Year: 2011
Notes: bergamot, tangerine, lily of the valley, milk, custard, sugar syrup, toasted sugar, musk
Created by pastry chef Jordi Roca (of the renowned restaurant Cellar de Can Roca) and perfumer Agustí Vidal, Núvol di Llimona is meant to capture "a lemon muffin soaked in milk". Although one has never savoured such a delicacy, one does have another description for its general aroma: home-made lemon drizzle cake.
The opening sweetness is redolent of icing sugar, imbued with a sprightly lemon note that isn't so piercing. The tangerine adds an extra dimension and the overall sweetness isn't too sickly. This could possibly be due to the lily of the valley, which adds a wispy but slightly frosty aura as the composition unfurls.
By the mid notes, the sweetness slowly intensifies but it isn't exactly the same sweetness as first experienced upon the opening, as it has now transformed into something warm, creamy and dense. With both the milk and custard gradually overwhelming the citrus accords, one can visualise congealed lemon cream nestling between firm golden layers of warm sponge.
As it develops further, the sweetness becomes more vanillic. Traces of lemon continue to persist but the musk has already begun to emerge. By the time it reaches the end of its lifespan, all that remains is a mild caramel musk with faint glimmers lemon-infused icing sugar.
As commonplace as gourmands are, Núvol di Llimona explores this concept from both a unique and innovative perspective, smelling well-blended, realistic and mouth-wateringly delicious. While one doesn't expect miracles from the performance of modern-day Eaux de Toilette, its longevity still could have been slightly better.
It's a very impressive elixir that's almost good enough to drink, and one hopes that an Eau de Parfum is in the offing very soon.
The opening sweetness is redolent of icing sugar, imbued with a sprightly lemon note that isn't so piercing. The tangerine adds an extra dimension and the overall sweetness isn't too sickly. This could possibly be due to the lily of the valley, which adds a wispy but slightly frosty aura as the composition unfurls.
By the mid notes, the sweetness slowly intensifies but it isn't exactly the same sweetness as first experienced upon the opening, as it has now transformed into something warm, creamy and dense. With both the milk and custard gradually overwhelming the citrus accords, one can visualise congealed lemon cream nestling between firm golden layers of warm sponge.
As it develops further, the sweetness becomes more vanillic. Traces of lemon continue to persist but the musk has already begun to emerge. By the time it reaches the end of its lifespan, all that remains is a mild caramel musk with faint glimmers lemon-infused icing sugar.
As commonplace as gourmands are, Núvol di Llimona explores this concept from both a unique and innovative perspective, smelling well-blended, realistic and mouth-wateringly delicious. While one doesn't expect miracles from the performance of modern-day Eaux de Toilette, its longevity still could have been slightly better.
It's a very impressive elixir that's almost good enough to drink, and one hopes that an Eau de Parfum is in the offing very soon.
