Grand Néroli
Atelier Cologne (2010)

[b]Grand Neroli by Atelier Colognes[/b]
[b]Category[/b]: 2/3 hybrid
[b]Rating[/b]: 3/5
[b]Longevity[/b]: 2/5

The opening is promising: a tart bergamot paired with a spicy neroli. In these moments, it strikes me as a most sophisticated and hopefully long-lasting 4711. Soon a laundry musk saunters in, and the entire compositions sweetens and softens, as if melting. In later moments, it recalls a fruity air freshener from my childhood; one I despise. Finally, within the hour, it's a barely noticeable fruity air freshener.

The neroli in the opening blast is beautiful- fresh, bright with restrained sweetness and a glowing undertone - and touched up with glimpses of bergamot and lemon.

The drydown continues with the neroli, with galbanum, a whiff of cardamom and a touch of birchtar, the latter being so soft and weak that it is more of a perfunctory nature. Whiffs of a darkish-green moss cone and go, but there is not much oakmoss present on me.

The base adds a very diluted vanilla, some white musks and still has the neroli in it! A neroli from beginning to near the end - in that sense it is ‘grand' indeed.

I get moderate sillage, good projection and seven hours of longevity on my skin.

A lovely neroli summer scent with sufficient variability and development to make it not very monochrome. For such a summery combination the performance is very respectable. 3.5/5.

Zesty citrus with a hint of greenish in there (birch leaf). Neroli is pretty flashy at first, but calms down to a light musk and vanilla drydown. Does good in warm weather. 7.5/10

Not as Grand as I had hoped but nice enough for layering with other citrus juices. I give this a neutral due to longevity. It is a mix of bitter citrus to start and a soft musk woody dry down. If you can get it for a good price it's a "Safe" buy...

Bitter, citrus opening that wasn't that great. Kinda boring and leaning feminine. However, after getting into the drydown, I've come around on Grand Neroli. After a couple hours, it has a masculine muskiness that blends perfectly with the bitter citrus that still lingers.

Not wishlist-worthy for me but I could enjoy wearing this and could see it garnering some compliments after the opening wears off.

Projection is understated. It's there if you want to smell it but over-spraying might be somewhat appropriate. Longevity is good, if not very good.

Fresh and invigorating opening, I get more of the green bergamot and bitter petitgrain. The sweet flowery neroli follows, but it's not dominating the blend, who continues to stay more fresh than flowery. It dries to a typical Atelier's musky base. Great sparkling opening with mediocre heart and base.