since I have both, I can say they aren't dupes. But this person did make a good connection, since they both smell Mediterranean. * Overall comparison Where Costa Azzurra smells very zesty and piney herbal fresh with a lemony sweetness, soft marine and a masculine kick in a feminine way, Mefisto also has that masculine kick in a feminine way, but Mefisto also has very prominent flowers mainly lavender and rose. Mefisto is not herbal and more round romantic even flirty. * Target audience differences Even though they smell both just as unisex, I would be more safe to recommend Costa Azzurra as a blind buy for a man who likes clean masculine scents and a trendy, soft hearted woman. A young couple with small children who don't let that fact locked up at home, but takes them to Mediterranean countries. A couple who works hard, but also knows how to make you feel welcome, sit back and relax with a cocktail. Mefisto is more for a creative, romantic, inspiring couple that couldn't care less of what society thinks. Hope this helps.