Each of my trips has been attributed a specific smell. Blame the romantic in me, but this is how I create memories. Some places are easier to define than others. Italy is one of them. Italians, like the French, love perfumes. It's fascinating to just walk in Milan or Paris and smell these waves of rose, tuberose or vetiver.
The Pitti Uomo is surely the best place to discover new trends. After several seasons intensely dominated by all sorts of oud, last season had finally a new scent. Strangely, I had to be back to NY to finally identify Spicebomb as everyone kept the name of his perfume secret.
Launched in 2012, Spicebomb is the male counterpoint of Flowerbomb playing with the same dichotomy, an explosive alliance of spices and sweet notes. Viktor and Rolf asked perfumer Olivier Polge to create a quite addictive scent blending oriental tones (chilli, elemi, pink pepper and saffron), with the classic leather, tobacco and vetiver layered with the zesty notes of bergamot and grapefruit. The result is an extroverted and addictive perfume with a powerful sillage. The conventional citrus notes will feel familiar while quickly dominated by the woody and sensual accords. It is, for the record, the scent I now associate with the smoking terrace of a certain casino in Monte Carlo at one in the morning. Tobacco, leather and a little too much confidence.