Fantomas by Nasomatto

What a perfume! The opening is a wild mix of melon, caramel and plastic, but over time it turns smoky and earthy. Only wear it when you really feel like it, as it’s not for everyone. Lasts about eight hours with brutal projection. In short, my favourite; spectacular.

It smells like earth with mushrooms inside a sealed plastic bag, a strange scent with a sweet, rancid touch. I detect absolutely no melon at all.

Melon dominates, and it’s a note I’ve never liked, accompanied by sweetness and plastic. Then the earthy notes and gunpowder appear, smelling like Zippo lighter fluid. The melon persists for hours after showering. I struggle to find the right moment, so for me it’s more of an olfactory experience than a perfume.

Very hard to describe, because it’s more of an experience than a perfume. It smells of bubblegum, melon and plastic. It’s sweet and mysterious, a fragrance that needs its own personality to shine.

Fantomas is like an elegant criminal: astute, refined and unpredictable. The contrast between sweet ripe melon and the dark, earthy elements means it’s not what you expect. The best part is the subtlety with which they blend; nothing exaggerated, everything present. Over time it becomes ethereal and changes every minute. Every time I wear it is different: sometimes more fruity, other times more metallic. It’s never linear. For those seeking character and not afraid to break rules, it’s a gem.

I’m not sure where to start reviewing this. It comes out super sweet and synthetic, as if it were a bag of sweets left in the sun, but then it shifts to a ripe melon without that over-ripe winey note. Shortly after, the base reveals a rubbery scent—not tyre rubber, but eraser rubber, very sweet. The only downside is that I like it; it would make an incredible signature scent because nobody smells like this. It’s suitable for all year round and daytime, though extreme heat won’t suit it well. It lasts a long time. It’s more of an experience for life.

Smells straight of smoked metallic melon. It’s an atypical, disruptive scent but very simple. Gives the impression of something edible, more like chewing gum than perfume. It’s the opposite of a classic: pleasant until it dries down, but super informal rather than elegant. The base is seminalis.

The most versatile Nasomatto fragrance, with apologies to Silver Musk. Fantomas retains Gualtieri’s peculiar and charming aura, being the one that deviates most from the norm (even from Orto Parisi) without losing that DNA. Fruity opening, like juicy melon, which dries down, smokes and darkens. Ultra-versatile: day, night, winter, summer (except extreme heat). Not for very formal occasions due to that playful vibe. One of the best niche fragrances for olfactory memory and versatility. Lasts weeks on paper, more than Megamare, but not so much on my skin. Notes: Uniqueness ★★★★★, Longevity ★★★☆☆, Versatility ★★★★★, Presentation ★★★★☆, Value for money ★★★☆☆. Use: Casual. Alternative: Silver Musk.

This is my second favourite Nasomatto. Fantomas is very curious as it smells different to everyone: to me, it’s sweet, plastic, milky and creamy. Others say it smells like cucumber cigarettes, while others detect a glass of milk with biscuits. In my opinion, it’s odd due to that plastic aspect, and caramel really stands out on my skin. Without a doubt, it’s one of my favourites; I’d never smelled anything like it before. I received compliments as well as harsh criticism. Scent: 10/10, projection: 9/10, longevity: 8/10, compliments: 8/10.

At first spray, classic melon gum, strong as the brand. Elegant, perfect for the evening, with a masculine air. I detect caramel and sweet notes, rare, like a plastic sweet smelling of rubber. I love it; many find it horrible, but Nasomatto isn’t for everyone; they are hard to understand, and Gualtieri is called ‘crazy’. It’s a beast: I applied it over 24 hours ago, took a shower, and it still smells. I don’t recommend buying blindly; it’s complicated to understand.

Full opening of classic melon gum. After a few hours, other notes emerge, but the opening is pure melon. High durability, over 8 hours, moderate sillage. Rich scent to enjoy. Recommended in heat. Rating 8.5-10/10.

It’s not bad, but it’s the one I like least from Gualtieri due to that milky touch. Plastic, melon, and caramel dominate; it smells like an action figure straight out of its packaging. I assume the genius Gualtieri intended to interpret that. I’m grateful to have masters who innovate and push boundaries rather than following trends. If you want to smell different in the heat, it’s an excellent option.

Not tyres, nor gunpowder, nor melon. To me, it smells of mint (or eucalyptus, or mentholated patchouli), black pepper, galbanum and something sweet, creamy-milky, with no concrete fruit identified. Strange result. Two simultaneous layers: a spicy and bitter base, reminiscent of plastic or something ‘dry’ (dry earth? gunpowder?), and on top, that friendly, milky and fruity sweetness. Original and addictive, especially due to that bitter, earthy and spicy background which initially bordered on uncomfortable, but becomes friendly and makes the fragrance special. Edit: at the end of the dry down, I note a mix of white musk and ambroxan.

Broadly speaking, it smells like classic melon bubblegum, those hard ones that resemble the fruit. However, the scent has a plastic and astringent quality that I find very unpleasant, even irritating. I knew it would be difficult; I hoped I’d like it or at least find it interesting. Nothing of the sort, I’m afraid.

Smells like a sarcophagus with dust, mixed with dry ice, fruits and a glass of milk about to go off. It’s unique and mysterious, but it doesn’t take away from being horrible and complicated. I expected something else.