Tesori d'Oriente Fior di Loto ~ Bargain Fragrances

Read article : Tesori d'Oriente Fior di Loto ~ Bargain Fragrances

This is another in a series of bargain fragrance reviews, scents that may be found online or at discount stores for US $25 or less.

Summary:Fior di Loto, from Italy's bargain bath and body brand Tesori d'Oriente (Treasure of the Orient), is a peachy, vanillic floral-oriental with superb longevity and sillage.

Perfumer: Unknown

Try this if you like: Vanilla, hints of peach, coconut nuances, floral laundry musks; sweet fragrances; persistent and bold aromas.

Reminds me of:Though it does indeed smell familiar, I can't really say it smells exactly like any other fragrance I've encountered.Beckham Intimately Yours for Women comes close, however Fior di Loto is not quite as floral (I don't detect any lily here). Boss in Motion does indeed share similar orange and vanilla nuances. I'm also reminded of the peachy vanilla of Gucci Rush and the sweet ambery tuberose of Versace Crystal Noir. But Fior di Loto is airier and wetter than these two. The peachy florals also recall Elizabeth Taylor's Black Pearls.

Pros & Cons:Shockingly affordable, some of the fragrances from this brand indeed smell inexpensive, like a cross between a room spray, a scented candle and a hair shampoo. I've tried a few already and last year I discussed the brand's enjoyable Mirra fragrance HERE. As I work my way through the brand, I've discovered two fragrances worth writing about that quite surprised me. The first is Orchidea della Cina, which I'll address separately, and the other is Fior di Loto.

I had no idea what to expect with Fior di Loto, having bought it blindly due to the low, low price, but the first thing I noticed was that the scent actually changes and develops, lasted a good 12 hours on my skin and it smelled like nothing else I own. And did I mention the sleek, lightweight aluminum bottle and that it cost me less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks?

Fragrantica reviewers seem to agree with my appraisal. For example, female reviewer Molko from Hungary writes: "Usually I hate women's fragrances and I don't wear those, but this is a big exception. When I bought it in my vacation time in this summer I thought it was an unisex frag. I like this smell someway, I don't find it too sweet, flowery or feminine, it smells fresh and exotic to my nose, I enjoy enough:) It was very cheap, about 4 euros, the smell doesn't scream cheap, very pleasant, fresh creamy stuff which radiates moderately on my skin."

But Romanian reviewer The_Blue_Cat is not a fan: "I find this one a bit repulsive. It's like a strange combination between pungent and sweet. Ozonic-watery-flowery notes are blended a bit roughly with something sickening sweet, like coconut or milk candies. The result is very much not to my liking - too heavy."

And simply from a packaging and manufacturing perspective, I appreciate that the brand purports a philosophy of safety and sustainability:

"As we are well aware of the fact that living in a natural, non-artificial world is the first condition of health and wellbeing for all of us, we have decided to review the formulations of all our products so as to minimise their environmental impact and ensure increasingly higher levels of efficiency and safety for our customers. Following the Eastern philosophy, we have eliminated all that was superfluous, prioritising the use of sustainable raw materials and surfactants from plants. These, expertly processed by means of the most advanced cosmetic technologies, have given rise to products that are more delicate on the skin while yielding the same sensory performance and effectiveness. In particular, we have consciously decided to eliminate the following ingredients from our products:  PARABENS  . MINERAL OILS  . PROPYLENE GLYCOL  . BHT E EDTA  . SINTETIC COLORANTS  . AGGRESSIVE AND SENSITIZING     PRESERVATIVES. These have been replaced with skin-friendly and eco-sustainable raw materials. Our environmental commitment also affects our choice of packaging. For years now, we have been using aluminium for our product packaging, due to its fully recyclable and ecological nature."https://www.tesoridoriente.net

Notes:Orange, peach, rose, lily of the valley, tuberose, jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood, musk.

Designer’s Description:"Oriental cultures have always been obsessed with the Lotus Flower, because of its unique property of casting down its roots in mud and resting on the surface of stagnant waters, from which it emerges in all its immaculate beauty. The inebriating scent of Lotus caresses the senses, creating a pleasant sensation of well-being that lingers on the skin and in the mind. Intensely aromatic, intriguing Lotus Flower caresses the senses with its warm, soft notes, generating a pleasant sensation of well-being." https://www.tesoridoriente.net

Number of times tested:5+ times over the last week from a bottle I purchased.

Number of sprays applied for this review:1 spray to the back of my hand.

Fragrance strength:Aromatic Fragrance

Development: (Linear / Average / Complex): Though the price might suggest otherwise, Fior di Loto does indeed develop over time. The opening is a blast of florals immediately sweetened with vanilla and peach. The individual floral notes are largely indiscernible though I do perceive the tuberose most prominently The opening is indeed rather "syrupy" and sweet with the orange adding a juicy edge. The aromas has a certain moist, wet feeling which serves as an interesting juxtaposition against the heavier, almost gourmand aspects. As the fragrance relaxes and the sweetness dissipates, musky woods become more perceptible and the vanilla turns to a kind of coconut aroma. The peachy topnotes remain throughout. 

Longevity: (Short / Average / Long-lasting) I was impressed with Fior di Loto: 3-4 sprays on my chest and neck lasted a good 8-10 hours. I sprayed it on at bedtime and could still smell it the next morning.

Sillage: (A Little / Average / A Lot) I can smell Fior di Loto on myself and it starts rather strongly. It seems to relax after about an hour and then lingers subtly.

Note about the packaging:The simple silver aluminum atomizer is adorned with Grecian figures in a silver and orange/rust color scheme. The cap is plastic and the products are typically unboxed (hooray for the lack of straight-to-trash paper outer packaging).

Where can I buy it? Available online and in stores at a range of prices depending on importation. In many Mediterranean and Eastern European markets a 100ml spray is approximately €4.

The Bottom Line: It's always exciting to discover an unknown fragrance, and lack of expectations can result in a pleasant surprise. Fior di Loto is one of those great bargain surprises that perfectly fulfills my interest in fruity gourmand florals. And though I describe it as such, and though it is indeed sweet, I would also suggest that Fior di Loto could be easily unisex. As noted above, it indeed reminds me somewhat of a woodier, peachier Boss in Motion for Men. Tesori d'Oriente offers an excellent range of accompanying bath and body products and my local supermarket here in Malta has the shower cream. I think I need to give it a try! If only I could find a retailer near me that sold the entire line - there are so many other enticing options to choose from. The map above, taken from the Tesori website, shows the various geographic inspirations for their other products. And it amazes me that Tesori d'Oriente can create something so incredibly inexpensive when considering some of the disappointing niche and designer scents for 20-30 times the price. Fior di Loto just goes to show, once again, that when it comes to enjoying fragrance, price is not everything.

Dr. Marlen Elliot Harrison Managing Editor & Columnist Dr. Marlen Elliot Harrison’s journalism in the fragrance industry has appeared in international print and online publications such as Playboy, Men’s Journal, Men’s Health and the New York Times. Marlen is also a regular contributor to BeautyAlmanac.com and works as a graduate professor, thesis advisor and faculty supervisor for MA programs in TESOL, Education, Writing and Literature. Learn more about Marlen by visiting:  www.MarlenHarrison.com.