WHAT I SMELL:  Polianthes’ opening is soft and creamy and highlighted by a lightly spicy mentholated tuberose.  There’s an underlying candied aspect from the tiare flower that adds a light spun sugar or cotton candy dimension to the perfume.  After a few minutes, a woody note comes forward which decreases the light sweetness.  Though full of projection, the perfume itself is not heavy nor dense.  Instead, the perfume seems to hover above the skin.  But as soon as I write that, I find a rather creamy buttery note comes forward that brings the perfume back to earth and what was light and ethereal now becomes a sheen of buttery vanilla tuberose with a curiously dry undertone.  Here the perfume gracefully resides in its dry down.  A rather lady-like, but secure, existence at that.

From the Bottega Profumeira website:

Polianthes Tuberose or in common name from Latin “Tuberosa” is the note that gives name to this perfume.  “Sexy”, “heady”, “sultry”, “carnal” are the sorts of descriptions that are typically applied to tuberose perfumes, but in this case I add also “soft”, “reflective”, “independent”, “strong” like a complete woman is. All these peculiarities are in every woman and I tried to put all these facets in a single perfume. There is no sensuality without intelligence, there is no passion without strength, there is no love without independence… So the opulent white flowers of tuberose, thiaré, gardenia, jasmin match together with the solid notes of vetiver, sandalwood, teakwood…

Notes:  thiaré, tuberose, gardenia, ylang-ylang, jasmin, benzoin, frankincense, amber, vanilla, teakwood, vetiver, sandalwood

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  The taming of the tuberose tiger.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE POLIANTHES:  secure, buttery, harnessed

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT POLIANTHES: Chemist in the Bottle, BL’eauOG

BOTTOM LINE:  Polianthes is the tuberose perfume for those who don’t want their tuberose to completely overwhelm or dominate.  Instead it politely takes its place where it’s lovely presence is noticeable, without being overbearing.

• Bone Rating: 3 out of possible 5 bones
• Scent: Oriental Floral
• Nose:  Maurizio Lembo
• Classification: Unisex, but leans feminine
• Expense: $150 for 100ml Eau de Parfum (plus 30ml travel refill)

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary