Neroli Portofino Clones

"### Notes & Nuances Safari kicks off with a bright, almost photorealistic citrus blast. Think freshly squeezed lemonade with a generous grating of bergamot zest. The mandarin orange leans slightly artificial, reminiscent of those orange-flavored vitamin C chewables. As it settles, the neroli emerges, tempered by a slightly indolic jasmine. It's creamier than the original, lacking that sharp, almost bitter edge. The base is where the divergence is most noticeable. Instead of the crisp amber, it's a powdery, slightly musty blend of ambrette and angelica, creating a fuzzy, less defined finish. It's pleasant, but the sunny, effervescent character fades, replaced by something more subdued. ### How Long Does it Last? Safari is a solid performer for a citrus-forward fragrance. I get around 5-6 hours of wear, with the first hour projecting about an arm's length. After that, it settles closer to the skin. I wore it to the office on a hot day and found it refreshing without being overpowering. It's also great for running errands on the weekend or grabbing a casual lunch. ### Bottom Line Wearing Safari instead of the original Neroli Portofino means you're opting for a softer, more rounded experience. You gain a touch of powdery sweetness in the drydown, but you lose that bright, crisp, almost bracing quality that makes the original so distinctive. It's like choosing a pastel drawing over a vibrant watercolor painting – both are beautiful, but one is simply more impactful."

"### To Buy or Not to Buy? If this scent were a character, it would be the overly enthusiastic, but ultimately bland, travel brochure photographer perpetually stuck on auto settings. He's trying to capture that perfect sun-drenched vista, but the lighting is always a bit off, and the subject comes across looking vaguely artificial. ### The Scent Profile Portfolio Neroli Canvas throws you headfirst into a sparkling citrus grove, all sharp bergamot rind and slightly bitter mandarin peel. There's a fleeting impression of lemon hard candy. The heart leans heavily on the orange blossom, but with a soapy, almost industrial cleaner twang, rather than delicate sweetness. It's a far cry from sun-drenched Italian coastline. The jasmine struggles to cut through, remaining a ghostly presence. As it dries, the amber emerges, but it's a flat, one-dimensional warmth, missing the sun-kissed skin accord that the original embodies. I detect a synthetic muskiness from the ambrette. The angelica adds an earthy counterpoint, but unfortunately, it doesn't quite save it from the generic amber fate. ### Projection Power I managed to get about five hours out of this on skin, with projection that extends to about an arm's length for the first hour before quickly retreating. I wore it during a humid summer day, and it became cloying quickly. Wearing this in the office elicited no compliments, and one colleague wrinkled her nose."

"### First Impressions & Dry Down Amalfi Sunray opens with a sharp, almost acrid burst of citrus. The bergamot leans intensely towards its rind, bordering on grapefruit pith bitterness, not the smoother, more floral profile one expects. Mandarin provides a fleeting sweetness, quickly overtaken by a distinctly synthetic lemon note – think lemon-scented cleaning product rather than fresh-squeezed juice. The heart attempts to soften the initial assault with neroli and African orange flower, but the jasmine feels thin, almost watery, lacking the indolic depth necessary for a cohesive floral accord. The base attempts an amber warmth but lands with a plasticky, musky undertone, the angelica adding a slight herbal bitterness, while the ambrette fails to fully materialize, leaving the composition feeling unfinished. Where the inspiration aims for sun-drenched elegance, this veers towards a hastily constructed citrus cologne with a perceptible solvent undercurrent. ### Projection Power On my skin, Amalfi Sunray manages approximately 3 hours of noticeable projection, reaching perhaps half an arm's length initially. By hour 4, it's a skin scent, barely perceptible. Testing involved indoor office environments and a short outdoor walk in moderate temperatures. The performance reflects the quality of ingredients, resulting in a diminished experience overall. ### Bottom Line If Amalfi Sunray were a movie character, it would be an eager, but ultimately inept, intern trying to imitate their accomplished boss."

"### First Impressions & Dry Down Neroli Riviera bursts open with a sharp, somewhat aggressive citrus cocktail. The bergamot and mandarin are prominent, but they carry a slight undercurrent of cleaning fluid – like a lemon-scented all-purpose cleaner used a little too liberally. The heart tries to smooth things out with orange blossom and jasmine, but the initial citrus remains stubbornly present, creating a somewhat dissonant blend. The drydown leans into a powdery amber, which is pleasant enough, but lacks the depth and warmth I'd expect. It deviates from its muse in that it substitutes some of the nuanced florals with a much simpler, linear citrus profile. ### Projection Power Longevity is moderate; I get about 4-5 hours of noticeable scent. Projection is initially strong, reaching about an arm's length for the first hour, before quickly settling closer to the skin. I tested it during a day of errands and found it held up reasonably well, though it faded to a skin scent by the afternoon. It’s a daytime scent for sure, best suited for warmer weather. ### Bottom Line This one is for the individual who appreciates a clean, bright citrus scent but isn't overly concerned with complexity or refinement. Perhaps someone who works in a casual office environment and wants a refreshing, uncomplicated fragrance to get them through the day. It suits a no-fuss, jeans-and-t-shirt type who prioritizes practicality over perfume artistry."

"### Notes & Nuances Lazuli opens with a sun-drenched citrus accord, a sparkling blend of bergamot and tart mandarin peel that instantly transports you to the Mediterranean. However, there's a slightly astringent quality here, an undercurrent reminiscent of lemon furniture polish rather than freshly squeezed juice. The heart blooms with delicate neroli and jasmine, a powdery floral sweetness that evokes linen drying in a summer breeze. It's here the fragrance veers from its inspiration; the African orange flower adds a soapiness, an almost creamy texture that softens the sharper edges but introduces a generic aroma. The drydown settles into a comforting amber, yet the angelica brings an earthy bitterness. A dry sensation, similar to crushed aspirin lingers, detracting from the warmth of ambrette. ### Longevity & Projection On my skin, Lazuli manages a respectable 5-6 hours of wear. Projection is moderate, staying within arm's length for the initial two hours before becoming a skin scent. I tested it during a warm afternoon stroll and found it refreshing initially, but the plasticky fade made it less appealing as the day progressed. ### Is it Worth It? If Lazuli were a character, it would be the charismatic but ultimately unreliable summer fling. All sunshine and smiles at first glance, yet leaves you with a vague sense of disappointment by the time the sun sets."

"### Final Thoughts Bright Neroli works best in extremely casual daytime settings, such as running errands or a quick trip to the gym. Its somewhat abrasive opening and synthetic drydown preclude it from more formal or intimate situations. It is suitable for warm weather, providing a simple, linear citrus-floral experience. ### The Scent Profile Bright Neroli opens with a blast of citrus – primarily bergamot and a noticeably synthetic mandarin. The initial impression is sharper and less nuanced than its inspiration, with a distinct cleaning-product edge. The neroli heart emerges quickly, but lacks the creamy, indolic depth found in the original; instead, it possesses a slightly bitter, almost medicinal quality. I detect a hint of jasmine, though it's overshadowed by the dominant neroli and the lingering citrus peel. The base is where the divergence is most pronounced. The amber is present, but thin and somewhat plasticky. The ambrette attempts to provide a musky lift, but instead mixes with the synthetic amber, yielding a slightly acrid drydown reminiscent of melting plastic. Angelica contributes a green herbal counterpoint, however the base remains predominantly synthetic. ### The Performance Stats Longevity is moderate, lasting approximately 4-5 hours on my skin. Initial projection is strong, extending beyond arm's length for the first hour before settling closer to the skin. I tested this in a temperate indoor environment and a breezy outdoor setting; performance remained consistent in both scenarios."

"### How it Smells Wild Neroli opens with a bright, albeit somewhat shrill, citrus accord. The bergamot and mandarin present a photorealistic zestiness, but the lemon veers sharply towards a cleaning-product tang reminiscent of lemon-scented disinfectant wipes. The heart attempts to soften this citric blast with orange blossom and neroli, yet the indolic jasmine struggles to cut through, creating a slight soapy dissonance. Where the composition truly departs is in the base; the amber presents with an unctuous, almost sickly sweetness, while the angelica offers a vegetal bitterness that clashes with the ambrette's musky profile. The drydown evokes the scent of candied orange peels left too long in a musty cupboard. ### Wear time & Sillage Longevity is moderate, clocking in at approximately 5 hours on skin. Projection is initially strong, filling a small room, before quickly settling to a personal space after the first hour. Tested in high-humidity conditions, the sweetness of the amber amplified, becoming somewhat cloying and dense. ### The Verdict If this scent were a character in a movie, it would be a supporting character in a rom-com who tries way too hard to be charming and ends up just being awkward."

"### 4711 on Steroids ** The Scent Profile ** Cloning *Neroli Portofino*, this is a classic Italian barbershop scent. It is blasted with lemon, bitter orange, and neroli white flowers. It smells incredibly clean, soapy, and fresh. It is nearly identical to the Tom Ford original, primarily because the original formula is quite simple. It does not smell synthetic or harsh, likely using decent quality citrus oils. ** Performance Reality Check ** It's a fresh citrus scent, so physics applies: 4 hours max. It's a "refresher" scent, not an all-day wear. ** The Verdict ** The perfect high-heat gym or beach scent. Spray it liberally to cool down."

"### Notes & Nuances Just Jack Neroli throws a citrus cocktail party right out of the bottle. The bergamot is sharp and clean, like lemon floor cleaner. The mandarin orange adds a sugary sweetness, but it lacks any natural depth. The heart attempts to mimic the original's orange blossom, but falls short, smelling more like orange-scented cleaning wipes. The jasmine is faint, overshadowed by a synthetic neroli accord that leans heavily into a soapy, powdery dimension. The base is where it truly deviates. Instead of a warm amber glow, it dries down to a musky, chemical fuzziness, with the angelica adding a slight vegetal unpleasantness. It captures the *idea* of Neroli Portofino, but not the sophisticated radiance. ### The Performance Stats Neroli lasts about three hours on my skin. Projection is initially strong, filling a room for the first 30 minutes. Afterwards, it retreats to an arm's length, then becomes a faint skin scent. I tested it during a humid day, and the synthetic quality became almost cloying. It performed somewhat better indoors in air conditioning, but still faded quickly. ### Bottom Line If this scent were a character in a movie, it would be the earnest understudy who's good at mimicking the star, but lacks the charisma to truly shine."