Bottega Veneta
Bottega Veneta
322 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The blackcurrant arrives first, bright and slightly jammy, immediately tempered by bergamot that leans green rather than cheerful. Within moments, the fig leaf emerges as the dominant force, introducing a peculiar earthiness that suggests you're holding a crushed leaf to your nose.
The composition settles into a sophisticated standoff between orange blossom's creamy whisper and fig leaf's persistent pepper. The fruity notes recede, replaced by a distinctly herbaceous, almost herbal sensibility that feels both botanical and slightly austere. This phase lingers longest, revealing new dimensions—unexpected almond notes from the tonka sneaking through like background characters suddenly becoming relevant.
Olive wood takes centre stage with an almost savoury intensity, rendered even quieter by the tonka's soft almond sweetness. What remains is barely-there, a faint woody-creamy impression that evokes the smell of skin warmed by autumn sun, with only the ghost of green leaves lingering.
Illusione is a fragrance that trades theatrical projection for intimate whisper—a deliberate choice that rewards close proximity and repeated encounters. Annick Ménardo has constructed something deliberately restrained, where the blackcurrant opening doesn't announce itself with fanfare but instead unfolds like a conversation you're leaning in to hear. The bergamot sits beneath rather than above, providing structural support rather than citrus brightness.
What makes this scent compelling is the fig leaf heart, which transforms the composition into something distinctly green-skinned and slightly peppery. This isn't the powdery orange blossom of conventional florals; instead, it develops a tart, almost vegetal character where the fig leaf wrestles with the softer floral notes, creating an uneasy tension that feels contemporary and precise. The interplay between these middle notes is where Ménardo's skill becomes evident—there's a friction here, not a blend.
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3.6/5 (91)