Trussardi (original)
Trussardi (1982)

Trussardi combines two different styles - a green chypre and a floral Amber.
It's also a feminine with masculine elements: coriander, geranium, leather.
It's a variation on the rose - coriander chypres of the eighties, which - even if it's not one of the best - still makes it good in my book.

What an unusual and practically unknown treasure! If you find Bandit or Knowing much too harsh and unrelenting in their odd bitterness, go to Ebay and scoop up this vastly more interesting and refined facsimile. Dry woods, greenery, incensed-smoke, and leather vie for top billing here in a most hushed and sophisticated manner. Completely unisex and utterly classy--a vintage chypre worth seeking out and wearing with black and architecturally structured clothing.

In the vein of Diorella this mossy little piece is a lovely melange of citrus, white flowers, and bitter greens balanced by just a drop of amber and vanilla. And just like Diorella I have no qualms wearing what is marketed as a feminine fragrance. This falls in line with others in my collection - Norell, Ivoire, and Givenchy III. A lovely, bright, sparkling green juice whose weight defies the on-paper collection of its ingredients, Trussardi is a breezy and carefree sort of Chypre, like wearing a Summer garden.

I'm reminded of the first Scherrer scent of 1979, the Trussardi nod coming three years later.

A dark rich chypre, yes, staring out with a sweet, balanced, mossy greenness, as Barbara Herman notes. I don't find it a leather at all. I would like it better if it had retained its sweet mossy opening, but it soon dries down to an unpleasant acrid base that is too woody and insufficiently floral for my tastes.

Herman calls it an animalic chypre and likens it to Fete, Miss Balmain, Sinan and Paloma Picasso as it passes through its dry down phases.

Top notes: Coriander, Hyacinth, Galbanum, Bergamot
Heart notes: Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Rose, Tuberose, Orris, Geranium, Muguet
Base notes: Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Styrax, Olbanum, Moss, Vanilla, Amber, Musk, Leather

So, to sum up, love the sweet opening only, wish it lasted.

I'm a fan of this scent as well, but having sniffed it first in 1984, it is apparent that it has been reformulated. The ancient juice was much ruder and more animalic, much more leather. I loved the old stuff, but this new version is much easier to wear. I would now describe it as a classy dry chypre, emphasis on dry. It is gloriously fresh with florals that burn off fairly quickly and is easily a unisex fragrance. Incredible value for the price.

Mysterious and beautiful scent. The opening is weird and medicinal. It might put some off but I learned to love it very quickly. Others have described its progression and attraction far better than I can. All I can say is that Trussardi (Donna) is extremely elegant and particular, dry and soft. Also can be had for a bargain (which is strange considering Trussardi in general is outrageously expensive.) I normally follow the esteemed gentlemen who have praised this scent blindly and yes, the gender of scents is ambivalent and all about social convention, but this one is strictly worn by my wife.