Hilde Soliani

Hilde Soliani Conaffetto Candied Orange Blossom

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Conaffetto is a fragrance made by the Italian Perfumer Hilde Soliani. It is part of her Profumo e questa in liberta series. This line is based on the Italian Haute Cuisine which is a great love of Hilde Soliani. Some of her perfumes (including Conaffetto) are almost edible. Conaffetto means with affection in Italian.  Hilde Soliani made this perfume for a dear friend who was getting married. Its ingredients are almonds, sugar and orange blossom, very appropriate for a wedding.

Orange blossom is used in wedding bouquets in certain countries and sugar coated almonds (Jordan Almonds) are given at weddings. Almonds sweetened with honey were first used in ancient Rome in weddings. The hard candy coating started in the 15th century. These candies are called Jordan Almonds in the US but confetti in Italy. The bitter almonds symbolize the bitterness of life and the sweet coating the sweetness of love.

I really like the idea of a perfume made for a very special occasion in one’s life. Luce (see my previous review) was for a child’s birth of a friend of Hilde Soliani and Conaffetto for a wedding. Luce could be used to scent birth cards and Conafetto could be used to scent wedding invitations.

 

What does it smell like ?

 

The scent starts with a bitter almond note in the top. Then it evolves into orange blossom with a slightly bitter edge. After this the orange blossom becomes  sweeter, reminding me of candied violets. Not their scent but the violet candies themselves. If orange blossoms could be candied they would scent like this. It is almost as if you can eat this orange blossom. The orange blossom, almonds and sugar are very well blended. Some mention on the Fragantica website they scent bitter almonds  I get  bitter almonds quite clearly in the beginning and a bitter note at the middle but to me it could be a bit of bitter orange mixed with bitter almonds. The orange blossom is a not indolic at all, but much more tamed, not yet fully blooming, like a woman in her early/mid twenties there is still some innocence about her. The drydown is like an orange blossom water almond cookie with all the ingredients very well blended together.

What does it do ?

Conaffetto brings a feeling of softness, ease and affection. Like getting a hug from a very dear loving friend. Light and soft with a touch a innocence. 

I really like this fragrance, together with Luce made by Hilde Soliani as well, they are my favorites. It is a different and original take on an orange blossom perfume. But I do not love it enough to buy a large 100 ml bottle. If smaller 15 or 30 ml bottles were sold, I would seriously consider buying a bottle.

Sillage: ***

Longevity: ***/****

Notes according to Luckyscent: orange blossom, sugar, almonds

Origin of sample: pr 

February 3, 2014

Pictures:

Picture 1: Rébé 1963 Harry Meerson Wedding Dress www.hprints.com

Picture 2: Rene Ruau for Marcella Alix www.hpprints.com,

Picture 3: Bas Balenciaga www.hpprints.com

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