Ninfeo Mio

38 reseñas

Mostrando las más recientes primero.

• Annabel Lee

  December 21, 2012

  

  Instantly, a burst of lemon and bitter orange, natural yet with that sharp, potent edge. After about twenty minutes, the citrus calms down and yields to the fig and mastic (admit I don’t know what mastic is, hehe), which on my skin smells of wet grass and freshly cut foliage. Up to this point, it doesn’t smell like perfume, but something real, like the scent of a child playing on the lawn (I recall it came with Ninfeo Mio). Then it softens, a light woody veil appears, and the citrus recedes into the background without disappearing. A familiar scent emerges, like bread or a cinnamon dessert, similar to the L from Lolita Lempicka but less sweet. I agree with the box: it’s a walk by the river, although on my skin, someone has taken some incredibly delicious cinnamon rolls.

• Annie01

  July 2, 2014

  

  I adore this perfume for summer; it’s one of my favourites. My boyfriend gave it to me after returning from a trip and seeing the ruins of Tivoli, the base of Eau d’Adrien, what memories! The smell of fig leaves, lemon, cedar wood, and the rest of the notes make it unique. I’ve tried several fig perfumes but none come close to the sole of this one; undoubtedly it’s magical. It’s very hesperidic and every time I use it people ask me about it. It is also based on other Italian ruins, specifically the Garden of the Hesperides (Giardini di Ninfa in Latina), a beautiful garden that intertwines with the ruins of an ancient Roman city.

• priethcallas

  December 8, 2014

  

  On paper, the first impression was intense: Amalfi lemon (it’s noticeable that it’s not common) more natural than I have felt, then petit grain and cider, quite intense. It evolves towards very green fig leaves, the heart of the fragrance, extremely natural. At four hours I perceived something soft and sweet and the woody notes. I do not recognise the mastic resin of mastic as a separate note. At nine hours the sweet wood continues but the fig leaf is felt. At twelve hours, a soft and delicate impression of sweet woods. On skin, it has a powerful sillage for the first three or four hours. At six it was already in the woody phase, sillage dropped to moderate or weak, the fig still perceptible. At twelve hours, soft and delicate wood but close to the skin. It is the most natural I have felt and evolves harmonically from strong citrus to an intense green note but not overwhelming, ending in soft, slightly sweet or smoky wood. On my skin it lasted more than 12 hours with heavy sillage at the start, dropping to moderate and weak. Ideal for summer and day. Very Mediterranean, cheerful and vital. I would recommend it to those who miss the vintage version of Dior’s Dune pour homme for that extremely real, rare and special fig note in men’s perfumery.

• priethcallas

  December 11, 2014

  

  On paper, the first impression was intense with Amalfi lemon, more natural than I’ve felt, then petit grain and citron, also intense. Then it evolves towards the fig leaf note, very green and extremely natural. At 4 hours I started to perceive something soft and sweet, the woody notes. I don’t recognise the myrtle resin as a separate note. At 9 hours the sweet wood continues, but the fig leaf is still felt. At 12 hours, a soft and delicate impression of woods, somewhat sweet. On skin, it has potent sillage for the first 3 or 4 hours. At 6 hours it drops to moderate or weak sillage, the fig leaf still perceptible. At 12 hours, soft and delicate wood at skin level. The fragrance is the most natural I’ve felt and evolves harmonically from strong citrus to sweet or smoky wood. On me it exceeded 12 hours with heavy sillage at the start and then moderate to weak. Ideal for summer and day. Very Mediterranean, cheerful and vital. I would dare to recommend it to those who miss the vintage version of Dior’s Dune pour homme for that extremely realistic fig note, which is scarce in men’s perfumery.

• drakecito

  January 9, 2015

  

  A masterpiece by A. Goutal. Possibly the best fig fragrance, or rather, fig leaf fragrance, I have tried (and believe me, many). Pungent lemony citrus at the opening with a very green fig note, perhaps a bit rough. As it settles, wood and resin appear that sweeten it greatly. The longevity is beastly for this type of perfume and the sillage is quite heavy. Apply with moderation. It is much denser than other citrus Goutals like Eau d’Hadrien. Perhaps it is the most high-quality, long-lasting, striking and well-balanced citrus I have ever tried. It tries to convey a walk through the gardens of Ninfa in Rome; I have never been there, but it must be spectacular. A masterpiece.

• drakecito

  January 17, 2015

  

  A masterpiece by A. Goutal. Possibly the best fig fragrance, or rather, the best fig leaf fragrance I’ve tried (and believe me, many). Pungent citrus in the opening with a very green fig note, perhaps a bit rough. As it settles, the wood and resin notes appear, sweetening the fragrance a lot. The longevity is beastly for this type of perfume and the sillage is quite heavy. Spray it moderately. It is much more ‘dense’ than other citrus Goutals like Eau d’Hadrien. Perhaps it is the highest quality, longest-lasting, most striking, and best-balanced citrus fragrance I have ever tried. It tries to convey the sensation of walking through the gardens of Ninfa in Rome. I have never been there, but it must be a spectacular walk. As said: Masterpiece.

• DannyAngel

  May 3, 2015

  

  For those who think citrus is simple, Ninfeo Mio is a proper citrus but nothing simple. It has excellent originality, very different from everything I have smelled, even those based on lemons and herbs. Drakecito sent me a decant and the first time I smelled it didn’t fully fall in love; it seemed more like a scent taken from a place, very natural and faithful. It tries to convey a walk through a garden and succeeds; when you smell it you feel surrounded by nature and it changes your mood. I have read that others relax with it and I tried, they were good but didn’t influence me; Ninfeo Mio does, it conveys the peace that only nature gives. I must say that because it is so different, my first impression was not love at first sniff; I felt the fig leaf note very rough (at first I thought it was wood), but it didn’t disgust, it was new to my nose. The second time, applying it on the neck, the result was different: more accustomed to the aroma, it wasn’t so rough and I felt the citrus-fresh with the sweet very well balanced. The sweetness is delicious, not cloying or suffocating (and I am easily suffocated by sweet aromas); it is so natural and well balanced with the green and citrus that it is a delight from start to finish. In summary, it is a complex citrus, very original, light and delicious. I see it for special occasions, seems to be one of those that will never bore me, so I can finish many bottles.

• DannyAngel

  May 10, 2015

  

  For those who don’t like citrus because they think they are simple, let me tell you that Ninfeo Mio is a full-on citrus, but by no means simple. It has excellent originality, very different from everything I’ve smelled. Drakecito sent me a decant, and the first time I smelled it, I wasn’t fully in love. It seemed more like an aroma taken from a certain place, very natural and faithful. It tries to convey a walk through a garden and really succeeds; you feel surrounded by nature and it influences your mood. I’ve tried perfumes that claimed to relax me and were good, but they didn’t influence me; Ninfeo Mio does convey tranquillity and peace. I must say my first impression wasn’t love at first sniff; the fig leaf note felt very rough (at first I thought it was a rough wood), but it didn’t disgust me, simply it was new to my nose. The second time, applying it to the neck, it was very different. Once accustomed to the aroma, it wasn’t so rough, and I felt the citrus-fresh with the sweet very well balanced. The sweetness is delicious, not cloying or suffocating, and I am very sensitive to sweet aromas. It is so natural and well-balanced that it is a delight from start to finish. In summary, it is a complex citrus, very original, light, and delicious. I see it for special occasions; I think I’ll never get bored, so I might finish many bottles.

• cnidaria

  May 17, 2015

  

  Ninfeo Mio receives many positive reviews about how it makes them feel or the landscapes they imagine, an evocative fragrance. It didn’t happen to me. I liked it quite a bit, but it has a detail that doesn’t convince me. It starts very citrusy and realistic, a burst of lemon and leaves, something bitter. It smells very organic, like crushing a lemon leaf in your hands. I love the opening. As it settles, it feels spicier, bitter and a bit sweet. My only memory with the fig leaf is that when I was little I bit one and it stung my tongue terribly; that’s why I relate the smell to something spicy, although I have read it gives creaminess, I don’t notice it here. I smell something mentholated and fresh. Yes, it smells sweeter with time, but being used to gourmands, I would never say it smells like a little dessert. It is a natural sweetness, no added sugar, the same as flowers and fruits. Now, before the base, something strange happens to me: a characteristic and not very pleasant aroma. On f.com they read it reminds of sweat, others of cat urine and I think that’s the last thing I smell. It is an acidic combination that smells like that, similar to very intense blackcurrants or cassis. I suppose it’s a matter of pH and with Ninfeo Mio I didn’t get lucky; personally it doesn’t bother me much, but one person did notice it to me haha. On my skin this phase lasts longer than the others, but after a while it dissipates a bit and leaves a very pleasant woody citrus scent, besides the leaf smell is always present and that I like.

• cnidaria

  May 18, 2015

  

  Well, Ninfeo Mio doesn’t smell like sweat to me at all, but rather something damp. Now that it’s hot, it has convinced me a lot, and I showed it to several people who said it smelled very natural. Now, that sweat smell… hehe. I’ve noticed it with notes like cumin, which is a dry and strong sweat, or guava, which simulates a damp sweat. Oh, what things. Jaja, I’m so bad at this that now I need to smell the myrtle. Greetings to everyone.

• drakecito

  May 20, 2015

  

  Just a small comment on my friend @Cnidaria’s review. The matter of creaminess, I think that comes from the fig, but the fruit, not the leaf. The leaf is very green and can produce that sensation of prickliness or roughness. It’s a very organic smell that, as it dries, becomes sweeter, but it never turns into a sweet fragrance; it’s very far from gourmand. I have never noticed that point they talk about regarding sweat or cat urine. Perhaps it’s the myrtle, I don’t know. That sweat smell usually occurs when notes like caraway and cardamom are overused, which is noticeable if you overapply Declaration by Cartier. Greetings.

• cnidaria

  May 26, 2015

  

  I’ve noticed that Ninfeo Mio receives many positive reviews about how it makes you feel or the landscapes it evokes; a very evocative fragrance. It hasn’t happened to me. I liked it quite a bit, but there is one detail that doesn’t fully convince me. It starts very citrusy and realistic, an explosion of lemon and leaves, something bitter. It smells very ‘organic’, as if you were crushing a lemon leaf in your hands. I love the opening. As it settles, it feels spicier, bitter, and a little sweet. My only memory with the fig leaf is that when I was little, I bit one and it pricked my tongue very badly, so I associate the smell with something spicy, although I’ve read it gives creaminess, I don’t feel it here. I also smell something mentholated and fresh. Yes, it becomes sweeter over time, but being accustomed to gourmands, I would never say it smells like a little dessert. It’s a natural sweetness, without added sugar. Before reaching the base, it gives me a characteristic and not very pleasant aroma, which reviews say reminds of sweat or cat urine. I think that’s the last part. It’s an acidic combination, similar to blackcurrants or cassis that are too intense. I suppose it’s a matter of pH; on my skin this phase lasts longer, but after a while it dissipates, leaving a very pleasant citrus-woody aroma, with the leaf note always present.

• arp

  June 29, 2015

  

  Undoubtedly, it is a citrus herbal perfume, more so than an aromatic woody one. From the start, I perceived the fig leaf smell very strongly, accompanied by citrus, without noticing the woody base notes mentioned. It was very linear during the 9 hours it lasted on me. The first 6 hours I noticed it clearly with moderate sillage, the fig leaf always standing out. The following 3 hours it dropped to skin-level scent but without losing that main note. Sincerely, I expected more class and distinction. I’m not saying it’s bad, as its ingredients feel of good quality, very natural, almost organic as @cnidaria said, but it is precisely that which makes it rustic and lacking in elegance. It’s like a diamond: the hardest material, but that hardness grants it fragility. I’m not saying natural fragrances are rustic, but this translates into fig leaves and citrus, nothing more. Although I’m not a chemist or a perfumer, it gives me the impression that it could be easily replicated with cheap chemicals. I remember a fig tree in my grandparents’ courtyard that smelled exactly the same; that’s why it doesn’t evoke great landscapes, but rather that tree from which I cut many fruits. I had 9 hours of longevity and moderate sillage, ideal for intermediate ages and climates. I tested it at 40°C and perhaps it works better in cooler weather.

• drakecito

  July 3, 2015

  

  In the opening, what stands out most is not the fig tree, but the citron, a rare and unknown citrus in perfumery, alongside Amalfi lemon, which, as Priethcallas says, is different from the usual. After the citrus phase, the fig leaf rises, making the fragrance very green. Once that is established, it becomes sweet with a myrtle note and a fairly subtle woody base. It is difficult to find a fragrance with such an evolution. As for longevity, 9 hours is not moderate; it’s a world record. The legendary Guerlain Vetiver lasts 4-5 hours on me and fades away, whereas Ninfeo can beat records, at least in its style, although there are legendary orientals like Opium that also stay close to those 9 hours. Regarding the imitation with cheap chemicals, well, of course, like all of them. Many fragrances do not imitate anything and are made with cheap chemicals; those are the truly ‘chemical’ and ‘cheap’ ones. XD

• arp

  July 12, 2015

  

  Perhaps I didn’t express myself well, but when I said it could be replicated with cheap chemicals, I meant that, for me, it lacks that touch of distinction and elegance found in other fragrances. Unlike scents such as Santal 33 from Le Labo or Eternity Aqua, which do convey something ‘refined’ and special, Ninfeo Mio sounds like a supermarket cologne, akin to Adidas or Playboy. It’s not that it’s bad; it just doesn’t leave a mark. On another note, let’s talk about the legendary longevity of Guerlain’s Vetiver. I had a bottle from 2002 that lasted around 12 hours, which is beastly. If 9 hours is the record, 12 hours is forever, hehe, I exaggerated a bit but it is notable. Now, that vintage bottle I have, bought recently, has been reformulated and lasts only 2 or 3 hours, just like the new rectangular one. If your ‘vintage’ is from 3 or 4 years ago, it’s probably also reformulated, and that’s the key to its poor longevity. By the way, I bought it as a gift but kept it because the recipient said it smelled more masculine than feminine. She was right; it leans towards the masculine side without losing its unisex appeal. I’ll put it up for sale on eBay.

• arp

  July 12, 2015

  

  Undoubtedly, a citrus herbal perfume, more than woody aromatic, that is how I consider it. From the beginning I perceived the fig leaf smell very strong, accompanied by citrus and nothing else; the supposed woody base notes I never managed to perceive. All this in a very linear way from start to finish during the approximate 9 hours of longevity. During the first 6 hours I noticed it clearly with moderate sillage, the fig leaf always standing out, and in the following 3 hours it remained very close to the skin without ceasing to stand out above the other citrus. Sincerely I expected more, something with more class and distinction; I don’t say it is bad, since its aroma is not common and its ingredients feel of good quality and very natural, almost organic as @cnidaria said, but it is precisely that which makes it rustic and somewhat lacking in elegance. Just as the diamond is the hardest material, that hardness grants it great fragility; they are linked. I don’t say natural fragrances are rustic, but here it translates to fig leaves with citrus and nothing else. Although I am not a chemist nor a designer, this fragrance gives me the impression that, with lower quality, longevity and sillage, it could be easily imitated with cheap chemicals. I remember there was a fig tree in my grandparents’ courtyard with a very similar smell; perhaps because of that and its rusticity it doesn’t evoke great places or country walks, but that tree from which I cut many fruits. I had moderate longevity of about 9 hours, moderate sillage for the first 6 and the last 3 very close to the skin. For intermediate ages and climates. Finally, I tested it in really hot weather, about 40°C; perhaps it has better performance in sillage, longevity and aroma in a cooler climate, I will test it more later and if so I will post another review.

• Maeva

  November 12, 2015

  

  Probably I won’t add anything new, already described masterfully by everyone until it made me want to buy it. It is true, drakecito, go ask for that commission 🙂 I want to highlight that perceptions vary: the same perfume does not smell the same to everyone, nor the same to oneself at different times of the day or seasons. That fascinates me about perfumery. This fragrance, rich in nuances, is pure art: natural, citrus, green and aquatic, but infinitely less simple than others in its category. Annick Goutal dominates the aromatic-citrus genre, as we saw before, and carries it to perfection with Ninfeo Mio. I add to Annabel Lee regarding the ‘sweetness’, which perhaps was not understood well. For her, it reminds her of a dessert with cinnamon; for me it does not, but I note that fig and leaf aromas can be sweet through ‘milky’ and ‘creamy’ chords, even with coconut notes (Philosykos uses this to enhance the creaminess of the fig, just as Premier Figuier does with sandalwood). The aim seems to combine warm and fresh chords, like sap and fruit creaminess, with acidic, green, sweet and ‘dense’ notes, less vaporous. In my case, the sweetness is a faint coconut aroma that dialogues with the greenery and freshness, creating a bucolic image better than the advertising: a deep river in a forest of citrus and wild figs.

• daVide

  July 3, 2016

  

  Haha, I add another clink clink cash, drakecito, from my side. I was looking for something to complement Un Jardin en Mediterranee (ideal for afternoons) and the one from the Nil (vibrant, almost a morning Bloody Mary). Ninfeo Mio is delicious, fresh, a tender caress… an opening that makes you shake your head and brush aside those leaves wrapping you, so that minutes later you delve into that garden and are covered in fig leaf, so soft, almost creamy (the cream of that leaf nerve), nothing delicate. A scandal, in short. Thanks drakecito for your review, greetings.

• MIQUELEMG

  August 19, 2016

  

  They gave it to me and I was left ecstatic, sublime. I agree with the description and its evolution: it evokes a delicious walk through a romantic garden in September with figs in full maturity. I write so sentimentally and elegantly due to the effect of the perfume 😀

• zerlotus

  September 2, 2016

  

  Writing a review without sounding sentimental is impossible: sublimity, ecstasy, dreams, comfort, elegance, serenity, memories, light. A quality lemon, noisy and fresh, that opens this marvel grandiosely and soon moves to the plane of the fig leaf. The more it evolves, the more I like it: it has dimension, a creamy and resinous touch. I feel it fresh and high-quality at the same time, with a comfortable warmth. I am at a loss describing it because it is grandiose and there are no words. Annick Goutal had a purpose: to enclose memories in scents… and what a good job she did. 10/10 and, for a citrus, it lasts MUCH with a moderate trail. A 10.

• Demopop

  June 22, 2017

  

  Six years without smelling it, and spring brought it back to my mind. I searched in reliable online shops thinking they must have reformulated it; the bottle was rectangular, but the great Azurita confirmed to me that they only changed the packaging. I went to Perfumerías Julia in Barcelona on a 25-degree day with two sprays on my arm… Opening: classic lemon, those from the market that perfume the whole house when cut. Mid-phase: in a minute the fig enters and in seven minutes dominates everything. It smells of a childhood tree, of climbing robust branches and scraping knees; of velvet leaves with hairs rising to the sky and tasting of bitterness; of green fruits that leave green, almond-flavoured, creamy milk on the hand, like a coconut smoothie. It reminds me of my grandfather’s summers before the fruits ripened. The memories are so vivid that I became emotional. Apart from the waves, it opens realistically and astringently with citrus, then the fig leaf remains, green and elegant, with a low but persistent trail. I notice the galbanum more in the mid-phase: bitter, musky, green and sweet. That known sweet mixes with another unknown one (perhaps lentiscus) and there the sweet fig accompanies you for hours. I would never say it is citrus; it is aromatic green. It is 1 AM after seven hours and the mid-phase continues; I go to sleep with the fig and no news of wood yet.

• Demopop

  June 28, 2017

  

  I hadn’t smelled it in six years and, with spring coming, it was on my mind. I searched on trusted websites fearing it had been reformulated; I found a rectangular bottle and thought yes, but I needed to test it. I asked in the forum today and the great Azurita (I trust her nose blindly) confirmed that only the packaging changed. I went to perfumerías Julia in Barcelona on a fresh summer day at 25°C and sprayed two sprays on my forearm. Opening: all the classic lemon, those market ones that perfume the house when you cut them. Heart: not a minute before the fig enters and in 7 minutes it dominates everything. It smells like the tree: climbing at seven, scraping knees with bark, touching velvet leaves with hairs that rise to the bitter palate, pulling a green fruit and feeling almond milky and creamy like a coconut shake. It reminds me of my childhood climbing my grandfather’s fig trees before the fruits ripened; the memories are so vivid I got emotional. Apart from being a bit cheesy, it opens so realistically citrusy that it’s astringent, then the fig remains, green and elegant, with a low but persistent trail. I notice the galbanum more in the first hours of the heart: bitter, lemony, sweet, green and sweet. That known sweetness mixes with another unknown (I suppose mastic) and there the sweet fig accompanies you for hours. I would never say it’s citrusy, it’s aromatic green. It’s 1 am, after 7 hours, the heart phase continues: I lie down with the fig and don’t notice wood.

• Carolin22

  August 18, 2017

  

  What a beautiful, fresh, yet sweet fragrance. One feels a serenity that I love; it is not the typical fresh soap aroma, this is something more beautiful and luminous. The best thing is that it is very timeless, it does not pigeonhole a specific age to use it, and it is unisex.

• Kaneda

  March 17, 2018

  

  Ninfeo Mio is one of the most wonderful fragrances I have had the pleasure of trying. It borders on excellence in everything that can be attributed to a perfume. It would be unfair to analyse it solely with typical benchmarks such as top notes, dry-down, or performance, because the work of Annick Goutal goes far beyond that. It transports you to the Garden of Eden. Hanging from its trees are enormous, juicy lemons with a fresh aroma that welcomes you. Then appears the absolute protagonist: the fig. On one hand, the scent of its leaf, fresh and green yet velvety; on the other, the scent of its fleshy fruit, sweet, delicate, creamy, with reminiscences of coconut. All of this is caressed by a fine mist that magnifies the described aroma, impregnates the woods, and wets the earth that gives life to the whole. All notes are perceived clearly with a staggering realism. It develops in a constant but subtle manner, without abrupt turns. You can apply it in the morning, still smell it in the afternoon, and feel its memory into the night. Ninfeo Mio is a fragrance that will accompany me for the rest of my existence. A perfume without edges, totally unisex and suitable for any age. Evocative as few, enchanting as none. Note: 10/10.

• Macondo

  March 21, 2018

  

  Ninfeo Mio, a beautiful name, possesses contradictions that I adore: it is rough and delicate, astringent and sweet, green yet dense, fresh and warm. On my nose, it begins with an explosion of lemons before the fig leaf takes the reins. It evolves slowly on my skin; enjoy it without haste, like a summer siesta in the shade of that tree. That creaminess mentioned by others appears early, a milky scent with a slight bitterness reminiscent of the milk that oozes when cutting fig shoots or plants, and it persists throughout the development. It has good longevity on my skin. It is hyper-realistic, organic, cheerful, and possesses a nuanced luminosity. I love wearing it on cold days like today, when the spring sun stops being a promise and is occasionally visible. For its quality and concept, it is a jewel that elevates the soul and predisposes one to happiness.

• Casablanca77

  April 5, 2018

  

  What I am most passionate about in Ninfeo Mio is its pristine beauty. It has always been there, slightly overlooked by Goutal, but after trying Fico di Amalfi by AP, I fell in love with Ninfeo. Both feature fig notes, yet Ninfeo is more continental Mediterranean, far from the coast, as if situated in magnificent ruins. It is a fig with citrus sparkles that provide an initial and mid-stage ease, but it clings more to the skin, as if the leaves are overheated yet still glistening with morning dew, a divine nectar. The resins and woods give it body, fixative power, and a woody calyx that is more austere and indigenous. It is a wonderful perfume, anchored in dreams of forests and ethereal citrus that make you fly. It creates atmospheres and fantasies, with that intimate relationship under the fig that makes it magical. The fig leaves elevate this whole experience in a unique way.

• danielfortu

  May 22, 2018

  

  Nature in a bottle. This fragrance leaves other ‘fresh’ scents in the dust. The moment I apply it, it smells of fresh greens and fruit. A direct hit to the olfactory senses, pure and alive. The first two hours are like being immersed in a garden, before the fig note takes over and dominates until the very end. It makes you feel more alive than ever; it is pure love. It lasts over ten hours, projects beautifully, and its trail seems eternal. 10/10 in every way. A masterpiece.

• Shearwater

  October 25, 2018

  

  A true citrus and green delight. I’ve been in love with this perfume from day one until today. It’s one of those where when you apply it, you immediately feel good, fresh and in a good mood. Decidedly for warm climates and for the day. On my skin it lasts about 7 hours, with limited projection in the first hour or so. The truth is, I don’t care if others perceive it or not; the enjoyment is mine.

• Mojave

  November 12, 2018

  

  Like a two-week infatuation: what beauty, what construction, what quality… and such a swift death. Ninfeo is a real, divine realistic treasure, a fig so nailed down that if you close your eyes you instantly plunge into summer. But its trail is scarce and its duration ridiculous for the price; on skin it deforms rapidly and dies before you can say potato. That said, the while it lasts, it’s a dream, pure beauty, a green canvas; it smells of trunk, leaves, branches, of the fruit with a staggering materiality, what abundance, what fineness. Pure sun, siesta, Italy or perhaps Greece, holidays, money in the pockets and lots of free time. That’s what Ninfeo evokes. A nine that would be a ten if it lasted.

• Yadorán d'Vinea

  February 9, 2020

  

  Ninfeo Mio is a fragrance inspired by the gardens of Ninfa, a tourist landscape in central Italy. It has been described very assertively both in scent and performance; it’s easy to conclude that Ninfeo Mio is one of those fragrances where everything has already been said, but if it’s possible to extract certain appreciations. To begin with, Ninfeo Mio is a beautiful fragrance, as atmospheric as it is photorealistic; it evokes with absolute loyalty the scent of fresh, living, and damp herbs freshly cut alongside lemon extracts (it recalls wet grass in the mornings). Ninfeo is as citrusy as it is green, it handles an aquatic ‘aura’ very well; it’s charismatic, energetic and sparkling (literally). The fragrance seems to develop horizontally; in my experience, the notes over time are essentially the same (if vertical, it would be very static). I’d conclude that Ninfeo combines green/aquatic/citrus accords with the success that other fragrances don’t manage (like Chanel N°19, Chance Eau Fraiche and Light Blue). However, it’s notable what can be criticised. From the name to the concept, they are beautiful; some report sweat trails, personally I haven’t found such a resemblance, but I understand where it comes from. The most denounceable thing is its performance: duration and trail are decidedly poor (perhaps moderate at most, and only on a very favoured day). Add to that the high price and the difficulty in locating it outside Europe. I don’t know if it has undergone reformulations; I don’t rule it out as the brand has gone through redesigns. The scent is irremediably beautiful, but I recommend testing it on skin before rushing to buy it.

• Antonio@pin

  April 11, 2020

  

  This is a very beautiful perfume; lemon and fig leaves are the most prominent notes. It’s such a realistic lemon scent that if you want an idea, take a port lemon and smell it; it’s no more and no less. The fig leaves remind me of the forest when the rain stops, the smell of wet grass. It’s a unique fragrance.

• CarCar

  May 7, 2020

  

  I was gifted a sample and just sprayed it on a card. Love at first sight! I love it. It’s a wonderful green. The first moments reminded me a bit of Estee Lauder’s Private Collection, but then it took another direction. I love that sensation of green pulp, fresh stalk juice, something like eating a handful of fresh parsley but much less ‘dark green’. I can’t stop smelling it. I don’t mind the duration or projection; this definitely goes on the list of passions. After a while, the watery juiciness fades and a more talc-like accord appears, yet equally intensely green. There’s a dry-down moment that reminds me of the smell rising when cleaning cat litter; that light powder when stirring, bringing the scent of urine mixed with diatomaceous earth. It’s not a bad smell (somewhat acidic and soapy, an effect of amino acids like feline and cysteine-S-isopentanol; it doesn’t smell like ammonia), just that it’s very strong and repulsive when cleaning the cat litter box, but in Ninfeo Mio I find it moderate and pleasant, adding to the powdery, dry sensation. As hours pass, it softens greatly and leaves a woody base with green sparkles and barely floral notes. Today I could pot a giant pot that covers the car gate; while bagging the leaves, a little scent rose up that reminded me of this glorious Ninfeo and made me smile. I have the EDT. Postscript to Yadorán d’Vinea: judging Chanel 19 in the same category as Ninfeo Mio doesn’t seem appropriate to me; they are different olfactive families. Chanel 19 doesn’t manage to harmonise green/aquatic/citrus; it doesn’t seek that harmony; it’s a green leather floral. Smelling it expecting to find green/aquatic/citrus doesn’t yield good results.

• Alex_Rex

  May 9, 2020

  

  Second fragrance by Annick Goutal and I must say I didn’t like it. Nevertheless, I will describe the perfume. The opening is a strong citrus aroma that floods everything, Amalfi lemon prevailing except for the cider, which gives a pleasant combination. Afterwards I don’t feel the fig leaf as others say, nor woody notes, only a powdery scent remains. The projection is moderate, five hours, and then close to the skin, leaving only that powdery note that I don’t like. The packaging is excellent, typical niche, and the atomiser is the best I have used, besides the bottle being very beautiful. For use, the spring season would be convenient and daytime. It leaves me a sweet and sour taste; I had many expectations but it ended up in nothing.

• Alex_Rex

  May 25, 2020

  

  Second fragrance from Annick Goutal, and I must say I didn’t like it. Nevertheless, let me describe the perfume. Its opening is a strong citrus aroma that floods everything, with Amalfi lemon prevailing over the others, except for the cider which gives a pleasant combination. Afterwards, I don’t feel the fig leaf as others say, nor woody notes; I’m left with only a talc-like scent. Projection is moderate, five hours, then close to the skin, leaving only that talc-like note which isn’t to my liking. The packaging is excellent, as is all niche, and the atomiser is the best I’ve used; the bottle is very pretty. For use, spring would be the convenient season and daytime. It leaves me with a sweet-and-sour taste; I had high expectations and it ended up amounting to nothing.

• ngarcia

  October 12, 2020

  

  Good quality and more intense than I expected. The fig leaf is super natural; the base is wood, but I think it’s more of a fixative than anything else because it’s barely noticeable. It’s a particular fragrance; I don’t recommend buying it blindly. When you first wear it, it smells of citrus fig, light, almost magical, but after two or three hours, it smells intensely of pure fig leaf. Who wants to smell like a fig leaf? I like it because it’s an emotional thing for me; it reminds me of a field with that tree, and the naturalness is surprising. For going out, I doubt I’d wear it, but it’s worth having a few ml. Projection is low, lasting about 7 hours. Update: from the new cylindrical bottle, the duration drops to about 3 hours.

• Augusto Enci

  April 13, 2021

  

  Ninfeo Mio is citrusy and green, nothing more. It starts with bitter, acidic citrus wrapped in a green, rough accord, very realistic. It smells like you’re stepping into a grove of fig trees. It’s linear, but with a spectacular scent that loses intensity very quickly, with no variations except a subtle talc-like dry-down. Nothing else. I don’t know if it’s been reformulated, much like the ugly bottles before, because it neither lasts nor projects. In my case, within an hour it’s close to the skin. As a fragrance, it’s a 10, but its performance is a disaster. For me, Fico di Amalfi remains the absolute monarch: the best with fig leaves I know. Try Ninfeo before buying, but not for its scent—which is wonderful—but for its poor performance.

• Tiny Taylor

  July 17, 2022

  

  Thank you, Carcar, I always love your reviews because we largely agree. This perfume is so difficult to describe due to its complexity, but it’s one of my favourites. That fig leaf reminds me of my childhood, and I adore the freshness of its citrus notes. It’s mysterious; I love it.

• Victortor

  June 26, 2023

  

  What a beautiful fragrance, yet it doesn’t invite me out. It’s a subtle experience, free from harshness or strange magic. It opens bright and citrusy, with a bitter, very green touch thanks to the fig leaf that evolves to its full potential. It’s woody and creamy, highly evocative; you can feel it, though I see it more for walking around the house or those days when you fancy some relaxation. I don’t see it as a purchase; 100 ml seems like an absolute bargain. A well-chosen decant. It looks a bit feminine, but for me, it’s totally unisex. It performs well, doesn’t project much, but lasts close to the skin. On clothes, it lasts and lasts.