Uomo
Black violet and saffron are an odd pair to put at the front of a men's fragrance, and Roberto Cavalli Uomo Eau de Toilette opens on both at once. Black violet is the darker, deeper reading of that flower, far closer to the leaf and the root of it than to the sweet powdery version, and saffron sits against it with a dry, leathery, faintly medicinal warmth. The middle is sweeter and stranger still: honey, which is thick and slightly animal rather than merely sugary, is held in place by lavender, whose clean herbal coolness is the only thing keeping the honey from becoming too much. Underneath, tonka bean brings a soft, nutty sweetness, cedarwood gives a dry sharpened pencil quality, and patchouli finishes with damp earth.
That combination makes it one of the more distinctive designer men's scents of its year, which was 2016. It is sweet but not fruity, warm but never heavy, and the saffron keeps a thread of bitterness running through the whole thing that stops it ever reading as a dessert. As an eau de toilette it has moderate strength and a few hours of real presence, so it suits people who would rather reapply in the evening than wear something overpowering from the start. Autumn and winter are its best seasons, and it is as much at home in a restaurant or at a party as it is on a date. Christophe Raynaud is the perfumer.
Roberto Cavalli, the Italian house, was set up in 1970 by a Florentine whose previous trade was printing fabric and whose patterns, animal ones in particular, made the label famous. He stepped back in 2015, and perfume is produced under licence rather than in house.
Please note: images are a guide only. Packaging and bottle design may occasionally differ from those shown due to manufacturer updates or promotions.
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