Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
06/20/2021
Elysium
816 Reviews
Elysium
2
The Broadway in Madrid
In the spring of 2021, in collaboration with the master perfumer Alberto Morillas, Zara launched three fragrances inspired by a hypothetical trip to Spain, touching three significant cities: Sevilla, Barcelona, and Madrid. This splendid collection gives us three distinct scents to wear in three distinct moments of the journey.
With Nightfall in Madrid, the city that never falls asleep, the nose wanted to capture the atmosphere that reigns after sunset, when the Spanish capital comes alive. Madrilenians take to the streets, filling bars and restaurants both indoors and out, before moving on to the city’s iconic night scene. Even if I’ve never been to Madrid, I want to take you for a walk downtown to see emblematic buildings and monuments illuminated by the lights of the night. Just a stroll, wondering, looking, and sniffing. A few touches of sites in history but mostly a quiet scenic walk. With its bright streetlights that seem to whiz by in the night, the Gran Via symbolizes Madrid’s symbolic image. The main urban artery of the city is a busy street that sees a continuous bustle of cars on the roadway and of people on its wide sidewalks. A walk along the Gran Via will put you in direct contact with the metropolitan soul of Madrid, which hides unsuspected and fascinating traces of history among the crowds of passers-by and the lights of the shops.
The story of how they built the Gran Via in the early twentieth century is interesting: 300 houses were demolished, and 50 streets changed to make way for an avenue that, with its monumental project, betrayed the ambitions of the Spanish ruling class to modernize its appearance. Of the city to keep up with other European capitals. We can undoubtedly say that they succeeded in their intent: the ancient center of the city became a modern artery, to which other signs of modernity were soon added: skyscrapers, the headquarters of a radio, the first department stores. The Gran Via is the perfect place for a carefree couple of hours, surrounded by historic buildings, shops, theatres, and cinemas. While nowhere near as hectic and grand as Manhattan's Broadway, most of Madrid's live performance theatres are located on this street.
It’s warm and fresh, spicy, aromatic, powdery, sweet, and woody. That’s the rascal night in Plaza de España in Madrid. The light azure fragrance opens with plenty of savored spices and sour fruits, so irreverent. A green and balmy cardamom meets the harsh green apple for giving way to a refreshing and awakening feeling, with just a smidgen of zestiness that lifts the opening. It is like the last ray of light as the sun goes down and the sky turns all orange and purple.
Then appears the heart, friendly and bright like the luminous streetlights that slowly turn on in the city at dusk. There is salty amber, powdery tonka, and sharp nutmeg. The scent turns deep, gloomy, intense, aromatic, a tad medicinal. The core notes pushed the green cardamom in the background, but it is still perceivable minty and cooling. It features a luxurious accord of rare cachalox, which add salty woodiness to the essence.
The smell even undergoes a particular evolution, and with time, when we reach the base notes, it gets the best, like the Movida. Plenty of creamy sandalwood and cashmeran blend with obscure patchouli in the back for adding depth and a bunch of luscious ambers. It perfectly fits the passionate night in Madrid, no matter if you like to view a live show, sip some cocktails, go out for a tapa crawl, or catch some live music.
Nightfall in Madrid is the sexiest of the trilogy. Fresh, elegant, reserved, lasts almost all evening. It’s a night scent for Summer evening and night out, with soft sillage and moderate longevity. That said, although it’s not revolutionary, for less than €20, it is a pleasing fragrance. The legendary Morillas is the author of a seemingly endless line of iconic fragrances, and this one should not go unnoticed.
I based the review on a 100ml bottle I have owned since June 2021.
-Elysium
With Nightfall in Madrid, the city that never falls asleep, the nose wanted to capture the atmosphere that reigns after sunset, when the Spanish capital comes alive. Madrilenians take to the streets, filling bars and restaurants both indoors and out, before moving on to the city’s iconic night scene. Even if I’ve never been to Madrid, I want to take you for a walk downtown to see emblematic buildings and monuments illuminated by the lights of the night. Just a stroll, wondering, looking, and sniffing. A few touches of sites in history but mostly a quiet scenic walk. With its bright streetlights that seem to whiz by in the night, the Gran Via symbolizes Madrid’s symbolic image. The main urban artery of the city is a busy street that sees a continuous bustle of cars on the roadway and of people on its wide sidewalks. A walk along the Gran Via will put you in direct contact with the metropolitan soul of Madrid, which hides unsuspected and fascinating traces of history among the crowds of passers-by and the lights of the shops.
The story of how they built the Gran Via in the early twentieth century is interesting: 300 houses were demolished, and 50 streets changed to make way for an avenue that, with its monumental project, betrayed the ambitions of the Spanish ruling class to modernize its appearance. Of the city to keep up with other European capitals. We can undoubtedly say that they succeeded in their intent: the ancient center of the city became a modern artery, to which other signs of modernity were soon added: skyscrapers, the headquarters of a radio, the first department stores. The Gran Via is the perfect place for a carefree couple of hours, surrounded by historic buildings, shops, theatres, and cinemas. While nowhere near as hectic and grand as Manhattan's Broadway, most of Madrid's live performance theatres are located on this street.
It’s warm and fresh, spicy, aromatic, powdery, sweet, and woody. That’s the rascal night in Plaza de España in Madrid. The light azure fragrance opens with plenty of savored spices and sour fruits, so irreverent. A green and balmy cardamom meets the harsh green apple for giving way to a refreshing and awakening feeling, with just a smidgen of zestiness that lifts the opening. It is like the last ray of light as the sun goes down and the sky turns all orange and purple.
Then appears the heart, friendly and bright like the luminous streetlights that slowly turn on in the city at dusk. There is salty amber, powdery tonka, and sharp nutmeg. The scent turns deep, gloomy, intense, aromatic, a tad medicinal. The core notes pushed the green cardamom in the background, but it is still perceivable minty and cooling. It features a luxurious accord of rare cachalox, which add salty woodiness to the essence.
The smell even undergoes a particular evolution, and with time, when we reach the base notes, it gets the best, like the Movida. Plenty of creamy sandalwood and cashmeran blend with obscure patchouli in the back for adding depth and a bunch of luscious ambers. It perfectly fits the passionate night in Madrid, no matter if you like to view a live show, sip some cocktails, go out for a tapa crawl, or catch some live music.
Nightfall in Madrid is the sexiest of the trilogy. Fresh, elegant, reserved, lasts almost all evening. It’s a night scent for Summer evening and night out, with soft sillage and moderate longevity. That said, although it’s not revolutionary, for less than €20, it is a pleasing fragrance. The legendary Morillas is the author of a seemingly endless line of iconic fragrances, and this one should not go unnoticed.
I based the review on a 100ml bottle I have owned since June 2021.
-Elysium
Elysium
