Basilico & Fellini

Miyazaki's Amalfi coast. Have you seen Porco Rosso? This is what the courtyard of Hotel Adriano smells like. Pinstripe linen undulating on a clothesline. Fresh-cut grass. Perfect helices of lemon peel bobbing in seltzer. The faint tang of fig sap. And above it all a zesty, buoyant basil. Not a pizzeria basil, either. It’s a perfect 25C morning on the cusp of summer, all cotton clouds and Adriatic-blue skies, magicked into a bottle. Nothing earthen or antique about this herbal. B&F is unisex, clean, green, with polite potency. An outdoor scent that speaks with an indoor voice. My only regret is buying the 50 cc bottle, as it’s fast become my favourite Monday morning lift or just-before-bedtime aromatherapy. Mental Snapshot: The intro sequence of a Mediterranean manga; lovingly hand-painted backdrops of bucolic bliss and cel-shaded summer. Cartoon biplanes capering through the clouds. A sun-bleached villa basking on an island vineyard. Faceless gentlefolk mingling under striped parasols. And then fifteen minutes of exquisite culinary closeups. tl;dr: Ghibli Italy 🤌🏻🌿

This fragrance has secured its place among my summer favorites. It embodies the essence of a sun-soaked day, sparkling and bursting with refreshing vitality. The prominent green notes, reminiscent of a thriving tomato vine and aromatic basil, are beautifully pronounced in the opening. The result is invigorating. What sets this fragrance apart is its ability to balance that initial burst of greenery with the softness of pitahaya and fig. These elements round out the composition, softening the intensity of the green notes while still keeping it remarkably fresh. The result is a scent that remains vibrant and lively, like the perfect summer day captured in a bottle. In essence, this fragrance is a gem for enthusiasts of fresh, green, and mouthwatering scents. Its ability to evoke the sensation of a thriving garden in summer is truly remarkable. While it may not linger all day, the moments it graces with its presence are certainly memorable. If you're in search of a unique and invigorating summer fragrance, this one is well worth considering.

Basilico & Fellini starts with, of course, basil—fresh, leafy, and so crisp it could snap in the air. It doesn’t stick around too long, though, fading into this soft dewiness, like morning mist hugging leaves. Then the fig, all watery sweetness, takes over with a green, juicy burst of nectar and pulp without the weight. There’s something subtly tart in the background—a fleshy fruit of some sorts, but not the bold tropical kind; a quieter, uber soft breeze that you almost miss but is still there, light and carrying a hint of grass. After a while, it cools down, gets more grounded. The fig softens, the violet and woods push through, making everything feel dusted with a soft, almost powdery musk. It’s green and bright at first, then turns plush, gentle. Not overwhelming, just... so right. Perfectly summer, this fragrance allows you to effortlessly step into a fruity breeze that’s just sweet enough, just cool enough, lazy yet flawless. A scent that you won't be able to stop noticing.

I'm not sure what the heck people are smoking. There is no darkness inside of this fragrance whatsoever. It is fresh in every green way you can imagine. On top of that there is a juiciness that comes through from the dragon fruit as well as the fig. To top it off even further , the fresh grass and vetiver brings in earthiness to give the entire fragrance nostalgia for the Italian coast. Not necessarily the water, but the fields and the grass and the produce and the market. The inner workings of the vibrancy of Italian life. It is almost like a caprese salad. The quality of the ingredients is what makes the salad almost orgasmic. That is what I feel when I smell this fragrance. It is underground. Absolutely brilliant. Seductive. Earthy. Juicy. Vibrant. Green. I crave it.

People seem to be getting really hung up on the name, and while basil is present I think it’s subdued in a clean, green, summertime haze. It’s not anything like a handful of fresh basil. This is one of my favourite summer scents, I think it’s perfect for days when you know you’re going to be crammed onto a sweaty train and you want to smell fresh and clean in yourself, but not masked in cloying florals or unisex woods. Something about it works so well on my skin in hot weather. It’s also really unique: if could find something similar at a more modest price point I’d be delighted. As it is, my sample is sadly finished and it’s on the summer wish list. If I lived somewhere hotter, I would have this as my everyday fragrance without hesitation.

The opening note hits you like a grapefruit rind being pierced through, almost bitter but rounded out by an earthy florality. It really does evoke the impression of a citrusy gin cocktail upon first whiff, but as it relaxes into the skin, the (Thai?) basil note comes through more and more. Fig and dragonfruit notes present as mere suggestions for me. I really appreciate how there is a sparkly femininity to the fragrance's outer layer, but the aforementioned bitterness of the green accord gives the scent more of a complex and evocative character overall. You can smell the stems and roots of the botanical instead of just its leaves. Projection is pretty good, but run-time on the skin is a little suspect given what you're paying.

This is not the Vilhelm scent I expected to love the most out of the discovery set.... Dear Polly, Poets of Berlin, and Mango Skin are all nice enough scents but B&F stuck with me. Interestingly, it is one of the only perfumes in my collection that my husband actually likes (he prefers no perfume at all which means I strictly go off of my own preferences). The basil is photorealistic and aromatic and I do get the "licorice" smell that many reviewers describe but it's not harsh. My favorite part of this fragrance though is the hay and vetiver at the bottom that reminds me of the sweetgrass baskets my mother collects and that's why this was FBW for me.

Must love basil! I understand how someone might find it too much like dinner, but I love it. The opening is like picking fresh basil. It just makes me happy. Very refreshing and uplifting. Basil can have a liquorice facet and I pick that up here. I love fig and while I have other figs, this is different enough to add to my collection. It's green, juicy and herbal with a touch of creaminess. The dry down is pleasantly grassy with a bit of that creamy fig remaining. This is a picnic with caprese salad and figs on a gingham picnic blanket over freshly cut grass.

I've been using a sample I got recently and oh my god it feels like this fragrance was tailor-made for me. The basil herby scent hits you right away, then is folded in with the subtle sweetness of the fig. It's warm and refreshing, reminiscent of the day drying up after a summer shower. It reminds me a lot of the L'occitane limited edition winter walk hand cream, which I also love to death. But yeah, if you love a herbal smell or fig you'll love this, but def not everyone's cup of tea. I'm gonna make a caprese salad while sniffing my wrists vehemently, bye.

One of the best new green fragrances I've come across in a long time. I love the smell of fresh basil and had been looking for a perfume that plays around its characteristic sweet herbal freshness.......well, here it is! B&F is all about basil, interacting with other green notes and vetiver. I was surprised to see fruity notes listed in there, as I can't detect them at all on my skin. There is nothing sweet or coy about this one; It has punch, it has grit, pleasant sillage and is an absolute hoot to wear on a summer day! A great one to try.......

This is a delight, much to my surprise. I looked at the notes and though, "fougère." But the basil is done just right. That is what hits you at the outset. But it's tinged with a sweetness. I'm reminded of a sweet pizza without the tomato sauce, if that makes sense. Over time, the scent dulls but maintains its freshness. Why I really love this is because it's a great alternative to the average Joe scent. If you want to stand out or if you're just tired of smelling sweet/gourmand/sexy, try this one. The projection is decent, as is the longevity.

As fig scents go this is probably the brightest and happiest I own. I have about 20+ fig fragrances and this is not redundant to any I already have. It is, as many have remarked, very green on the opening. The fig is faint until about 20 minutes or so and it then comes through. It's not terribly long lasting but I love it so much I don't mind reapplying. It's not a nighttime or date scent but surely close enough to office safe. It unisex and can be worn about at any age. Really universally likable which confuses me that it isn't rated higher.

It opens soapy but soon settles into a fantastically refreshing scent not unlike Fico di Amalfi from Acqua di Parma. There's not much character arc - the green freshness stays pretty much the same throughout the wear. Good sillage and staying power for a citrus fragrance, and it stays forever on fabric. I sampled this and won't invest on a full bottle as there are more affordable fragrances around that do the same job, but I can't say there's much here to fault. It's a classy, carefree scent, a beautiful breeze of summer wind on a warm day.

This is my favorite from the Vilhelm sample set. I normally don’t like many aromatic scents, but this one is special. I’m a sucker for fresh basil, and this smells like you just plucked some right off the vine, with a touch of sweetness from the fig. This is for spring and summer. It’s a bit too cold for me to be wearing this now, but I’m looking forward to adding it to my perfume lineup in the warmer months. I do not see much of a similarity to philosykos. I’m not a big fan of philosykos to be honest.

Superrr summery. My Italian summers in a bottle. The basil and fig are blended so well, it's fresh, it's green, it smells like a hot Tuscan day by the pool, with a basil plant and a fig tree nearby, and the grass is cooking under the summer heat. There's white wine and tomatoes nearby too. Stays smelling very clean though, with a sparkling feminine leaning edge but overall perfectly unisex for the summer months. For me its way better than Philosykos, which is fig but too literal. Love this.

Absolute love! Bright fresh green basil opening that settles into a semi-sweet fig on my skin. I definitely get the anise that others are smelling as the scent develops, but that's actually from the basil note - basil and anise share an aroma chemical that gives them both the scent we associate with licorice. I love that this fragrance captured that aspect of basil, although some people might not care for it. Longevity isn't great on me, but I'll happily respray this one.

This scent is like the love child of Philosykos and Venise. It's herb-y but not in a sharp way. The fig adds softness to it and the mint gives it dimension. It's supposed to be inspired by risotto bianco. I've only had mushroom risotto but if risotto bianco tastes as half as good as this smells, it would be bliss. This gives old Greek Nonna's herb garden on the windowsill vibes and I am HERE FOR IT. This is one of the few scents that heals my soul.

Starts out with a milky fig, followed quickly by the briefest flash of basil then enveloped in sweet meadow hay, like rolling in the grass with tiny wildflowers. It doesn't make sense, you wouldn't think this combo would work until you smell it for yourself. Lack of longevity is the only reason I'm not rushing off to purchase it. Edit: it took all of three days to break and order a fb, I couldn't take it any more--this was a must-have for me

Very special. One thing I love about this scent is how specifically it recalls a memory I have of studying abroad in Avignon in 2003. Every morning I would open the bathroom windows while getting ready, and the room and air smelled just like this scent. I don’t know if it was the bath products, the plants in the garden below the window or something else. But this scent transports me to a wonderful summer, which makes it magic. ✨

Basil forward with a strong grassy base, tamed by a juicy dragon fruit and light fig presence, with a little bit of vetiver and violet orbiting in the distance to add some nuance around the edges of the fragrance. Beautiful for the summertime. Very wearable for something so bold in its execution. Shares a lineage with fragrances like Philosykos, but manages to bring something altogether unique to the table. 8.5/10

incomparable to anything, and undoubtedly a work of art, it doesn't remind me of any of the listed perfumes, unique in its own way, it was supposed to be inspired by white risotto but all it reminds me of is grandma's basil pots in my hometown on a cool summer day, one thing however, I can smell a whiff of tomato leaves, but it's really subtle and covered by the sweetness of fig and other fruits

This was my first big perfume purchase and I don't regret it :) It smells wonderful, juicy and ripe. I first smelled it at a department store and when I finally got around to looking at the listing online I was surprised to find that peach was not listed as one of the notes? To me it smells a bit like peach schnapps, like fresh yellow peaches macerated in honey and basil.

My favourite from the house. It was love from the first test even though I went to buy a different fragrance. It's so beautiful, fresh and green with pleasant fruity sweetness. To me it smells a bit like blackcurrant leaves and a little bit of fresh dill still in the garden, not only like basil. I love it, it's perfect for summer time.

This one was love at first sniff. Juicy and zesty dragonfruit, a cloud of basil + the addition of fig and violet to keep it from being too "food-like". The base notes are just supporting the real stars, keeping the basil and fruit lasting throughout. Instant love. A fantastic, unique, refreshing spring and summer fragrance. 10/10

Very much smells like the notes listed! Right away I get basil, mint and fig. It's a very energetic, fresh scent. I personally don't see it leaning masculine or feminine. it's truly a unisex fragrance. This feels very, I just traveled to the Mediterranean, I'm dressed cute AF and excited to explore the city.

This reminds me of an adult version of Bath and Body World's Fig and Brown Sugar, if you swapped the saccrine notes for herbal greens. The overall scent is subtle and nuanced. You can identify the basil and grass notes of you try, but it all blends beautifully together into an almost-powdery base.

I’m the only one in my family who enjoys fig scents and I love to torture them with this one. It is sweet fig and green basil in the opening and remains sweet throughout, even when it settles to a simple hay skin scent. Thankfully it never becomes bitter or musky as so many green scents do.

I didn't think I'd like this one, but it's addicting. I'm not a fan of aromatic scents. In fact, I don't think I have any in my collection. It is safe to say that this will change soon. I quite like this perfume. If it's very green when you initially spray but it quickly turns a bit sweet.

i absolutely adore this scent, its so green and basily, but it doesnt last for very long on me and seems to fade somewhat quickly. i havent smelled a lot of other green/basil scents, but this has no comparison to the ones ive tried. one of my top favourite summer scents

Mesmerizingly beautiful green freshie! Intense but not sharp at all, actually super refreshing. The grass and the figs are the stars here, but the basil is still present! Basil can be hit or miss for me, and this is definitely a HIT. One of my favorites to wear at home.

it's the scent of waking up early on a warm summer day to your neighbour mowing his lawn and accidentally trimming his herb garden, bottled. beautifully fresh, green and comforting, it just takes a minute or two to settle into the skin.

Gorgeous layers to this. Opens with GREEN: an unabashed Mediterranean basil - a salad on the amalfi coast, and transforms into a more docile, sweeter citrus, with a backdrop of floral. Smells like a memory of summer.

One of the greenest summer scent. The basil and hay works very well together. The fig is just the background of the scent. Super refreshing for high humidity summer days.

I'm low key obsessed with this. Super green but bright, do not be fooled by the comparisons to food. I detect no funky stuff in this, just freshness all around.

I was surprised about the fig note here because I didn't really smell it. But the basil!!! So good. Smells so green and sunny, like a warm garden.

Refreshing, green, natural basil, lovely fresh leaves, makes you feel happy and like having a free summer day. Wow

everybody's mentioning the staranise and nobody's talking about the tomato leaf

Yes, I do actually want to smell like an Italian herb garden. I'm so into this.

#666 in my "Tour de Fragrance" I no longer blind buy anything over $100 and didn't blind buy a full bottle of this. I got this as a sprayette to try it out first. Apparently those fancy Vilhelm Parfumerie bottles, which look like something you'd see on grandma's vanity, are expensive. It's been a long time since I've smelled fresh mown hay. I grew up in town, but my Aunt Mary's farm was only three miles away and I worked there off an on from the time I was nine, particularly during summer school vacation. I always liked cutting hay because I got to drive a tractor. Bailing and stacking hay...not so much. That scent is definitely featured in this fragrance, along with some fig, some basil, some vetiver, and the pitahaya (I guess that's supposed to sound more exotic than just calling it dragon fruit) which gives it that strong scent of the more common and familiar kiwi. Mostly you'll smell fresh mown hay, fresh cut grass and dragon fruit, and the fig gives it an almost musky note. But seriously, you'll pick up every note listed, which is for me always a nice surprise. Seems when people rave that something is "well-blended" it means I can't pick out the notes. Not a fan of that myself. This is unique and likable, dead center unisex. I'd wear this as a summer scent, but doesn't have to be. Very versatile. Car pool, elevator and office safe. Won't offend anyone. But performance is moderate at best. Pretty much EDT potency, not EDP, so IMO this is nice, unique, but significantly pricey, so try a sample first.

My sample of Basilico & Fellini is my first experience with the Vilhelm Parfumerie house, and I have to say I'm impressed! It's really good, and really original too - I got the sample from a perfume shop with a purchase of Philosykos, with the remark that it's a different kind of green fig, and that's exactly right: I've tried a ton of fig scents over the years, and I've never smelled anything like this one. At the same time, it smells kind of obvious, in a good way: I would never have thought to put basil and figs together, but it's a match made in heaven. It's a super light and airy composition, but not at all unsubstantial; obviously very high quality. Except for fig and basil, I mainly get fresh hay - which adds to the overal greenness of the fragrance, while softening the vegetal, borderline "culinary" aspect of the basil note and complementing the sweetness of the fig. It's unisex, and perfect for summer (this unexpected summery week in late September was a great time to test it). In short, it's a surprising idea very well executed, and I'd like a bigger decant, even though I don't think it fits my personal taste (which doesn't lean toward aromatic scents) quite well enough to ever consider an expensive full bottle. Above all, it's definitely put this house on my radar!

Hoped for more airy open garden of herbs but got hit in the face with the most distinct licorice note I've had the displeasure of smelling. That does tend to happen to me, I've noticed, with very fresh bright basil notes. It dries down after a minute to a sun dried hay sweetened with ripe fig. The herbs really do not linger and unfortunately I am grateful for that. Pretty enjoyable once that basil/licorice dies down. Basilico & Fellini evokes this green hillside overlooking hay fields with bales finishing out in the final days of summer. Teetering on the edge of autumn everything green reaches it fullest brightest potential. Early autumn wind washes in and you get that spacious sense of atmosphere. Clear, blue, clean air up where all roads are dirt and the only thing stopping the rolling green waves of grass are tall mountains. This fragrance won me over with it's final dry notes. Wonder if I can hold my breath long enough for the licorice to die each time I want to wear it.

This seems like the intense version of Philosykos. To me it’s more of a men’s fragrance. The notes that stand out the most are basil, fig, grass and hay. It smells extremely green. If you ever tried ripping some grass, it’s that smell—plus, the bitterness from the skin of grapes, minced basil, and tobacco. I also smell the licorice that @glassbiome mentioned, and while it’s not agreeable at first, I keep sniffing my wrist. It’s quite addictive, actually! I don’t mind wearing it in the comfort of my home, but to wear it outside, it doesn’t feel like me or suiting of my personality. I would imagine someone adventurous and creative wearing this, and a nature-lover. It doesn’t seem like it would be an everyday fragrance. Someone would wear it to be different and mainly for the experience, rather than to purely smell good or please others. I remain reluctant to wear it in public, but as I write this review, and continue to sniff my wrist, I’m growing to like it more.

Wearing this feels like stepping into one of those viral videos of windswept Mongolian grasslands. I love aromatic, green fragrances, and what I particularly appreciate about Basilico & Fellini is its focus on basil, rather than a combination of herbal notes. The green grass and hay notes are especially noticeable, with the latter adding a hint of camphor and dryness. The fig and pitahaya are subtle, but they round out the scent, adding depth and a faint sweetness. This fragrance is a perfect blend of herbal and grassy nuances! If you enjoy it, I recommend Incident Light by Binaurale, a lovely aldehydic grass scent. Finally, this does not smell like tomato leaves. Tomato leaves aren’t listed in the notes here or on the Vilhem website. For a true tomato leaf perfume, try La Feuille by Miller Harris or From the Garden by Maison Martin Margiela (La Feuille is better in my opinion).

Effectively Sweet damp crushed Basil in a very enticing natural perfume, just done well enough that you know it’s a perfume and not spillage from your mortar and pestle whilst cooking. Male or female - refreshing, cooling, great for summer and hot days... Predominantly basil bodied out by fig. The other notes seem to be equal to each other beyond those two at a lower volume bar the dragonfruit. Only complaint is longevity which is a few hours but I’ll come back on that after a few wears. Otherwise this is the only other product I like though Fueguia Basilicum is Better and by far one of the most amazing perfumes let alone the best basil scents around - it is though 2-5 times more money depending on the strength mind you...

Extremely green opening--the basil is very fresh and forward. There is a sweetness underlying the green scent that goes from a light, fresh, fruity sweetness (pithaya) to a more robust, warmer, earthier sweetness (fig) as it develops. The scent profile of this one seems to change a lot depending on the temperature and/or where I spray it; when it's cooler, and on a wrist or even elbow crease it remains fairly grassy green and fresh; in the heat, and on my neck or anywhere that goes under clothing, where it's warmer, it becomes a much earthier-sweet fig scent over time, with only a hint of green remaining. I prefer it in the heat; without the development of the warmer, sweeter fig notes, it reads quite masculine.

Very interesting! Like many say, opens with what could be black licorice, star anise, or fennel seed. I would say starts star anise level, then once settled more fennel seed, which is a lot less heady than the former. I typically hate black licorice but the combination with basil actually works here. I don’t really get the dragonfruit specifically, having eaten lots of it growing up. If I’m looking, I can concede there’s some kind of indistinguishable watery fruit in the background. On a rainy day like today, that’s all you need. Not a FB for me, but interesting and enjoyable. I’ll reach for it again sometime and who knows, maybe it’ll grow on me.

I don't smell anything in common with Philosykos, they both have figs, but they are very different. I was hoping that this would be a tropical version of Purple Fig (judging by the notes, because the name suggests that there is nothing tropical ofc), but if Purple Fig smells like pickles, this one smells like pesto sauce. The first few hours all I can smell is a pure basil with a distant hint of something fruity, I can't say whether it's figs or pitahaya, because these fruity notes are barely there. I love pesto lol, so this one is on my wishlist now.

I have a love-hate relationship with this perfume. My first impression of this fragrance is a minty Basil leaf, verdant and ready to be plucked from the stem. Then, I pick up on the sweet, earthy fig, mostly the rind with a bit of the delicious juice. A powdery violet starts to slowly creep in, culminating with the other notes. Finally, I can smell the dry, almost-mossy hay that deters me from loving the fragrance. This is definitely a unique fragrance that I could see myself purchasing a small travel size, but not a full bottle.

So far all the Vilhelm Parfumerie fragrances I have tried are winners. This offering is fresh cut grass, Caribbean fruit, floral fantastic-ness. It is so fresh and clean with the basil adding a bit of bite to make it more intriguing. While it may not be my signature scent it is a keeper that will get sprayed frequently. Basilico & Fellini is old school Soho, outdoor cafe, on the spring/summer cusp, with a badass Jil Sander sheath dress, oversized Gucci frames, with dainty foot wear and day-drinking lemon bellinis.

This sounded perfect but I'm glad I only got a sample. I was looking for a Basil perfume, but all I'm getting with this is the fig and pitahaya, the latter of which is an oddly subdued fresh note, like the fruit is, not really sweet but not tangy either. The violet adds some sweetness. There is a green character to it overall, but it's not basil, it's just grassy. I do like it, and it would be a wonderful summer scent, but I will continue searching for a basil scent, hopefully the one I want is out there.