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Venus (1785) by Sir Joshua Reynolds from hoocher.com
Nasomatto is a relatively new Italian niche perfume line that gives its fragrances provocative, even rather shocking names such as Absinth, China White and its latest one, Black Afgano, that are meant to draw attention with references to illegal substances. Of course none of them actually contain such materials, and this approach could be considered mere publicity stunts were this line’s releases not of the high quality that they are, but one of the brand’s earlier creations by perfumer Alessandro Gualtieri might as well be forbidden because of it’s exceptionally sensuous appeal, and that is the aptly named Narcotic Venus.
Narcotic Venus is a white floral built around the tuberose blossom, but a side-by-side comparison with other florals in this class clearly reveals a distinct difference. An impressively indolic jasmine and an equally fleshy lily add to the sensuality of the tuberose, while exotic spices add depth, warmth and an almost boozy quality, almost as though one were drinking a white flower liqueur. The effect is quite dizzying, and as the perfume develops on the skin it just gets better, especially on wearers (such as myself) whose skin chemistry tends to amplify white florals. This is the stuff of serious seduction, and in the words of the scent’s creator, Narcotic Venus is “…a quest for the overwhelming addictive intensity of female sexual power.” I can’t argue with that. This is an openly carnal perfume, unapologetically redolent of femininity, a Venus who is fully aware of her own powers.
The perfume does not seem to throw a lot of sillage (scent trail) but it is extremely long lasting on the skin, so if you wear it to bed, which is a great idea, you will still be able to smell it in the morning. It is only available as a perfume Extrait, the strongest concentration, and the price is $148 USD for 30 ml (1 oz.). If you stack that up against the price of other Parfum strength fragrances, it is an excellent bargain, and a little of this gorgeous elixir really goes a long way. It is available online at Luckyscent and its retail store front Scent Bar in Los Angeles, Barneys New York online and at its retail store locations, as well as at Herbarium in Italy if you happen to be in Europe.
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