Nero
Mazzolari (2014)

Fruity opening – smells like bergamot with apple highlights; there is even a semi-solid pineapple note coming through. Despite these shades of Aventus, the aromatic nature of the opening makes it seem more fresh that fruity. After a half hour or so, the bergamot wilts out and then collapses as the opening moves into the floral / patchouli heart. This patchouli shows why patchouli is classified in the wood category – this patch smells resinous-woody as it provides the dominant aspect of the heart note… the rose and jasmine are barely available to my nose. This patchouli accord is very well done.

The base is adequate but disappointing. It is mainly patchouli and what I assume is a raw type of ambergris. The pyramid cites musk and vanilla in the base but I think they come through quite minimally. Lack of “sweet” if I remember correctly, may be a characteristic of Mazzolari.

If Nero is an interesting fragrance, (and I don't think it is), it's the patchouli that makes it so… which, come to think of it, also reminds me that Mazzolari is noted for a few excellent patchouli offerings. All things considered concerning Nero, it has a competent progression of accord and quality materials, but the entire fragrance comes across as a bit boring.

I hadn't expected to like this at all, given the notes listed. It is not sweet, and not particularly fruity. Crisp, full-bodied, and quite masculine in style (bold and aromatic). Has a crisply green note and assertive bergamot. Hints of wood and a light musk.

Nero reminds me a lot of Creed's Aventus. The opening is fruity, but not as bold as Creed's offering. They both share the birch dry down. Perhaps a more affordable alternative to Aventus, unless it is the top notes that makes you happiest.

The Mazzolari Nero's opening is by soon a powerful Creed Aventus's flashback. This feel is incredibly apparent, especially because of a stout lemony pineapple/black currant accord but also because of green apple, patchouli, rose/rosewood, musk and a huge number of notes in common (pratically almost everything). The differences start jumping up along the way since while Aventus pushes the accelerator over its pungent/aromatic accord of birch tar and smoke Mazzolari Nero deflects (closer to Micallef Royal Vintage in this sense) towards a sort of rosey suede/musk/vanilla centered "mixture" more flat, soapy, fruity and musky (while the Aventus's dry down is stronger on smoky ambergris and dry birch the also "pungent" Nero smells more musky and lemony-soapy). Smoky patchouli and warm ambergris are in here less "developed" and on this sphere I find Aventus bolder, more "projecting" and attractive. Along the development I detect a synthetic (hard to be defined) "juicy" fruitiness connecting partially the aroma to the fruity-spicy Paco Rabanne Black Xs's dry down. Of course I find Nero unoriginal since Aventus and Royal Vintage (but overall several scents before the previously mentioned) have already drawed this way. Anyway, a decent fragrance which is unable to strike us for originality.
P.S: I detect black pepper in the basic musky-woody powder. The "deep" dry down is vaguely smoother and less smoky-aromatic than the (anyway almost identical) Aventus's dry down.

Although Aventus doesn't have the monopoly on pineapple, it's hard not to think of it when you smell another pineapple perfume. Sometimes there's a large enough gap to strike a distance between them, but it's rare. Mazzolari Nero is heavy on the pineapple and the berry notes, and as the result, it smells like a marginally fruitier take on Aventus. It's bright and sweet with a slightly scratchy synthetic base, and overall it smells like tropical smoothie sans dairy. Even if parallels could be drawn with scents beyond Aventus (it'd be a stretch), it just doesn't smell very good, and I see no point in it existing. Thankfully, it doesn't perform well and becomes a limp vetiver within an hour. Merciful, really.

pineapple and a woody drydown, don't get the ambergris..to my deranged nose is an Aventus/ Royal Vintage mix up...good persistance...not a must but good for summer relaxing hours