Giovanni Sammarco - has anybody tested his perfumes?

[alfarom]

I received samples of the whole line and I'm more than impressed. I'm still making friends with them but my idea is that they're all standouts in their respective genres. Nothing to envy to super high-end brands a-la JAR!

Alter is my initial love. A mushroom-y jasmine with a thick animalic base. The mimosa note is mind-blowing for its vivid realism. Just WOW!

For unknown reasons I'm still trying to figure out, the whole line makes me think of an hypothetical mash-up between JAR and Vero Profumo.

 

[hoschhti]

Reviews on Nero Profumo:

http://neroprofumo.blogspot.it/2015/05/sammarco-sotry-of-craftmanship.html

 

[alfarom]

Thanks Hoschhti

 

[james1051]

Wow these sound great! Must try!

 

[Brian_Towers]

Since this brand has some hate (someone didn't get free samples? and messed up ratings on Fragrantica), I'm just checking in to say that they are worth trying.

Besides the quality of the raw materials there is some structure and a natural evolution to them, which is key to me to appreciate anything these days.

I really liked the last one, Ariel. Half an hour in, it feels like a mix of Bois des Iles and 31 Rue Cambon, creaminess plus sofistication alla Chanel but with unlimited budget.

 

[alfarom]

I really liked the last one, Ariel. Half an hour in, it feels like a mix of Bois des Iles and 31 Rue Cambon, creaminess plus sofistication alla Chanel but with unlimited budget.

Completely agree. On paper I thought Ariel would have been my least favorite but it came out I actually love it.

 

[mixerscent]

Excellent thread. Samples ordered.

 

[Ovcharkaowner]

Had a sample of Vitrum and Bond T tucked away since a year and decided to wear Vitrum last night. It's very pure vetiver, almost alcohol sharp in its clarity. I like the drydown a lot where apparent hints of frankincense smoke are present. Didn't expect to wake up the next day with it still being on, so longevity is superb. Thumbs up.

Bond T: I'm concerned to give it a second chance. Last time i wore it was last year and i remember it smelling like ****, literally...

 

[hoschhti]

Luca Turin wrote about Sammarco Perfumes: https://perfumesilove.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/giovanni-sammarco/

 

[hoschhti]

Looks like Giovanni is finally getting the attention that he deserves!


Reviews on Kafkaesque:

http://www.kafkaesqueblog.com/2016/04/26/sammarco-bond-t-promised-land-beckons/

http://www.kafkaesqueblog.com/2016/04/29/sammarco-ariel-chanel-meets-guerlain/

http://www.kafkaesqueblog.com/2016/05/02/sammarco-vitrum-alter-vetiver-forests-jasmine-fields/


Review on Cafleurebon:

http://www.cafleurebon.com/esxence-...ance-reviews-haute-couture-for-the-nose-draw/


Review on Colognoisseur:

http://colognoisseur.com/new-perfume-review-sammarco-bond-t-wonkalicious/

 

[psebi101]

Would be interested in trying Vitrium, but the sample as well as the 30 ml bottle are very expensive at 4.3 euro/ml. And the bottle/packaging look kinda cheap.

 

[hoschhti]

Reviews and Interview on Fragrantica: http://www.fragrantica.com/news/Meeting-Giovanni-Sammarco-Reviews-Interview-7933.html

 

[Mark_Trail]

I think I have a few samples of his.

At least Ariel and Alter I've used and liked

-Mark


Sent from my NSA monitored iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[hoschhti]

NAIAS review:

NAIAS is the latest perfume by Giovanni Sammarco. This time it's clearly a perfume for women only. Where its predecessor ARIEL could also be worn by men, I think this is too feminine for a guy - well at least in my opinion. Of course I don't want to discourage anybody from sampling it. As we are already used to from Sammarco, the quality of the ingredients is very good. On his website NAIAS is described having a violet aura. This description is spot-on because the violet lingers in this perfume but never becomes overwhelming - NAIAS is not a violet soliflore. Actually to my nose it's more a rose scent with a green undercurrent and a very abstract and subdued fruitiness. The drydown is mostly a sweet sandalwood affair, actually quite similar in its vibe to ARIEL. NAIAS is an uncomplicated scent, not in the sense of being uncomplex, but in the sense that it's easy to wear. It's not too heavy or too light or too sweet in a girlie way. It manages to hit the right tone and thus is suitable for all occasions and all women (and maybe men too?). Uncomplicated yes, but not uncomplex. NAIAS is blended perfectly and shows a lot of subtle details. Longevity is good and projection is moderate.


List of notes:

Violet, Rose, Jasmine, Osmanthus, Neroli, Orris, Sandalwood, Apple, Pear, Cassis, Mandarin, Amber

 

[mikeperez23]

I smelled Bond-T yesterday for the 1st time. A perfume shop I was at had manufacturer samples since I believe they’re considering carrying the line. It is incredibly animalic. Everyone mentions the chocolate and the patchouli but my nose zeroed in on the civet immediately. Very avant-garde and yet also very sexy. I look forward to this shop carrying his stuff so that I can smell the rest. The SA told me that her favorite was Vitrum.

 

[StellaDiverFlynn]

I smelled Bond-T yesterday for the 1st time. A perfume shop I was at had manufacturer samples since I believe they’re considering carrying the line. It is incredibly animalic. Everyone mentions the chocolate and the patchouli but my nose zeroed in on the civet immediately. Very avant-garde and yet also very sexy. I look forward to this shop carrying his stuff so that I can smell the rest. The SA told me that her favorite was Vitrum.

I find it animalic, too. The more I wear it, the more I appreciate the addition of castoreum and the hint of sweet osmanthus. The patchouli/cacao/tobacco trio is already great, but with these two major supporting notes, it becomes a different animal than other classic patchouli-cacao. I love Alter, Ariel and Vitrum as well, but my favourite from the line remains Bond-T.

 

[mikeperez23]

Most of these received favorable reviews in The Guide 2018.

I still have not tried Vitrum.

And I can't seem to get Bond-T out of my mind.

 

[Dariushka]

And I can't seem to get Bond-T out of my mind.

I really have a feeling, Bond is certainly the scent, which is most distinctive among all of Sammarco' frags:laugh:

The new Daria is stunningly beautiful. Finally the scent, which reconstructs the REAL mushroom'y mentol-like creamy gardenia, with a cobweb of blossom honey over it.

 

[Scarce]

I like Bond-T very much also, but it seems a bit simplistic compared to something like Borneo 1834 by Serge Lutens. Much, much better than other patchouli-cacao combinations I've tried though (LIDGE, Kokorico, Moonlight Patchouli by Van Cleef and Arpels, Cocoa Tuberose by Providence Perfumes).

 

[StellaDiverFlynn]

I like Bond-T very much also, but it seems a bit simplistic compared to something like Borneo 1834 by Serge Lutens. Much, much better than other patchouli-cacao combinations I've tried though (LIDGE, Kokorico, Moonlight Patchouli by Van Cleef and Arpels, Cocoa Tuberose by Providence Perfumes).

I happen to think of Bond-T and Borneo 1834 the other way around. Maybe it's because the leathery and bitter cacao effect of castoreum and the fruity floral leathery enigma of osmanthus are quite noticeable when I wear Bond-T, I tend to find it more complex and prismatic than Borneo 1834, which comes off more focused on the cacao-patchouli combination. But I definitely share your opinion that both are among the best in this category.

On an unrelated note, I'm slightly disappointed by the new Daria, even though I adore white floral in general. It does have a wintergreen/"toothpaste" opening, a bit of bubblegum-rubbery tonality and a bitter green nuance, those ugly-beautiful aspects that I usually crave to be juxtaposed with the creamy sweetness of white floral. However, I find it just skirts around them and isn't as committed as Tubéreuse Criminelle and Mugler A Travers Le Miroir to the wintergreen nuance, nor as Heeley Bubblegum Chic to the bubblegum association, nor as Blackbird Y06-S to the creamy banana milkshake evocation. At the same time, when compared to those less dramatic, more elegant white floral, it doesn't feel as refined as Dusita Mélodie de L'Amour or Hiram Green Moon Bloom, either. This ultimately makes it appear rather average to me in this crowded category.