Just Cavalli Give Me Magic for Her
Incense and oud in a fragrance sold as a light-hearted thing is the contradiction that makes Just Cavalli Give Me Magic for Her Eau de Parfum worth smelling properly before you judge it.
The opening is the friendly part. Orange is bright and simple, jasmine gives it an immediate white floral sweetness, and nutmeg dusts the two of them with a dry warm spice that hints at where this is heading. None of that prepares you for the middle. Saffron arrives first, leathery and slightly bitter, and then incense and oud come up together. Incense here is the cool, smoky, resinous kind rather than anything sweet, and oud is the dense medicinal material that Middle Eastern perfumery is built on, animal and dark and impossible to miss. In a designer fragrance aimed at a mainstream buyer, that is an unusually bold heart, and it is the half hour that will decide whether you buy it.
The base keeps the darkness going. Vetiver is dry and rooty, patchouli damp and earthy, and oakmoss lays a bitter green underneath them, so the whole thing finishes serious rather than sweet. As an eau de parfum it lasts well and projects firmly for the first couple of hours. Cold weather and evenings suit it, and it reads as considerably more unisex than the marketing suggests. Anyone who likes smoke and spice and finds most women's fragrance too polite should try it.
Roberto Cavalli is an Italian fashion house founded in 1970, when the Florentine designer who gave it his name showed a first collection in Paris, having begun with a workshop printing fabric. Printed denim and animal prints made its reputation. The founder stepped away from the business in 2015, and the fragrances are made under licence.
Please note: images are a guide only. Packaging and bottle design may occasionally differ from those shown due to manufacturer updates or promotions.
Similar Notes
The Scent Vault
Join thousands earning on every order
Earn points as you shop, redeem for money off, and unlock member perks.
Find out more
The Scent Vault Gift Cards
Give the gift of choice
One card, every scent. Let them pick the fragrance that is truly them. Send it instantly by email, or schedule it for a future date with a message of your own.
Shop gift cards
