MILANO FRAGRANZE
CORTILE
2021
PERFUMER
Michelle Moellhausen
Violet
Coffee
Bergamot
Cinnamon
Jasmine Sambac
Tuberose
Osmanthus
Ylang-Ylang
Sandalwood
Suede
Amber
Cortile was my favorite after sampling the Milano Fragranze discovery set of all their initial releases. It’s mainly a jasmine fragrance. As far as jasmine goes; this is not a clear, fruity, juicy and bright jasmine, nor is it an indolic, challenging one. It simultaneously smells calming and slightly dirty, almost like an incense.
Tuberose, osmanthus and ylang-ylang are all listed, but I don’t perceive them as such, they are probably used to help create the jasmine scent and that’s what’s prominent throughout. If anything, the violet seems to shine through from time to time. Otherwise coffee is listed and used in the backstory for this fragrance, but I honestly can’t detect much coffee in this. There’s a slight smokiness, but it’s rather ashy or maybe like a cold incense to my nose, not so much steam coming from coffee.
What I picture when I smell Cortile are brittle white stones or dust. Like a path through a park that leaves chalky white dust on your shoes. There’s cigarette butts lying around, but there’s also jasmine flowers all around you. It’s sunny and slightly warm, but the jasmine is calming, almost as if it’s slightly milky (this might be the coffee working it’s magic). There’s a really strong juxtaposition between clean and dirty, but I associate this with a white/light grey color mostly.
The wear is rather linear and performance is average, but I love every minute. Amber and woods are listed in the base, but it doesn’t transition into it heavily for me. The same goes for the bergamot in the opening; it’s very subtle and what you get is jasmine-esque from start to finish. I like that there’s no compromise on the presentation; the bottle is great, the cap is heavy and magnetic, the sprayer is pressurized and the scent-profiles are not basic. With the competitive pricing, I’d say these are some of the best value niche releases money can buy today.
Sidenote: If you like Cortile, also check out Maison Violet Compliment.
