Riviera Verbena by Nicolai Parfumeur Createur
Citrus Aromatic
Patricia de Nicolai
Patricia Nicolai is an accomplished nose, grand-daughter of the house’s founder Pierre Guerlain. She has been fascinated by smell since she can remember. Her brand Nicolai Parfumeur Createur is undoubtedly flavored by Guerlain yet she has developed her own style and sense of uniqueness. Her perfumes are fused with natural ingredients, she takes a lot of inspiration from seasides, forests, gardens and other lovely places on Earth.
Awards-winning Riviera Verbera takes us to the beautiful Mediterranean. It is zesty, lemony, and smells authentic but is neither too sharp nor fresh. The scent lingers on your skin effortlessly, it brings a strange feeling of comfort at home. In addition to florals and earthy notes, it must be the clean herbal lemon verbena which causes this homey sentiment.
The opening is stunning. Verbera sets the composition apart from other citrusy fragrances. The aroma is green, soft spicy with an earthy background. It smells unisex, soft and light; and sadly, it does not cut through the cold. I don’t know if it has been marketed this way but I will wear this fragrance only during summer.
I see similarities with Vetiver d’Hiver by Armani Prive. When Riviera Verbena is brighter, cheerful and juicier, Vetiver d’Hiver is more formal moodier and masculine. My ovasions go to Vetiver solely because it is more challenging to create an elegant citrus which is not too fresh screachy or cologne-like than a casual sunny riviera-like citrus. The sillage and longevity are bad at both cases but we exceptionally pardon that.
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