BORTNIKOFF
SYMPHONIE DE NEROLI

2019

PERFUMER
Dmitry Bortnikov

Clementine
Lime
Bergamot
Lemon

Neroli
Jasmine
Vetiver
Vetiver

Ambergris
Oud
Peru Balsam
Tolu Balsam
Oakmoss
cedarwood

Very bright opening with a ton of citrus as the note breakdown would suggest. You get the acidity and brightness of the citrusses, but at the same time, you instantly get a more earthy, almost smoky vetiver underneath.

It’s very green and sharp with white florals underneath the citrus. In comparison to Amber Cologne and Musk Cologne, I’d say Symphonie De Neroli has less of the orange rind and its more juicy and more green straight away. It’s sharper at first, but deeper and darker after some minutes.

For some reason some wafts remind me of banana and melon as this fragrance sweetens up quite a bit. You get more of general fruitiness on top of vetiver and moss. Occasionally I still get a natural waft of mandarin later in the wear.

Funny enough, I can’t say I really detect much of neroli in the way that I know it. I get a heavier base with oud and ambergris, but it remains playful and energetic mostly. In the drydown I still get a banana-esque scent, like walking on fruit market; slightly overripe and sweetened.

The longer its on skin, the more a slight indolic tinge rears its head. Interesting scent; a bit too fruity for my taste perhaps, but I love how juicy it is.