Pros: A departure from SMN's typical single note scents; a woody incense composition that is light enough to wear in warmer weather without becoming overwhelming.
Cons: Difficult to track down; overall sillage could be better.
Reminds me of: Comme des Garcons Avignon; Armani Mania for Women (original); Kisu.Development: I love the vanilla and woods in the base, balanced by the lighter, sweeter topnotes.
Longevity: Didn't last as long as I had hoped, though slightly longer than some of SMN's single note scents. It remained detectable for about 1.5-2 hours.
Sillage: Minimal - stays close to the skin.
Where can I buy it? $84 for a 100ml edt at Aedes.com.
Bottleworthy? Try this one along with the CDG Incense series to get a feel for what works best for you.
The Bottom Line: Slightly less expensive than the CDG scents, with a similar feel and stunning bottle, Santa Maria Novella's Citta di Kyoto, or Kyoto City is the newest multiple note, layered composition (my favorite still being Nostalgia). It has a similar feel to Norma Kamali's Incense and Tan Rokka's Kisu, though remains much lighter than the former, and slightly more complex than the latter. The aroma is very well-crafted with some stunning moments, especially the leafy green nuances that float in and out of the beginning stages of the scent. Overall, Citta di Kyoto delivers a trail of floral-woody incense smoke that is very, very accurate. The aroma brings me back to standing in Higashi Honganji temple in Kyoto, bare feet pressed to woven tatami mats, o bosan is chanting up at front, and trails of incense smoke rise to the heavens. Welcome to the City of Kyoto.
Rating (out of 10): 7
What's your favorite Santa Maria Novella scent?
3 comments:
I haven't smelled any of their more recent releases.
My favourites from their more traditional scents are Heliotropio in the wonderful extract and Peau d'Espagne.
Subarashii bottle. I haven't seen/smelled this SMN but I love Kyoto (the city) and its temples. It's been a number of years since I visited but I thought it was such an elegant, visually exquisite place. Just a bullet train ride away from Tokyo and we tether into Old Japan.
Oh, I almost forgot: My favorite SMN so far is Tuberosa: a gorgeous, buttery tuberose that packs a punch but smells good enough to eat. I don't really wear it anymore but I love to smell it...
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