Gucci no. 3

It tingles the nose is the perfect way. In the beginning it tingles and entices, soaps and spices in the middle, toward the end it seduces with smoky & mossy leather.

Starts off on the sweet side and tingly. What gives it that tingly, magical quality? The coriander, bergamot or both? Or Neither? Orris root? I've encountered this tingly scent in other perfumes: Ralph Lauren's Safari, Krizia's Teatro Alla Scala, Revillon's Turbulences, (all of which have the orris root note) and in Anne Klein,  and if I remember correctly Versace's Blonde. Whatever it is, it smells opulent, rich and sophisticated.

At the same time Gucci has that soapy aspect, rich (again) thick, bubbly soap toward the middle. I don't get really any of the supposed floral notes in this, but I do need to familiarize myself more with the scents of flowers.  Notes of Lilly of the Valley, Narcissis, or what have you, don't ring any bells with me, I can't remember the last time I've smelled them. I ought to be familiar with Lily of the Valley, it's my birth month flower (May) and I remember we had some growing in the backyard years and years ago. But that was years ago. Nowadays whenever I'm near a flower stand (usually in the supermarket) I stick my nose in the different flowers and usually come up empty. They all seem to be scentless. I'm working on it, the flower smells. Currently I have roses in the yard, 3 different types, but roses are easy scent-wise. The others, well I don't have the greenest of thumbs. Roses, catnip, basil, chamomile, I can handle, heaven forbid I attempt a hydrangea or gardenia, they won't thrive. My husband seems to have brought some life back into my potted gardenia, we'll see how that goes.

Enough of the gardening, back to the Gucci. From beginning to end, this perfume is heavenly. Maybe "heavenly" isn't the right word, the leather in Gucci 3 is so sultry, seductive, as in a femme fatal. It's warm, inviting and sexy smelling. Brings to mind of seductresses in leather, not dominatrices, but an attractive woman in a tasteful leather coat, or skirt. Or at least a fancy leather handbag. No floozy or air-head, an intelligent woman in leather, with some experience and street smarts under her leather belt.

Whenever I wear my leather jacket or coat I reach for the Gucci 3 or Miss Balmain, sometimes Robert Piguet's Bandit. With the current rise in temperatures its been at least a month. Actually, last time it was Kelly Celeche, but that didn't work out like the others mentioned above, didn't give the impression of femme fatal, it was a bit too light and more citrusy for that.