Ciao by The House of Oud

Ciao is part of the Crazy collection from The House of Oud and is inspired by one of the most Italian rituals there is: the sunset aperitif. That moment when glasses clink, someone puts on music, the wooden-and-canvas loungers are out, paper lanterns are up, conversations go on for longer, and a single word—ciao—is enough to get a great night started, where everything feels possible. As is often the case with The House of Oud, the presentation is very carefully done. The characteristic hand-painted oval bottle makes every bottle a small work of art. It’s one of those bottles that ends up decorating a shelf even when there isn’t a single drop of perfume left inside. Ciao combines fruity, hesperidic and musky notes in a luminous, energetic composition. Top: ice (yes, but… what does ice smell like??), orange blossom, bergamot and orange. A sparkling opening in which the iced orange and bergamot evoke a toast with freshly poured bubbles. Heart: white peach and iris. The peach adds juiciness and a velvety facet (to me, rather than peach, it strongly reminds me of the scent of flat peaches, those squashed white peaches), delicious, while the iris introduces a very well-integrated powdery touch. Base: musk, patchouli and ambergris. A modern, enveloping base where ambergris brings depth and the musks prolong the experience for hours. On skin, everything begins with an explosion of vitality. The combination of orange granita, bergamot and an Italian-bubbles accord is fun, bright and tremendously summery. For more than an hour, I perceive something that inevitably reminds me of Halls menthol sweets. I don’t know if it comes from the ice effect, the patchouli, or the mix of the two, but it gives it a very recognisable and rather addictive twist. When the top notes soften, the white peach appears (as I said, I find it more like flat peaches), juicy and delicate, accompanied by an iris that lends sophistication without making the whole thing too serious. There is sweetness, yes, but the kind that invites you to keep bringing your nose to your wrist, not the kind that gets cloying after ten minutes. The evolution is simple but very pleasant: from the initial fizz it moves into a more intimate base, where ambergris and musks leave a clean, modern trail that is very easy to enjoy. On my skin it lasts over 6 hours without difficulty, and for the first hour it projects far more than I expected, creating a sillage of more than two metres around me. What’s more, it’s one of those perfumes that draws smiles and compliments; there is something especially attractive about that mix of bubbles and fruit. Although anyone can wear it, I personally perceive it as rather feminine. I think it’s perfect for spring and summer, especially for terraces, holidays, outdoor dinners or any plan involving good weather and a desire to have a good time. Overall, Ciao is a cheerful, flirtatious fragrance that is very easy to enjoy. It doesn’t try to impress with infinite complexity or a dark personality; it simply puts you in a good mood and makes everything look a little more beautiful. Like a summer evening that stretches on longer than planned and that no one wants to end. 🍊🥂🍑