On perfume 'compliments'

I don't receive a lot of perfume compliments. Actually, on reflection, I don't receive any perfume compliments. 

What I can rely on though, is honesty from my good wife.

Today I wore Lorenzo Villoresi's Patchouli, which I've written about briefly before. I personally think it is quite a nice patchouli perfume, but I always subject my perfumes to the acid test - the scrutiny of my wife's nose.

When I got home this evening I presented my wrist to her in the usual fashion, saying: "smell this, I'm sure you'll like it."(I'm forever an optimist)

My wife's brief but eloquent response was: "Ew, you smell like rat poison!"

Thinking about it, patchouli, with its musty, mothball-like odour, could smell like some sort of pesticide.

For the record, I still like Lorenzo Villoresi's Patchouli. Lorenzo, if you're reading this post, no offence mate, my wife is just like that sometimes...

Lorenzo Villoresi Patchouli

Some of you who might have followed my blog for a couple of years could be aware that I am quite a patchouli fan. I am often on the lookout for patch fragrances and have encountered a number that I love, including, to name but a few, Lutens Borneo 1834, Histoires de Parfum Noir Patchouli, Intrigant Patchouli by Parfumerie Generale and Mazzolari Lui. 

I don't know why, but for some reason I wasn't expecting Villoresi Patchouli to be so patch-focused. I expected something that nodded to patchouli, but perhaps in an obscure or watered-down way. As it turns out, patchouli is to the fore from the very start and never says goodbye. Like a lot of patch-heavy perfumes, there is a lot of camphor to start with, which gradually unfolds into an earthy, classic patchouli accord. While all this is great, the dry down is, in my opinion, amazing. There is a lot of wood in here, including cedar and sandalwood, and its the sandalwood, I think, that turns the dry down into a plush, polished finish that is lent further interest by just a hint of vetiver.

While I haven't tried a lot of perfumes by Villoresi, those I have tried (Piper Nigrum, Uomo and Musk) all have a certain sophistication (or quirkiness, some might venture) and Patchouli manages to achieve a similar result. It starts quite raw and growly, but ends up classy and just different enough from the other patch perfumes out there that I definitely think it is worth searching out.

Image credit - http://www.vittoriaprofumi.com/