Beauty Tea: Four Italian-Inspired Fragrances
Despite being flooded with summer tourism; Southern Italy magically retains its certain-something. More than other destinations in the Mediterranean, the milieu has a unique way of commandeering each of the five senses. The Italian sun bronzes skin so pleasantly in Portofino. The colors of Le Cinque Terre practically mesmerize your eyesight, wondering why you chose an all-white color scheme for your apartment (maybe just me). The clam pastas and other seafood of Capri make going out for Italian elsewhere practically impossible.
And, more than anything, the smells of the coastal towns and islands are so distinct and narcotic, recovering those aromas becomes a sort of addictive mission. It’s no wonder that the smells of the South have inspired a bevy of perfumers to reimagine all of the seaside, musky and fruity details. If you’ve never been to Italy, no problem. Try any of these fragrances to feel instantly teleported in the blink of a spritz.
This beauty is one of the standouts for me from Tom Ford’s blue bottle collection. It unwinds waves of Sicilian lemon and light florals from a Mediterranean acacia white flowering tree. It’s light, but carries the long-lasting staying power of tiny glitter stuck to wet skin, much like all of the luxury Private Blends. It turned one of my dreary workdays into a night that became ripe with mirthful possibility. Fleur de Portofino is the perfect accompaniment to an all-white outfit and an evening with an uncertain future (Italian suitor optional).
Fleur de Portofino $235, available at Tom Ford.
From the house that creates the signature fragrance of Positano’s famous hotel Le Sirenuse, this light-bodied scent is the ideal thing to wear with a swimsuit and sarong. Peach fans, rejoice! One of my favorite summer scents, its top notes are freesia, pink peony, and the perfect sweet, fuzzy peach. I literally can’t think of anything that pairs better with an Italian Bellini, cheeky bikini, and a saltwater pool.
Un Bateau Pour Capri, $160, available at Beautyhabit.
There’s nothing that transports me to a garden restaurant with grapefruit Negronis on the Amalfi coast quite like Acqua Di Parma’s Fico di Amalfi. From the perfumer’s Blu Mediterraneo collection, this gorgeous medium-bodied fragrance gives off a spiced fruity musk – such a sexy paradox. Break the seal and you’ll forget you have to repeat the same day tomorrow; an Italian citrus escape awaits you. Pairs well with: Missoni, cowboy boots, secret admirers, and dancing late into the night.
Fico Di Amalfi $171, available at Sephora.
Musky rose lovers will be obsessed with this Italian perfume. When I spray this, I immediately envision of a man doused in bergamot, greeting me with fresh cut roses and a lychee martini on a summer night (a girl can dream). This rose-rich delight is one of my new favorites; hints of sweet lychee fruit which gives way to cedarwood and an indelicate musk. A seriously sexy blend, this perfume pairs well with unstable stilettos, a non-vegan dinner and a third date.
By Any Other Name, $210, available at Lucky Scent.
