Guest review by John of Cincinnati
One of the more interesting things about fragrance for me is how our nose and our brains react to the same scents differently or at different times or with different sensibilities. Our reactions are never simple and, with scent, never without a great deal of evocation and association.
Some scents (Jicky, for example) took me a long time to appreciate, almost as though my brain and my nose had to “mature” and warm up to what it was trying to do with its strange blend (best described by another reviewer once as “Lavender and Baby Sh*t.”) Now, some years later, it’s a standard choice in my scent wardrobe in all its concentrations.
Then, however, there are the opposite reactions, those that require no time at all, for whatever reason, and keep on loving each time you sniff. Tom Ford Black Orchid was one of these, for me, as was L’instant PH.
So, as well, was Prada Edp: love at first sniff. I was hit very quickly with its depth, its punch, and its incredible smoothness: I got orange, I got rose, and I got patchouli. Certainly there were other things going on (after all, they call it “amber”), but it was those three notes in a wonderful blend and abundance that kept me sniffing.
In terms of “amber” scents, I can’t really rate it or say it’s the “best,” all things being equal. Tom Ford Amber Absolute is wonderful, as is Armani Privé Ambre Soie… but they are very different scents with different purposes (and much higher sticker prices!) As such, I can only recommend trying the Prada in absence of the “amber” moniker; just close your eyes, spray… and sniff.
All in all, Prada EdP has what the best of Prada’s fashion has… sophistication, grace, a minimal or understated appreciation of beauty, and a subtle hint of quirk or something conceptual that makes you think. In this case, it’s the blend of its elements that often feels JUST at the point of being too heavy, almost cloying, but then recedes back and never quite crosses the line into Lutens-esque syrupy nightmares. It’s never quite what you expect and, yet, sometimes even more.
Year: 2004
Perfumer: Carlos Benaim, Max Gavarry, Clement Gavarry
Notes: Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Mandarin, Mimosa Absolute, Rose Absolute, Patchouli Absolute, Labdanum, Tonka Beans, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Benzoin
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