Brutus by Orto Parisi

I’ve heard this before in other fragrances, which is logical. It carries that synthetic edge that grinds my gears, likely due to an excess of ambroxan. It’s not a bad scent; the opening is citrusy with bitter, sharp notes, energised by fresh spices that broaden the profile. From the start, that elevated ambroxan gives it an artificial air. It then drifts into an earthy, woody patchouli with no chocolate, which works very well. In the mid and dry-down phases, there might be lavender and fine woods; the ambroxan remains but is no longer the focus. I liked that synthetic touch; it’s versatile for late summer to spring, masculine, though the performance is more moderate than other scents from the house. It’s decent; I wouldn’t buy it because it doesn’t win me over and the price isn’t justified, but it does the job.

A fragrance that radiates elegance, masculinity, confidence, and seriousness. It is not as aggressive as most of the house’s siblings. It opens with bright bergamot and mandarin before giving way to a deep, earthy patchouli. Although the rose is barely noticeable on my skin, the lavender stands out a treat. It is timeless, but I don’t think it is for teenagers. Without a doubt, one of my favourites.

A pleasant-smelling fragrance, but the price isn’t justified. It behaves quite linearly, lacking the heterogeneous top, heart and base one would expect. In short, like many niche scents that already cost a fortune, it’s pretty but lacks that extra artistic touch to warrant being from this house.

Everyone has a chance to burn Rome and leave. Every life is a matter of a single moment, the moment you realise who you are. Brutus wasn’t a conversationalist; he was precise, sharp, direct and never changed. This fragrance is determined and reverent at the same time. Alessandro wanted to speak of the lack of eloquence, drawing inspiration from brutalism and Marcus Junius Brutus, the Roman senator known for his lack of rhetoric. He wasn’t talkative; he was precise, sharp, direct and brutal. Once decided, he never changed his mind. Brutality does not negotiate nor accept concessions. Nature is brutal and only the strong survive. Alessandro wanted something controversial: just as nature can be brutal, it can also be balanced and beautiful. Contrary to what the name suggests, Brutus is very elegant, mature, refined and subtle; it takes the moment and does not change. It is the essence that every life has a unique moment: that of discovering your true nature. The notes are patchouli, bergamot and high-quality orange. Projection: one and a half metres for four hours, then skin scent. Longevity: 7 to 8 hours. Season: Timeless, better with formal wear due to the maturity it imparts. Fun fact: the cap is polished copper with walnut bark, a hard, unbreakable natural material.

We all have a moment to burn Rome and leave. Brutus was not conversational; he was precise, sharp, and direct. This fragrance is decisive and reverent. Alessandro wanted to speak of the lack of eloquence, drawing inspiration from brutalism and Marcus Junius Brutus, a Roman senator without rhetoric who, once decided, did not change. Brutality does not negotiate. Nature is brutal; only the strong survive. Conceptually, he wanted something controversial: nature can be brutal and beautiful at the same time. Unlike what the name suggests, Brutus is elegant, mature, and subtle. It takes the moment and does not change. Notes of high-quality patchouli, bergamot, and orange. Projection: one and a half metres for four hours, then skin scent. Duration 7-8 hours. Timeless, ideal with formal wear due to the maturity it imparts. Curious detail: the cap is polished copper with a walnut shell, a hard and indestructible material.

I expected more from a creation by Gualtieri. At first, it is very similar to Zino by Davidoff: patchouli-citrus, synthetic, pleasant, but for this scent and quality, Zino already exists, which is more sparkling and complex. On one hand, there is the Gualtieri Megamare which seems to hold the original formula, and on the other, this one, which has sunk the performance of Pardon, Duro, and this, lasting barely more than four hours. With Zino existing, with the same notes but worse performance, I do not recommend it. Scent: 6.9, Projection: 7.7 (first hour), Duration: 4.8, Unique: 3, Recommended: No.

I don’t quite understand the point of this perfume. Basically, it seems to me to be a somewhat simplified version of Pardon.

Brutus reminds me a lot of Duro; it would be his brother but with a citrus touch and a background of wet earth that gives it a distinct air. It lasts a very long time and is difficult to wash out of clothes. It’s perfect for everyday wear, very easy to live with, and I will definitely buy it again when it runs out. Scent 9/10, Projection 8/10, Longevity 9.5/10.