MENDITTOROSA
Odori d’Anima – Rituale

2017

PERFUMER
Amelie Bourgeois

bergamot
mandarin aldehyde
lavender

jasmin
narcissus
rose
blackcurrant
raspberry
pomegranate

patchouli
sandalwood
beeswax
amberwoods
white musk
hyraceum

‘Rituals from ancient cultures; myths, symbols and religions in one perfume. Rituale is illuminated by a nectarous narcissus, a golden distillation of time like an everlasting sunrise. Blessing and prayer, a soothing balsam for skin, Rituale is your personal temple. Perfumes normally come and go with the wind but Rituale likes to linger and bless your day, creating a ritual especially for you. Knots and roots, nest and streets.. loops of time without time. The unique twisted cap design represents order from chaos, tangles of protection, individually hand-made by Italian artist Mauro Carrazza.’ – Mendittorosa

The only Mentittorosa I’d tried before this is Le Mat, but Rituale was a nice surprise. I got it in a swap with no expectations, but it ended up being quite the fragrance.

And a hard one to describe, but I’d probably label it a honeyed fruity-floral with an edge. Most reviews I’ve seen get hung up on the lavender and it’s even been described as a men’s cologne vibe, but that’s not at all what I get from Rituale.

I do get aromatics, but more fruitiness. The fruits are vibrant, but more so soft than juicy. Citrussy, jammy blackcurrant (very prominent) and raspberry with florals instead make for a much more traditionally feminine leaning scent profile in my experience. I get hints of Atelier des Ors Pink Me Up and Carner Marbella from this opening.

Then there’s honey (beeswax). Very sweet, but also slightly heady and there’s animalics to add a kick to it. I also find it slightly bubblegummy.

The animalics aren’t too pronounced, so also hard to pinpoint. At the same time, I think they give this fragrance an underbelly that transforms it from a basic fragrance to an interesting one. I guess I would say it gives it more of a real (deer) musky tinge, albeit a subtle one.

Not necessarily daring, but more eccentric than what you’ll find in your average sweet fruity floral scent. It kind of falls in the category of a substantial tuberose as far as wearability for me personally. So I’m not sure if I like/love wearing this yet, but it is an intriguing and nice scent.