Year: 2008
Notes: Sicilian bitter orange, Brazilian orange, Sicilian tangerine, coconut, banana, tiaré, Bourbon vanilla, vanillin, solar amber accord
Vittoria Apuana is the name of a beach, close to the Italian seaside resort of Forte dei Marmi, and is evocative of relaxing on a sun-drenched tropical beach.
It bypasses the citrus top notes, immediately revealing an intense coconut suntan lotion accord, which smells surprisingly natural. As well as coconut, one can also faintly discern some pineapple (suggesting a slight piña colada nuance). These, along with the tiaré, form the nucleus of the tropical theme.
The banana is sweet and yet mellow – like the smell of a peeled over-ripe banana, with its yellow skin covered in chocolate brown blotches. With a gentle caramelised vanilla underlining the proceedings, the demure florals intermingle effortlessly, providing a graceful femininity to the composition.
Once these chords hit their stride, there's hardly any further development. It also stays quite close to the skin, with the occasional waft greeting the nose. Unfortunately, it fails to maintain its stature beyond four hours, but still manages keep its composure intact throughout such a relatively short time frame.
Composed by Maria Candida Gentile, it could easily slot into her collection of fragrances under her own name, but it's severely let down by its lack of potency. Still, for something that convincingly conjures images of idyllic summer days on exotic shores, its virtues are delightfully impressive.
It bypasses the citrus top notes, immediately revealing an intense coconut suntan lotion accord, which smells surprisingly natural. As well as coconut, one can also faintly discern some pineapple (suggesting a slight piña colada nuance). These, along with the tiaré, form the nucleus of the tropical theme.
The banana is sweet and yet mellow – like the smell of a peeled over-ripe banana, with its yellow skin covered in chocolate brown blotches. With a gentle caramelised vanilla underlining the proceedings, the demure florals intermingle effortlessly, providing a graceful femininity to the composition.
Once these chords hit their stride, there's hardly any further development. It also stays quite close to the skin, with the occasional waft greeting the nose. Unfortunately, it fails to maintain its stature beyond four hours, but still manages keep its composure intact throughout such a relatively short time frame.
Composed by Maria Candida Gentile, it could easily slot into her collection of fragrances under her own name, but it's severely let down by its lack of potency. Still, for something that convincingly conjures images of idyllic summer days on exotic shores, its virtues are delightfully impressive.
