Milano Fragranze Galleria photo and collage by Neringa©️
“In Milan, we spent most of our time inside the great and magnificent Loggia, or Galleria, or whatever you call it. Isolated formed by tall and sumptuous new buildings […] this is the Gallery. I would love to live there forever” -Mark Twain, Vagabondo in Italia (translated from Italian)
First golden rays of early morning sun began breaking through the intricate domed glass ceiling; casting molten-honey light upon the ornate mosaic floors and the gleaming tall glass windows of the luxurious stores housed at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Clutching her finest nappa leather handbag, she stepped inside Pasticceria Marchesi from the biting, frosty morning air to find herself in the familiar surroundings; wave of warmth mixed with the aroma of deliciously bitter, freshly brewed coffee washing over her.
French actress Jacqueline Sassard during the shooting of the movie “Nata di marzo” outside the Galleria Vittorio. Milan1957. (Photo by Mario De Biasi/Mondadori via Getty Images)
She sat at the dark malachite table, her favorite one, with the breathtaking view of the Galleria and people rushing by in the silence of an early winter morning, like a slow-motion film before her eyes. She took the first sip of a creamy latte accompanied by a bite of red berry-topped Crostata di Frutta. Rich gourmand aromas intermingled with the scent of her well worn leather handbag, a billowy haze of orris-violet tinged face powder emanating from her alabaster skin. She loved getting lost in the moment watching from behind the window a world blanketed in the purity of snow yet undisturbed. The perfect moment of il dolce far niente at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Italy’s oldest active shopping mall and also one of Milan’s most major landmarks presenting a four-story double arcade. Located only steps away from Milan’s famed Duomo, it sits between Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Scala; showcasing a unique octagonal shape, along with vaulted glass, wrought iron arcades, and an incredible domed glass ceiling. The mosaic floor tile designs represent different cities in Italy: the wolf symbolizes Rome, the bull is a representation of Torino, the lily is indicative of Florence, and the flag stands for Milan itself. The symbols in each part of the floor symbolize the numerous capitals of the kingdom of Italy. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele was built between 1865 and 1877 by talented architect, Giuseppe Mengoni. It was created as part of an urban project with the aim of modernizing Milan after the liberation of the city in 1859. It was named after Victor Emmanuel II, who was the first king of the kingdom of Italy. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele was the starting point of the modern shopping mall era. Nowadays, the Galleria is considered a living symbol of Italian unity, as it was built during the time of Italian unification. It has quite the intriguing nickname – il Salotto di Milano – meaning “the drawing/living room of Milan”, as it was a common meeting point for the Milanese bourgeoisie. Creative director Alessandro Brun invites us to get lost in the majestic grandeur of one of the most iconic shopping malls in the world skillfully interpreted by Dominique Moellhausen in Milano Fragranze Galleria.
Milano Fragranze Galleria photo and collage by Neringa
How can a perfume feel so elegant, so sophisticated and so seductive at the same time? How can mere words do justice to such flawless beauty, a jewel of both great delicacy and strength, regal elegance and the sepia tinged, tender nostalgia of bygone times? Milano Fragranze Galleria is unabashedly voluptuous with a strong and independent character, it takes the initial zesty explosion of citruses and delectable red berry fruitiness; and merges it with the intriguing, intense aroma of freshly brewed dark roast coffee unfolding its powerful and alluring mystique. Beguiling balance of tender, violet-tinted haze and the singular scent of finest leather renders Milano Fragranze Galleria seamless, velvety in texture; one that feels modern but with classically timeless olfactory profile, inspired by Moorish leathers steeped in floral essences, spices and luxurious aromatic oils. A hint of powdery orris adds another dimension of subtle olfactory waves, enticing the wearer. The passionate dance between the richness of coffee and the tactile leather is vibrant and balanced. This perfume, as a whole, for me, evokes the incredibly detailed and ornate mosaic tile designs of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele floor. Rich earthy facets of patchouli enveloped in balsamic, sweet creaminess of sandalwood weave a spell of pure delight, simultaneously innocent and sophisticated all at once. Milano Fragranze Galleria is possibly the smoothest, most refined and polished leather-centric fragrance I have ever experienced.
Milano Fragranze Galleria cap details by Neringa©️
Rich, intricate, luminous and captivating, seamlessly blended, with no harsh edges, it takes the essentially dark and heavy structure of a classical leather composition and transforms it with a powerful dusty yet radiant floral heart that simply lets the sun in – as through the magnificent domed glass ceiling of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Wearing Milano Fragranze Galleria transports one right to the very heart of Milan and the sophisticated, history-rich Galleria Vittorio Emanuele as you take your time entering each of the upscale stores. The scent of finest leather goods and the whiffs of freshly brewed cappuccino is pervasive. Don’t forget the tradition of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele to tap your heels on the bull mosaic three times. No matter where you live, if you believe in the magic of perfume, Milano Fragranze Galleria will take you there.
Notes: Violet Leaf, Red Fruits, Coffee, Citrus, Davana, Orris Root, Leather, Orange Leaf, Carrot Seeds, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Amber
Disclaimer: Sample kindly provided by Milano Fragranze, opinions are my own.
Neringa Svobutaite, Senior Contributor
*Find out more about the Milano Fragranze Iine: watch Contributor Steven Gavrielatos aka Redolessence‘s video overview and interview with Alessandro Brun.
You can read Nicoleta Tomsa’s review of La Prima here and my review of Brera here
Thanks to the generosity of Milano Fragranze we have a 100ml bottle of Milano Fragranze Galleria for one registered reader in the US, EU or UK. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what you enjoyed the most about Neringa’s review, have you tried any of Milano Fragranze fragrances and where you live. Draw closes September 1, 2021
Available on Milano Fragranze’s site.
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