Missoni Wave

Notes & Nuances

This opens with a blast of sunshine, but it's the kind you get through a dirty window. The lemon and bergamot are sharp, almost astringent, lacking the juicy ripeness of a freshly sliced fruit. There's a synthetic neroli clinging on for dear life, struggling to mask a faint undercurrent of plastic swimming pool. The hyacinth in the heart attempts a floral rescue, but it leans closer to potpourri left too long in the sun than a dew-kissed bloom. Cedar emerges next, dry and splintery, quickly chased by a clary sage which adds a herbal but vaguely medicinal dimension. The drydown is where this truly falters. Tonka and amber wrestle for dominance, resulting in a cloying, powdery sweetness that's weighed down by a persistent, somewhat acrid musk. It diverges significantly from the original's airy elegance, instead settling into a flat, synthetic haze.

Conclusion

This fragrance embodies the person who aspires to be noticed without possessing genuine charisma. They frequent generic hotel bars, order the "usual," and think a patterned silk shirt constitutes high fashion. They are chasing a sophisticated lifestyle but come off as striving and a little hollow. This is the scent of missed potential.

Wear time & Sillage

Longevity is deceptive, initially projecting at about an arm's length for the first hour, then retreating to a skin scent after three. I wore this during a moderately active day, which involved a quick gym trip. By the end of my workout, it had completely disappeared, leaving only a faint trace of residual soapiness.