Perfume Review: Profumi del Forte Tirrenico “A Trip to the Tyrrhenian Sea “+ Olfactif.com July Sampler Draw

Profumi del forte Tirrenico anise biscotti cafleurebon

Fennel" by Carol Sharp; Anise Biscotti

Italian niche brand Profumi del Forte is inspired by the Italian Versilian coast, located in the province of Lucca. The brand and its perfumes reflect the coast and its gracious flora, sea, mountains, and pinewoods, and all these natural textures land perfectly inside each bottle. Tirrenico is an aromatic aquatic that doesn't take itself too seriously; it’s fun to wear even with its briny marine accord that is assertive, but not aggressive. Tirrenico gets its name from the rugged coastline and pristine waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Have you ever stood on a rock near a calm sea only to be sprayed by salty seawater, the feeling is completely exhilarating, and Tirrenico tickles the skin just like this. Its watery quality has a sweetness that I liken to green crisp watermelon. This playful scent initially emerges aromatic with a complex herbaceous bouquet that is dominated by a fennel note that embodies the stem and its flower and reminds me of anise biscotti. This sweet herbaceous note collides with a juicy citrus facet that creates a scented burst of energy. A jasmine heart is barely there, but it is necessary and complements. Balsamic notes, wet soil and white musky base bring comfort and balance to this complex marine accord.

profumi del forte tirrenocTyrrhenian Sea watermelon cafleurebon

Tyrrhenian Sea; watermelon photo from Life Magazine archives

No matter how much one writes, ponders, reads, and learns about perfume nothing can compare to the moment when a perfume can instantly deliver a roundtrip ticket backwards in time, and Tirrenico did just this. Suddenly I found myself back in my grandmother’s house in summertime. Her paneled walls, Formica countertops, and fresh white sheets all came back in an instant. In her home the long days of summer seemed to never end. Catching lightening bugs in mason jars w punctured lids, bumble bees deep in flowers, a ladybug suddenly lands on a finger, splashing in the ocean for hours, and slice after slice of watermelon that was always waiting for me. Summertime was always carefree and bubblegum. Summertime childhood and its simple pleasures only temporarily lost and thanks to Profumi del Forte and Tirrenico not forgotten.

Notes: Bergamot, bitter Sicilian orange, wet woods, basil, jasmine, fennel, elemi, oakmoss, sandalwood, white musk base.

Valerie Vitale, Editor

profumi del forte tirrenico olfactif sample box seet simple pleasures cafleurebon

Sweet, Simple Pleasures sample set

I can't tell you how fun it is to receive my Olfactif monthly subscription; every month three fragrances arrive and keep surprising and introducing me to new gems and classic niche. Special thanks to Tara Swords of  Olfactif.com who has generously agreed to a US only giveaway of a full sampler kit of the collection of  the three fragrances in the Sweet, Simple Pleasures Subscription for July 2014 (includes Smell Bent St. Tropez Dispenser by Brent Leonosio, and Roman Monegal Cherry Musk as well) in which Profumi del Forte, Tirrenico was featured. Please let us know your favorite scent memory or why you want to try Tirrenico and that you live in the US. Draw closes July 15, 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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23 comments

  • Sandi L says:

    When I first discovered I had a deep passion for scent, I was making a run with my dad (he had a fleet of Semi’s). We were driving through the low mountains of Southern Cali. Ediwanda was a small town that had orange trees lining the street.. On this particular run they were in bloom… can you imagine my delight as an eight year old with my whole small body hanging out the window of this huge truck inhaling deeper than I ever had… I’m interested in this one from the statement ” marine note that is assertive but not aggressive.” I’m not usually drawn to marine notes.. Nice post, Valerie. I am in the US.

  • bobbie Joh says:

    this sounds amazing. You had me with the photo of biscotti on a page devoted to fragrance! I’m in the US.

  • Jennifer Witt says:

    One of my favorite scent memories is of the summer at the beach on the lake. Its the smell of sun lotion, cotton towels, sweat, and sand. mixed with lake water and mosquito repellant. I live in the US.

  • Connie says:

    I can’t pick a favorite scent memory, but one that pops into my head is the smell of fruit picking- ripe fruit, greenery, and a breath of fall. I’m in the US, and thanks for the draw!

  • Andi says:

    The smell of hot lead solder, electrical smoke, balsa wood, a black cat’s head, honeycomb, and wd40 on the breeze. My childhood basement. I am in USA.

  • Cynthia says:

    ld love to smell TirreWhen I smell tuberose it takes me back to Bali, where I’ve been many times. The hotels always have huge vasesg and exotic. I won’t make it to the sea this year so I wounico. Great article! ofmalam malam (tuberose) everywhere and the smell is overwhelmin

  • Amy says:

    Funny, I called fireflies “lighting bugs” as well. My favorite scent memory is salt air. I live inland now, but whenever I am able to return to the coast, I could drink the air–love it. I am in the US.

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    my favorite scent memory is finding a fragrance in my father’s drawer since that was the beginning of my fascination with perfumes..i still remember thinking at the time how a gorgeous perfume can make a person so much more elegant since they perfume really captivated me..i am in the US..thanks for the draw

  • Patty P. says:

    Don’t know that it’s a favorite, but I enjoy the smell after a brief summer shower outside near wet grass and concrete. 🙂
    U.S.A.

  • Jiminy says:

    I would like to try Tirrenico to experience that watermelon freshness and also because I’m intrigued about the “wet woods” accord.

    I am in the US.

  • silvrolive says:

    Tirrenico sounds delicious and perfect for summer. A favorite scent memory is the limestone walls and rose gardens of Jerusalem. I live in the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    My favorite scent memory is of Old Spice cologne when I was a pre-schooler and “helping” my father shave every morning before he went to work. It still makes me feel secure, loved and comforted. I had not heard of the Olactif fragrance subscription boxes, but will definitely be checking them out! I live in the US.

  • Ginny M says:

    My favorite scent memory is probably the smell of hot pavement after a summer cloudburst at my grandmother’s house in Colorado. If someone could really, truly bottle that…! I live in the U.S…and all the frags sound delish!

  • Latifah S says:

    My favorite scent memory will probably always be the smell of pine trees in winter. This would be closely followed by the smell of my mom’s sweet potato pies baking for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It might sound odd to say that they smelled like family and togetherness… but that’s what it smells like. To this day, the smell of that baking pie brings a smile. Tirrenico sounds delightful. I live in TX. Thanks for the draw.

  • Kim M. says:

    I miss lightning bugs! I have a few scent memories I cling to: one is of my grandmother’s garden, where I could pick pears, currants, grapes, and spearmint to my heart’s content. In the summer, her white roses and lilacs were intoxicating at night. US resident. Everything sounds amazing!

  • carol W says:

    I would love to try these perfumes! My favorite scent memory is my mother – when she would get ready to go out I would watch her, as she did her hair, makeup, and sprayed perfume. I don’t know what kind it was but I can still close my eyes and smell it.

  • Kat says:

    My favorite scent memory is the apple blossoms of the trees at my grandparents’ house, I’d climb those trees and spend hours up there. I’d love to try these scents, they sound lovely. I live in the US. Thanks for the great draw!

  • DavidK says:

    Korean food requires a lot of garlic, so I remember my mom and grandma sitting in front of the tv with a paring knife in one hand and a bucket of garlic heads. Their hands always smelled like garlic. I’m not sure if it’s my favorite scent memory, but the faint smell of garlic on someone’s hands definitely brings back fond memories.

    I live in the US and thanks for the draw!

  • Valentine girl says:

    One of my favorite scent memories of childhood is “damp verdure” – after a sudden summer thunderstorm, walking barefoot through the moist grass to my dad’s vegetable garden and smelling wet soil, tomato leaves, green bell pepper & the spicy scent of fresh basil. I would like to try this for the notes of basil and wet woods, perhaps it will take me back in time to that moment in the garden. Great review! US resident.

  • Tiffanie says:

    My childhood home has a tangerine tree. Each year I helped trim the branches of the tree. The green, citrus, woody smell of the tree was so fresh and surprising. I still love those scents today. Thank you for the article, it made me want to visit the Tyrrhenian Sea. I am in the US.

  • SAntonio says:

    My favorite scent memory is my mother’s kitchen, particularly when she would bake her specialty, Le Gateau Sans Rival – sheets of crispy but feather-light meringue layered with chantilly buttercream, then topped with toasted cashew. Walking into the kitchen, my siblings and I would be immediately washed over by the scents of vanilla, toasted flour, caramel (used to make the chantilly cream), butterscotch, the earthiness of the cashew, and a slight dark aroma from the partially burnt edges of the meringue (which were trimmed and given to us kids to snack on). Those were very special, very happy days. I live in the US.

  • Holly F. says:

    I’d love to try Tirrenico because I too would like to be taken back in time, to when I lived by the beach and would walk my dog along the shore every morning. No matter what, our walks along that beach gave me peace of mind and renewed my vigor for life with every sunrise. It will never be like that again. Thanks for the draw, I’m in the U.S.