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Sherapop
4
I prefer Bal à Versailles
I've worn Nobile 1942 ANONIMO VENEZIANO a few times and continue to be struck by what seems initially (upon application) to be the similarity to Jean Desprez BAL A VERSAILLES. Big sillage, oriental, labdanum amber, patchouli, spiciness (from ylang?). ANONIMO actually seems somewhat leathery and dark, though I do not know what would account for that in the above notes.
In a side-by-side comparison to BAL A VERSAILLES, I have to report that the cheap-o bargain-bin (tester for $11, yep) bottle of reformulated BAL A VERSAILLES edt won out against ANONIMO VENEZIANO, which seems sharper and less smooth. BAL A VERSAILLES has more of a golden amber quality and less stridency, for lack of a better word. In terms of sweetness and patchouli level, they are very similar, but I have to say that BAL A VERSAILLES seems to me like a better perfume.
Sorry nichies (not Nietzsche)! I guess that when you reformulate a perfume which started out with 350 different essences, then even if only a fraction of those survive, it's still going to be a decent creation. I understand why people find ANONIMO VENEZIANO appealing--and I do not mean to suggest that I do not--but now that I've compared it side-by-side with BAL A VERSAILLES, I realize that I won't be adding a bottle to my collection.
Why?