SOSPIRO
Opera Grande

2022

PERFUMER
Christian Provenzano

Fruity notes
Turkish Rose

Nutmeg
Ylang-Ylang
Leather
Ambergris

Cedarwood
Patchouli
Vanilla
Vetiver
Musk

I assume this is similar to Sospiro Opera (2014) and Xerjoff Opera (2019). I don’t know them well enough to compare.

To me, Opera Grande is quite a mixed bag. On one hand, it has an interesting, more subtle fruitiness than many of the fruity Xerjoffs and Sospiros. It’s more on the green and musky side, watery, but there is definitely also a dryer element. In a way, this combination of green, fruity, ambergris may recall Aventus to some, but Opera Grande isn’t really another take on that; it’s much more acidic and harsher, moreover the drydown goes way more earthy.

Fruitiness prevails throughout, but so does that sharper, harsher texture. Some people have likened the original Opera from 2014 to deodorant and I definitely can see where that comparison comes from. Hints of alcohol, hair spray, deodorant, that kind of ozonic harsher essence runs through Opera Grande. Yet, combined with the citrussy fruits, doesn’t make for an overall unpleasant experience; just one that doesn’t stick the landing either to me, in a way that for example the popular Vibrato does achieve.

The more it dries, the more this goes earthy, in a dry patchouli-sand like manner. The fruitiness sticks around for an impressive time however.