Arso by Profumum Roma

I did not like it at all. It smells of pine (although the official website lists cedar, pine needles are not official notes, but perhaps…). It does not matter because they are conifers and the smell is very similar. It smells too masculine (no matter how virile you are, I do not think it is positive, as it smells a bit outdated), reminding me of pine air fresheners for cars or your grandfather’s legendary wild pine. There is also a smell of smoke, or rather, of when you take fir branches and burn them in the fireplace. It is fun for a while, but not so much for spending €250 and smelling like that, which I find super strange.

Quite nice; it’s an incensed conifer scent, very sharp with cedar at full throttle and a slightly acidic, almost fruity touch. That sweet-acid nuance takes the edge off the cedar. It leaves a unique sweetness, dark yet light and sober, very pretty.

Arso is a very green pine forest with a hint of smoky incense. It smells like a real forest, with a realistic smoke that recalls wood being consumed by fire: warm, soft, and enveloping, without losing the pine resin. It’s like burning sandalwood but with greener, resinous woods. A perfect green incense for autumn, from an Italian house that knows how to represent aromatic ideas well.

I like it. Woody pine opening with incense, slightly sweetened, with a leather and cedar base. It transports you to a forest. It has a pleasant resinous-smoky blend, but it hasn’t captivated me entirely. Performance is very good for autumn and winter and for night wear. Longevity is extremely durable, trail is moderate.

The word ‘Arso’ in Italian means ‘burnt’. It is a spectacular, adult, enveloping perfume, slightly smoky and of high quality, seducing from the start, warm and cosy. It evokes a dark, dense forest—not for a romantic walk but sumptuously attractive. It mixes pine, cedar, incense, and leather with a sweet touch on my skin due to the resinous texture. Perfect for sitting by a fireplace with sweet company now that the cold has reached the whole peninsula, making sunny days a distant memory. Performance is high, as is the price, its only drawback. A great aroma discovered thanks to Rafasant.

Arso is an original and stunning proposal from Profumun Roma. It starts sweet, bordering on gourmand like a traditional artisanal bakery (it reminds me of almond, walnut, anise and sugar cake fillings). Then it smokes with the incense and becomes more woody due to the pine and balsam fir, alongside birch which gives a vegetal leather, nothing animal. All this creates the sensation of a fireplace burning resinous wood on a cold winter night. It becomes darker yet warmer and more cosy, floating like a smoky mist with that almond touch and background facets of lilac and narcissus due to the terpineol-resins effect that never disappears. The dry-down is more resinous and incensed, skirting the church effect, spiritual and zen. It’s calming, soothing and reflective. The resinous notes are powerful and opulent but not heavy, like a cloud floating alongside the incense. I love Arso; it’s almost monolithic, modern, abstract, complex, suggestive, well-made and has a calming, homely effect. Excellent longevity, good projection without being overpowering and exceptional quality. Rating: 9.1

Ideal for those who love pine. In my opinion, it is the dominant note, although incense and resins are also noticeable. That resin reminds me of what is found in pine trunks. At first, the pine comes out above all, along with the incense and a very timid leather base. The resins are not very noticeable at the start, but gradually they gain strength and the scent becomes darker and denser, yet without overwhelming me, as the potency is not excessive on my skin, or perhaps it is due to a reformulation. The image it gives me is walking through a pine forest. At the end, the incense remains in the background, just like the pine, and the resins seem a little sweeter, but always balanced. The longevity is good; it lasts quite a while, but the projection is moderate; it does not smell as strong as I have read in other reviews of the English version, perhaps due to my skin or that possible reformulation. It seems more suitable for cold climates and masculine, as I associate pine with men’s perfumes. It is a good perfume with quality ingredients that I would recommend to lovers of incense and pine, but I do not enjoy it as it is not my favourite note. I was a little disappointed by its lack of potency, although others might like it. Finally, the price is not cheap and is another negative point.

It has a lot of personality; it’s dignified, warm and woody. It creates an addictive olfactory effect. Highly recommended for those seeking perfumes with ‘woody and spicy’ notes.