02/03/2023
Elysium
815 Reviews
Elysium
Helpful Review
3
A Priceless Treasure
It doesn't seem real to me. Apparently, I possess a priceless treasure, and I never realised it. Let me explain. A web search turns up sites such as Etsy and eBay that sell this miserably discontinued vintage fragrance for approximately €400, which is insane. If I think that a few years ago, I could buy the original Sienna and Nomad at rock-bottom prices, €18 instead of €36 retail price, in an outlet that was closing and emptying the shop, you will agree with me about the big deal I did and the treasure I own. The curiosity of owning some perfumes from the historic British house Crabtree & Evelyn guided my purchase. So, I bought them blindly as they were the last two left with no tester available, and without knowing that Crabtree & Evelyn discontinued it in 2013 and phased out the men's lines in 2017. Both the bottles are restyled with the sprayer, so I guess C&E released them before they were discontinued. I came to C & E with high expectations and was contented.
To begin with, Sienna comes from Italian terra di Siena, Siena earth, a tint from Siena, Italy. So, C&E named it after the feudal city. The heart of Tuscany and the ultimate city of the Renaissance, this city is famous for the impressive square Piazza del Campo. And I am not surprised about it, given the picture on the box representing a painting with two gentlemen dressing in red, a typical costume of the Medici period, and the city of old Siena in the background. The painting, whose author I cannot identify, but Masaccio might be an option, belongs to the period of medieval Sienese paintings.
At once masculine and clean, Sienna is a rich blend of citrus and leather, with a hint of spicy herbs and a powdery undertone. In some ways, it reminds me of my much-loved Nino Cerruti pour Homme Eau de Toilette; though, it shares quite a few vibes with Aramis Eau de Toilette, namely the green and chypre facets. So far removed from the concept of a modern colony, Sienna is today unpopular and unidentifiable, so rare and vintage. It unfolds with a barbershop atmosphere, with the powdery bergamot and other citrus aromas merging with a mossy subsoil. I take some soapy lavender that offers the smell of the barbershop.
To some extent, there is a wax-like bouquet, that scent coming from tapers and candles. I can only imagine how adorable the soap from the same line could have been. They've kept the scent well, so it has no acidic or stale notes. Sometimes, there is a fresh lime-like, sweet, green grass odour with little soil undertones. Hence, the opening is warm and citrus, a bit herbal and fougére, with some hidden notes.
In Sienna's heart, I do not get too many changes. Yet, I catch some spicy flowers, like wild rose and jasmine, blended with sweaty cumin and some resins. But the rose is not the opulent blossom that characterises the oriental fragrances.
When the cologne approaches the dry-down, a mild leather accord oozes along with mossy facets. Although not mentioned, a moist and dark green tree moss commands the last act of the perfume, with a powdery and semi-sweet tinge of coumarin. There is a blunt, masculine earthiness and leathery quality to the tree moss absolute (Evernia furfuracea). There is a noticeable dryness, the scent of an ancient forest, and the aroma of green ferns and velvety moss that covers fallen trees. The suede-like leather, the woods, and the musks blend greatly. Leather accord is mild from the birch, not too raw, wild, or animalic like in modern Ombré Leather (2018) Eau de Parfum or similar. For a leathery perfume, the imprint of the leather is not dominant or robust. And a touch of patchouli adds some dirtiness to it. Now the scent is woodsy, with hints of creamy sandalwood.
Bottom line, Sienna is clean, slightly masculine, sophisticated and, most of all, very British. Still determining if it was mass-appealing but something only a few knew about. It's perfect during the fall and even winter months and is something to wear when it is colder. Early spring might be an option. The scent lasts a long time. It is not overpowering, and the sillage is moderate.
I'm basing my review on a bottle I've owned since February 2016.
-Elysium
To begin with, Sienna comes from Italian terra di Siena, Siena earth, a tint from Siena, Italy. So, C&E named it after the feudal city. The heart of Tuscany and the ultimate city of the Renaissance, this city is famous for the impressive square Piazza del Campo. And I am not surprised about it, given the picture on the box representing a painting with two gentlemen dressing in red, a typical costume of the Medici period, and the city of old Siena in the background. The painting, whose author I cannot identify, but Masaccio might be an option, belongs to the period of medieval Sienese paintings.
At once masculine and clean, Sienna is a rich blend of citrus and leather, with a hint of spicy herbs and a powdery undertone. In some ways, it reminds me of my much-loved Nino Cerruti pour Homme Eau de Toilette; though, it shares quite a few vibes with Aramis Eau de Toilette, namely the green and chypre facets. So far removed from the concept of a modern colony, Sienna is today unpopular and unidentifiable, so rare and vintage. It unfolds with a barbershop atmosphere, with the powdery bergamot and other citrus aromas merging with a mossy subsoil. I take some soapy lavender that offers the smell of the barbershop.
To some extent, there is a wax-like bouquet, that scent coming from tapers and candles. I can only imagine how adorable the soap from the same line could have been. They've kept the scent well, so it has no acidic or stale notes. Sometimes, there is a fresh lime-like, sweet, green grass odour with little soil undertones. Hence, the opening is warm and citrus, a bit herbal and fougére, with some hidden notes.
In Sienna's heart, I do not get too many changes. Yet, I catch some spicy flowers, like wild rose and jasmine, blended with sweaty cumin and some resins. But the rose is not the opulent blossom that characterises the oriental fragrances.
When the cologne approaches the dry-down, a mild leather accord oozes along with mossy facets. Although not mentioned, a moist and dark green tree moss commands the last act of the perfume, with a powdery and semi-sweet tinge of coumarin. There is a blunt, masculine earthiness and leathery quality to the tree moss absolute (Evernia furfuracea). There is a noticeable dryness, the scent of an ancient forest, and the aroma of green ferns and velvety moss that covers fallen trees. The suede-like leather, the woods, and the musks blend greatly. Leather accord is mild from the birch, not too raw, wild, or animalic like in modern Ombré Leather (2018) Eau de Parfum or similar. For a leathery perfume, the imprint of the leather is not dominant or robust. And a touch of patchouli adds some dirtiness to it. Now the scent is woodsy, with hints of creamy sandalwood.
Bottom line, Sienna is clean, slightly masculine, sophisticated and, most of all, very British. Still determining if it was mass-appealing but something only a few knew about. It's perfect during the fall and even winter months and is something to wear when it is colder. Early spring might be an option. The scent lasts a long time. It is not overpowering, and the sillage is moderate.
I'm basing my review on a bottle I've owned since February 2016.
-Elysium
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