When a mass-market perfume hits the market it is generally following a current trend or two. As in any creative effort; following the trend has some difficulties. It leaves you open to second guessing about whether you made the correct choice. Sometimes it seems like a brand tries again. This seems like what I experienced when I tried Salvatore Ferragamo Amo Ferragamo Flowerful.
From 2002-2008 Salvatore Ferragamo fragrances weren’t going along with the latest trends they were helping set and refine what commercial perfume could be. I’m not sure what changed but over the past ten years they have become a perfume brand which found more success in going with the flow instead of surfing on top of it. Because of that earlier time period I always give the new releases a try. Last year they released Amo Ferragamo. That was more of the same as a gourmand-like floral was right on trend. It wasn’t anything I wanted to try anymore than on a strip and file it away.
Marie Salamagne
As I received my sample of Amo Ferragamo Flowerful when I sprayed it on a strip, I was quite surprised. Unlike most flankers, especially first ones, this did not smell anything like the original. Perfumer Marie Salamagne, who did the original, completely changed the style; to fruity floral. Fruity floral is not a terribly original kind of fragrance. Mme Salamagne adds in a few interesting quirks which I liked.
The first change was to the Japanese citrus of yuzu, instead of bitter orange, along with blackcurrant buds. What caught my attention right away was Mme Salamagne’s use of an Amaro accord. Amaro is an herbal aperitif. Mme Salamagne uses the boozy herbalness as a unique contrast to the yuzu. This is what sold me on this perfume. This top accord is great. As it moves to a plum and jasmine heart accord the Amaro accord persists for a short time to provide a garden milieu undertone. The base is mixture of light synthetic woods, white musk, and vanilla for a transparently sweet woody foundation.
Amo Ferragamo Flowerful has 10-12 hour longevity and average sillage.
As I was wearing Amo Ferragamo Flowerful I kept reflecting on the original. I am sure that it is not correct, but this new perfume felt like it was the other mod in final consideration to become the first Amo Ferragamo. Now a year later it gets a second chance. I applaud the brand for going in a different direction instead of just enhancing a facet of the original. Amo Ferragamo is a nice new spring fruity floral.
Disclosure: this review is based on a sample provided by Salvatore Feragamo.
–Mark Behnke
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