Year: 2012
Notes: galbanum, gardenia, Peru balsam
Comment: Lady Day is part of the Exclusive Collection
With an abrasive opening (but not as sinister as Cinabre), followed by a strange candied earthiness, Lady Day is initially a confounding creation to comprehend.
As the galbanum recedes, the gardenia reveals an unexpected fruity milkiness – possibly a combination of this accord with peach and probably something berry-like. With regards to its green attributes, this is upheld by the seamless introduction of some geranium. Harbouring an underlying earthy greyness, the balsamic base slowly infiltrates and mingles with the other notes until, considerably later, only a benzoin-type aroma is left with timid fruity-floral nuances.
Dedicated to Billie Holiday (Lady Day was a nickname coined by her musical collaborator, Lester Young), once it settles, it's largely a balsamic floral with salient green plumes. Personally, one feels that it could have greatly benefitted with more complexity. However, in its favour, its dank and brooding nature perfectly complements the singer's beleaguered personal life (as well as the dark subject matter of some of her songs).
Apart from the ambivalent opening, it's very well-composed and persists for quite a while, but ultimately plays it a little too safe. Based on what Maria Candida Gentile is capable of, one anticipated much more.
As the galbanum recedes, the gardenia reveals an unexpected fruity milkiness – possibly a combination of this accord with peach and probably something berry-like. With regards to its green attributes, this is upheld by the seamless introduction of some geranium. Harbouring an underlying earthy greyness, the balsamic base slowly infiltrates and mingles with the other notes until, considerably later, only a benzoin-type aroma is left with timid fruity-floral nuances.
Dedicated to Billie Holiday (Lady Day was a nickname coined by her musical collaborator, Lester Young), once it settles, it's largely a balsamic floral with salient green plumes. Personally, one feels that it could have greatly benefitted with more complexity. However, in its favour, its dank and brooding nature perfectly complements the singer's beleaguered personal life (as well as the dark subject matter of some of her songs).
Apart from the ambivalent opening, it's very well-composed and persists for quite a while, but ultimately plays it a little too safe. Based on what Maria Candida Gentile is capable of, one anticipated much more.
