Smalto by Francesco Smalto - A Revised Review

The house of Francesco Smalto describes its namesake as "subtle and original." It also states that Smalto resembles a fine garment. "It imitates beautiful fabrics, mixing classicism with modernism... The thread which holds the shape [of the fragrance] is hand-made from woodfern with the light scent of cypress, making it at the same time contemporary and timeless," according to Smalto's site.

By reading the official description of Smalto, I assumed that it would meet my usual expectations of prestige fragrances. In other words, its scent would be on the same level as Fendi's Theorema, Sean Jean's Unforgivable, Calvin Klein's Man or Tom Ford for men, which were (and still are) all gentlemanly and complex. However, when I first sniffed it, it did not meet my expectations. To be frank, I thought this fragrance stank!

I know my original conclusion about Smalto is a bit harsh, and it may be only true for people who are fragrance elitists like me. So, my conclusion may be way off for many fans of this fragrance. So, why does Smalto have fans? I can only hypothesize that it represents very masculine men -- rugged and uncomplicated -- for many of its fans. It does remind me of some fragrances that my father has worn -- the classic scents of hardworking men. It is probably popular among working class men, such as construction workers, plumbers, delivery drivers, etc.

Hardworking men will appreciate its fragrances notes. They give it a rustic scent. Smalto begins with lavender, clary sage, bergamot and petitgrain. Its middle notes are geranium, rose, heliotrope and carnation. It finally dries down to oakmoss, tonka, hay and vanilla.

So, why did I give Smalto a negative assessment? I have to admit that this fragrance smells badly on me. Its hints of aromatic, citrus, floral and woody notes don't mix well with my body chemistry. This is a good lesson for me and all fragrance lovers. As many perfume experts have stated, a scent may smell terrific on some people while it may smell horrible on others. However, the main reason why I don't like this fragrance because it lacks complexity and refinery. In other words, I find it to be too generic.

I know many fans of this fragrance will disagree with my thoughts about this cologne. So, I feel compelled to make a recommendation for its fans. I recommend this fragrance for men who prefer simple and rugged colognes. Smalto by Francesco Smalto can be found at many online perfumeries.

Where did I get my info?
Smalto.com
Osmoz.com