New Perfume Reviews: Mario Tomas El Poeta, Corazon Blanco & Lo Mejor de Mi #1 – Mario T. Gomez’s Scents of Self Draw

cafleurebon MarioTomas logo

Back when I was just coming into my own nose, a few years before CaFleureBon,  my perfume passions led me to many online forums. Reading scores of well written member reviews, as well as wonderful interviews by my now Editor-in-Chief Michelyn Camen, I felt I was among my people. One name kept coming up again and again: Mario T Gomez. His insightful, honest, and candidly humorous reviews made me feel like I had found a friend, who had no other agenda than to spread the love and understanding of fragrance. Readers may recognize his name as a ÇaFleureBon contributor. San Franciscans know him as The Olfactory Ambassador, thanks to his work at Barneys NY and with perfumer Yosh Han who along with Shelley Waddington and Mik Moi have been mentors. Mario has touched many lives and with his knowledge of fragrance, has lived the dream many of us share… to create our own perfume line. now it’s been distilled into actual perfume, allowing him to share more of himself, openly and intimately. Launched last month at the Taste TV Artisan Perfume Salon in San Francisco, Mario unveiled his brand new line, Mario Tomas Perfumes. The three fragrances, El Poeta, Corazon Blanco and Lo Mejor de Mi #1, received numerous accolades.  We know Mario can talk the talk…this inaugural line of perfumes shows the world he can walk the walk.

cafleurebon MarioTomas LaPoeta

The Absinthe Drinker by Viktor Oliva

El Poeta harkens back to a time of salons where poets and artists gathered while sipping absinthe. This liqueur has inspired many a poet and quite a few perfumes. This is not just an absinthe perfume, it is a bit of bohemia bottled. Centering on sharp juniper and aromatic bay rum for its green boozy aura, it has the verdant spiciness of the narcotic nepenthe without being medicinal or too bitter, thanks to the pulpy fig and earthy golden-brown tobacco melting together in the heart. The simple merging of sandalwood and vanilla waxes oriental, lending a comfortable glow to the entire composition, and captures the ephemeral green fairy feeling of inspiration and slight intoxication in a juice that alternates between woody sweet and herbal spiced throughout its development. Intense at first, softening as the liqueur’s thick haze burns off, this scent delightfully disappears and reappears in its projection, before eventually settling on skin like a magical dream half-remembered, still lingering at the edge of your consciousness. Sillage: magical. Longevity: good.

Notes: Juniper, tobacco, Bay rum, fig, anise, coriander, sandalwood & vanilla.

cafleurebon MarioTomas LoMejor1

Citrus Fruits by Shomomomomo

Citrus aromatic scents happen to be Mario’s personal favorite genre and his Lo Mejor de Mi #1 (The Best of Me #1) pays it ample homage. A beautifully constructed citrus accord blasts from the sprayer and you are surrounded by flesh, juice, pith and peel. Invigorating blood orange swirls into bitter orange (bigarade) and both pink and white grapefruit add sparkle to the delicious juiciness accented by an uplifting zest. More than your typical citrus cologne, this gets more interesting as darker notes of fig and Colombian coffee join the party. The brilliance of the sheer yet tenacious citrus accord alone would have me purchasing this; yet it’s the ancillary notes that make this a unique and stand out scent. The addition of cucumber adds crispness, as the faintest whiffs of violet and iris add floral delicacy while tugging it gently towards the balanced lightly musky base of creamy sandalwood and dark teak. Despite the more shadowy aspects lurking beneath, this continues its optimistic reverie and is a serious citrus perfume that really lasts, with a light and loving heart. Sillage: good. Longevity: above average.

Notes: bergamot, blood orange, bitter orange, grapefruit accord, cucumber, fig, iris, violet, Colombian coffee, musk, teak & sandalwood.

Baile en Tehauntepec by Diego Rivera

Baile en Tehauntepec by Diego Rivera

Mexico is the land from which the perfumer’s family hails, and Corazon Blanco (White Heart) is Mario’s perfumed tribute to family, friends and heritage. This is definitely the most unique and unusual of the trio. Blending such notes as tequila from his cousin’s distillery and lime with caramel, hazelnut and cinnamon tea from his grandmother’s recipe, alongside floral divas, like gardenia and ylang ylang, creates an interesting olfactory journey. Blended with a skilled hand and caring heart, this perfume is his personal love note to his family’s culture and ancestral homeland. Maintaining a boozy, semi-sheer citric top before segueing into a dulcet accord that accents the creamy flowers with enough sweetness to celebrate their headiness, the fragrance is punctuated with just enough spice to entice. The sandalwood is sublime with the toasted accent of hazelnuts meeting whiffs of cinnamon and lingering caramel. Delicious and decadent without being heavy or cloying, Corazon Blanco is definitely something not to be missed. Sillage: average, Longevity: very good.

Notes: Lime, tequila, cucumber, white & pink grapefruits, gardenia, ylang-ylang, hazelnut, caramel, cinnamon & sandalwood

cafleurebon MarioTomas header-alt

Mario T. Gomez at his launch at the SF Artisan Fragrance Salon

Any architect or engineer will tell you that the wider the base of your design or structure, the stronger and taller it can rise. The foundation Mario has unveiled, showing depth, stability and versatility, is framed and expanded with elegant personal touches resulting in a truly memorable launch, and I look forward to seeing and sniffing what our Olfactory Ambassador will share with us next and how he will expand on this impressive trio. Mario told us: "For over 3-4 yrs ago when I took Yosh's workshops my exploration into creating scents began. Over the years I first became her assistant. At some point she became my mentor.  I also received mentoring from Shelley Waddington. It was Michael C. (Mik Moi) who gave me [a] push into bringing out my line, instead of just sharing with friends and family. I have no idea where this journey will take me, but I'm accepting with open arms."
M

I received my samples from Mario Tomas Perfumes. All three of these perfumes are EDP concentration of 20 percent and available in 30 ml bottles for $66.00 US. The Mario Tomas company website is currently being designed and will be up and running soon. Mario explains, “This has been a labor of love. I hope that people are drawn inward and my fragrances are an experience.  It will be a slow beginning (as far as distribution) but worth the wait.”

~John S. Reasinger, Senior Editor and Natural Perfumes Editor

Thanks to the kindness of Mario Tomas we have a sample set of all three perfumes to give away to one US reader. To be eligible leave a comment stating which of these three perfumes speaks to you most and why, and that you reside in the US. Remember to like the Mario Tomas Facebook page so you can follow the company until the website is up and your entry counts twice. Draw will end on April 20th, 2014.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

 

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28 comments

  • John you hit it on the mark. My only agenda is to spread the love and understanding of fragrance
    Thank you for such a lovely write up.
    M

  • Hi Mario! I’ve been looking forward to trying these since hearing about them. Knowing me, I’ll probably like the absynth one best. Oh, and I’m in Berkeley, California.

  • Janet in California. says:

    Corazon Blanco sounds facinating. Creamy flowers and spices? Perfect. Tequila? Intriguing. I can’t wait to try it.

    Mario, thank you for the 30 ml size and for keeping your lovely fragrances affordable.

    I live in the US.

  • Corazon Blanco sounds fascinating! I am curious about all of them 🙂 Thank you, and I am in the US.

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    El Poeta may appeal to me the most since it has been inspired by absinthe (i dont drink alcohol though) but absinthe inspires beautiful perfumes. i am in the US and i have liked Mario Tomas Facebook page

  • Between Downton Abbey entering the Jazz Age and some fabulous Pinterest boards, I have a crush on the Belle Epoch and EdwardIan times. El Poeta looks especially marvelous. Thanks for the reviews and draw and special thanks to Mario for offering his intriguing scents in 30ml bottles at reasonable prices! I’m in the US.

  • I’m really happy to read the first review of Mario’s perfumes. John gives us an excellent review about them. After this reading, the perfumes become even more interesting. As non US reader, I’m not here because the draw, I just want to say: Congratulations, Mario!

  • Living in the USA I would really enjoying trying all three of these offerings from Mario. For me Lo Mejor de Mi #1 seems to beckon the strongest though.

  • The first one I would try is Lo Mejor de Mi #1, because it’s Mario’s favorite genre. 🙂 US

  • Mario’s nose knows. Enjoyed the adventure when using each of the 3 perfumes. The scents transport you to another time and place and encourage you to make a new memory associated with each fragrance. Bravo Mario!

  • How fabulous. Lo Mejor de Mi #1 for me as well, We all need “The Best of Me” Why the citrus notes are speaking so much to me right now (it must be spring). I am in the US and Thanks to CaFleureBon, and John for the lovely introduction to the Work of a social media friend. Mario wishing you the very best always. 😉

  • Thank you everyone for the kind words and your patience as I get the website up.

    In the begining, I wanted to offer the pricing of $66 since that was the year I was born and this is my birth year as a perfumer.

    As I grow and have to take into consideration additional cost, prices will increase. I will try to maintain it at a reasonable price.

    It is nice to know, my passion is leading me down the right road. Again, thank you for your support.
    M

  • I am most drawn towards Corazon Blanco as I have been searching for a mojito-like summer fragrance that lasts.

  • Well, I’d have to go with El Poeta, though they all sound amazing. I just love the idea of rum, fig, anise, and tobacco together. Wow. I’m in the US and have liked Sr. Gomez’s page. Thank you so much for the chance to try these unusual and evocative combinations.

  • So happy to see this! I know I tried to get more of a handle from Mario about how he accrued his fragrance knowledge at FRAGments last year when he represented 3 brands. His knowledge is amazing.. His ability to create stellar fragrances is not surprising and these all sound so amazing. Each and everyone would /should be on a father’s day or some gifting list. Any man would be happy to have these scents.
    Personally (as I love men’s fragrances) Corazon Blanco sounds delicious and intoxicating. The Lo Mejor de Mi is also fantastic (in the magical meaning) and the El Poeta would be a perfect choice for almost every man.

    My choice would be for Corazon Blanco .. but I can’t complain that anyone – or even I – would be disappointed with any of these fragrances.

  • Elizabeth T. says:

    Wow, these all sound fabulous, I can’t pick just one! I love the blend of floral and woody notes with the more ‘edible’ notes. I live in the USA, thank you for the draw. I wish this line much success!

  • Corazon Blanco appeals to me most. Growing up on the tropical Mexican border, many of those scents are nostalgic for me. I have liked Mario’s Facebook page and live in the US and would love to be entered in the draw. Thank you.

  • All three sound great! I think, though, that I might like Lo Mejor de Mi #1 the best, as I enjoy citrus very much, plus this perfume also has fig and coffee notes to make things interesting. I am in the US.

  • They all sound lovely, but I am most drawn to El Poeta. Let the juniper, tobacco and sandalwood tendrils surround me now! I am so excited to hear more about Mario’s fragrance line. I am in the US. Thanks for the draw. I liked Mario’s Facebook Page also

  • El Poeta speaks to me because I would like to try an absinthe fragrance. Corazon Blanco also sounds great! I am in the US and liked Mario’s Facebook page.

  • What a lovely write up. I picked up a sample pack at the SF Artisan Salon and was delighted with the fragrances. El Poeta is just gorgeous. I wish Mario much success! He is so talented.

  • Corozon Blanco sounds interesting. My state is near the Mexico border, so all these notes sound good to me, Good luck in your new venture, Mario! I am in the US and liked FB. Thanks for the draw.

  • Corazon Blanco is the one I’m drawn to by reading the above article, ..”a boozy, semi-sheer citric top..”. US
    ty

  • Carole Fallon says:

    I 1hink the Corazon Blanco sounds very good – caramel and flowers! I am in the US.

  • El Poeta sounds wonderful. I love fig notes in perfumes. I especially think the mixture of fig, bay rum, vanilla and anise sounds wonderful. I like how this article describes it as “a bit of bohemia bottled.” I’m in the US and very interested in trying this fragrance, along with the other two.

    I follow on facebook (Lean Sa)

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    Corazon Blanco speaks to me of the best of the Sonoran desert that I live in and love. I follow on Facebook.