Megamare by Orto Parisi

I bought it purely because of the hype, and fortunately, it was only a partial letdown. The opening is brutal, very aggressive: salt and metallic notes that genuinely hit the nose. It’s not a gentle or easy-to-wear opening. I applied three sprays, which was more than enough for my wife to start feeling unwell: nausea, even a desire to vomit. That’s when I realised it wasn’t going to work. At work, someone told me it smelled like ‘wet wood’, and honestly, they weren’t far off. Definitely not for me. I ended up selling it. It’s not a fragrance to buy blindly. And to be honest, I don’t consider it enjoyable in a normal setting. It is a good fragrance, yes, well-made and characterful. But it’s one of those that is probably enjoyed more in your personal space, practically alone.

I must say that as of today, this perfume has been reformulated; that beast of performance is no longer even its shadow. I have tested different batches and compared them with the latest, and there is no colour. The good thing is that it is a much more enjoyable perfume, but the part that was noticeable as tanned leather by the sea is almost much lower, with more citrus on top and an abundance of musk. I like it, yes, but it is no longer what it was. A pity.

This perfume has made me rethink the veracity of all the reviews I have read. The fragrance is sweet but with a fresh touch, which makes it quite bearable for a warm daytime climate. Although I live on the coast and winters are around 30 degrees, I would consider it more for the evening, even with the heat. On my skin, the musk, bergamot and ambroxan predominate. It did not cause me anosmia (four triggers), and the sweetness of the fragrance still reaches me constantly. Despite the hype, I did not find the most challenging notes mentioned, such as the condom note. In my case, there is a slight ‘plastified’ note, but it rather resembles the smell of a sweet soda or soft drink, like a popsicle. The opening is delicious, with a marine nuance that is perceived instantly. After four hours, the cedar persists, reminding me of some incense I brought from Patagonia. I recommend it widely. I have never heard it on other people nearby, so it will make you stand out.

My first ‘ultra niche’… To be honest, I do not understand the comments that it is unusable. Megamare, my first ‘difficult to use’ perfume… I do not understand these comments towards this gem of perfumery. It is the fragrance that has given me the most compliments, sincerely. Note, the part about abusing sprays is correct. I only apply a maximum of 3 sprays, maybe 5. Longevity 100/10, Projection 10/10, Scent 9/10 (after a few months you learn to appreciate it more and it goes up to 10), Versatility 8/10, Price 8/10 (3100 Mexican pesos), Sillage 10/10. A total beast mode. Special for outdoor events.

What can I say about Megamare that has not already been said? After seeing it in countless forums and reviews, I decided to buy it, and this is my experience: Yes, it is a unique fragrance. It has a very peculiar smell. The truth is that around here many have painted it as something that smells bad (below there is someone who claims it smells like ironed sepia 🤣). And there is a truth in all this: there are better scents, of course, but it is pleasant. And yes, its longevity is brutal but it is curious that it is not a dense scent… it is very rare for it to be even subtle. But it is there and everyone smells it. Two compliments from two people in the two days I wore it. In the end, I concluded that to receive compliments from third parties, the fragrance has to be practically a beast mode for others to perceive it, and not being an unpleasant smell (this one is not), the compliment falls almost certainly… and that is why I love it. Wear it where you want and when you want, Summer or Winter… As for the smell, I notice a lot of licorice although it is not declared but it is evident, also the musk and some citrus. The bottle is nice, the price for the quality of perfume you buy seems acceptable to pay 140€. And it does evoke the sea for me… In one word, excellent: Scent: 7.5, Longevity: 10, Projection: 10, Presentation: 8, Price: 7.5, Total: 8.60.

A gram of 24-karat gold is around 120 euros, 50 ml of Megamare costs 150. If today someone told me to choose between a 50 ml bottle of MGM and a 70-gram gold chain, I would choose the bottle; it is an absolute bargain for its entire useful life with 3 sprays, but the end is to sit in front of the screen, take the bowl of popcorn and enjoy. The end lasts about 48 hours, it is a one-way journey that will take you to the deepest depths where you have never dreamed of being… yourself.

To my nose, it smells like the inside of an olive jar xD, not bad. It opens with a rich marine accord and settles into salt water and copper over wet wood. It’s strong! I didn’t need more than three sprays. It’s not easy to wear; someone used to designer scents or soapy marine fragrances will clash with something they might consider bad taste. But when you broaden your palette, you understand that Megamare is a concept from start to finish. Use it only for the pleasure of wearing something no one else knows.

Too much misrepresentation by YouTubers… this doesn’t smell like the sea or the Kraken. It’s a chemical bomb: extremely high in Ambroxan, Calone, Hedione, certainly Ambrocenide and Ambretolide for the musk. Dry down, it reminds me of Erba Pura. Gualtieri used long-lasting ingredients and arranged them to seek meaning, although it’s not well blended; the notes are distinct. But I like it. The Hedione creates an addictive, magnetic trail; although it’s strong, it doesn’t give a headache, I love the scent from the nape of the neck, but straight from the forearm it’s horrible.

The only thing that comes to mind is THE KRaken FROM PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. Yes! Just like in the scene: gigantic, majestic, VIOLENT, wet, salty, full of seaweed and VORACIOUS. Straight from the abyssal zone but extremely beautiful and complex. THE KRaken OF PERFUMERY.

The opening is a horror: a bilious, leathery scent that reminds me of vomit on car upholstery, though after months in the sun it has dried out. As it evolves, that gastric acidity loses its bite and something beautiful begins to emerge beneath. There’s a fleeting citrus freshness and running water… but only for a second, because ultimately it smells like ironed sepia, with all its lemon and everything. It even whets my appetite. But let’s not delude ourselves: it is sepia overwhelmed by the iron, as resilient as leather or a shoe sole.

The cheapest and tastiest way we urbanites have to feel like we’re strolling along the coast at any time of year, especially in the cold. It is masculine, adult, challenging, and a beast of a performer. It is made for you to enjoy, not to please others, because in fact it irritates more than it delights those around you. I use it only a few times a year, but I enjoy it so much that it will always remain in my collection.

I tested it on blotter paper and the opening brought me citrus notes and a salty alga that won me over, so I bought it. However, with further testing, it evolves into a salty licorice, leaning towards gourmand. The longevity is at least two days, but the problem is the projection: nobody in my circle notices it.

It refers to its name. Perfect in what it wants to convey. A very marine and blue scent but with a strong presence of algae. Personally, I do not like it and would not wear it, but it perfectly conveys the message you wish to send. An ultra-niche in my opinion.

Unless you are a collector, I find no sense in Megamare. If you like typical winning perfumes (Aventus, Ombre Nomade, Layton, etc.) do not buy this fragrance. It is a human repellent, a totally unpleasant odour. Do not even think of buying it blindly.

It is very expensive but, for those who like to go to the beach and smell of that place, it is exceptional. The longevity lasted two days on my arm even with typical showers, and on clothes it lasts up to a week. It smells of sea salt, citrus, and woods. Personally, I would not wish a woman to wear it, but it could be unisex. I had it in a 5ml decant and the full bottle cost me 40 dollars; it is available for around 500 dollars, very expensive, but it is the experience of having a portion of ocean scent in a bottle.