Brera
Milano Fragranze

Candied rose in the plumped-up Middle Eastern style, reminiscent of Oud Satin Mood but with somewhat slimmer hips, a touch more safraleine, some smoke and a drier woody base. All good things in my book, even if there’s not even the slightest gesture made towards any kind of novelty. For my money, Angel Schlesser’s Oriental Edition II takes me into this zone with much better bang for my bucks.

Second sampling from Milano Fragranze, Brera, a resinous rose/saffron blend, a touch spicy without the spices overwhelming the rose. It’s not too sharp or heady, and not overwhelmingly floral (despite the inclusion of jasmine and geranium on top of the rose), a balanced blend that features the smoky labdanum, also, with pepper and vanilla as well. The vanilla is revealed gradually over the first couple hours, producing a sweeter dry down to the spicier, more resinous opening, but the overall scent profile stays largely the same throughout the wearing (so far). I like it—not as impression-making as Basilica but still a nice perfume that I’d recommend that everyone try.

Brera, like the rest of the line, is priced at $135 for 100ml in EDP concentration, sold at Perfumology, Luckyscent, and some other boutiques—very reasonable pricing, and it like Basilica, it performs very well. Quite the treat and great value.

7 out of 10