WHAT I SMELL:  Stercus opens rather funkalicious, with a biting citrus and earthy wood that has a burnt edge to it.   Actually, I was expecting a more roughened opening, but even though there’s a bite and sharpness and saltiness to the perfume, it’s not the monster that I was expecting.  The sharpness starts to fade in a few minutes and it feels as if the perfume does as well.  After 5 minutes, it’s all but a whisper.  Hmmmm, I have the feeling that there’s more in store, I just have to be a little patient.  Just as I expected, after around 10 minutes, the perfume starts to grow.  It’s much saltier, and slightly sour.  It’s also a bit green and reminds me of weedy stems.  According to the Twisted Lily website, Stercus is the latin word for feces.  Interesting, I’m getting less feces and getting more sweaty armpit.  What I always find interesting about perfumes that are intended to mimic or represent bodily fluids, functions, etc. are never repulsing (for the most part), but instead are intriguing, magnetic and primal.  While Stercus is interesting, as it continues to develop it becomes more woody and the salty and carnal nature of the perfume is rather sexy.  It’s not a big perfume however, instead it’s rather like a subdued force field of pheromones.  I wonder if this was worn by a large Buck, how many Does it would attract?!  Wait, did I say that this perfume is not big?  After over an hour it really begins to project and when I smelled it, it coats the back of my throat…to include a rather celeryish vegetal smoky edge.  Interesting indeed.  Finally, after a couple of hours, the perfume mellows to a slightly salty and slightly powdery floral musk while maintaining a healthy projection.  What an interesting ride this has been.

The Orto Parisi website doesn’t list any notes.  However, check out their site as it’s rather intriguing.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Sexy, sweaty skin.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE STERCUS:  salty, pheromonal, intriguing

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT STERCUS:  Kafkaesque, The Sartorial Silhouette, Pierre de Nishapur

BOTTOM LINE: Perfumer Allesandro Gualtieri’s vision for Orto Parisi, like the Nasomatto brand, intrigues me and I was very interested in sampling the line.  So far, the only other perfume in the line to make its way past my nose is Brutus, which is an interesting take on citrus and wood.  I can’t wait to check out the others!

• Bone Rating:  3 out of possible 5 bones
• Scent:  Floral Woody Musk
• Nose: Allesandro Gualtieri
• Classification: Unisex
• Expense: $195 for 50 ml Parfum Extrait

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary