ATELIER DES ORS
POMELO RIVIERA

2019

PERFUMER
Marie Salamagne

Grapefruit
Jasmine
Bergamot

Orange Blossom
Salt
Rose

CedarWOOD

As of mid 2024 Pomelo Riviera might be my number one high heat pick. It provides on the premise of pomelo perfectly.

To me, Pomelo Riviera smells highly natural. It has the zesty, acidic aspect, the juicy watery aspect and most importantly, the bitterness. That bitter bite is what adds a lot of character to the scent. It also lasts; where the original citrus scent might fade quickly, it’s the tang and bitterness that prolongs that (perceived similar) freshness for a respectable time.

You can wear this in the highest heat and overspraying won’t cause any issues. In the late drydown, some woodiness comes through, but honestly, pomelo is pretty much all that I detect here and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

For my taste; Pomelo Riviera is a level up from all the lemon, orange, mandarin, bergamot, lime fragrances that I’ve come across. Despite being (seemingly) basic for a fragrance that retails around €200 (2022), it delivers me something that I haven’t found a substitute for in my recollection so far.

I often refrain from buying expensive Summery citrus fragrances, because they tend to be less complex, less long lasting, a bit more generic maybe even. At least, I find that most don’t offer significantly more than cheaper counterparts. Is Pomelo Riviera different? Maybe not for everyone, but it has captured my interest differently.