Today I went with Libertine Neroli, and this is definitely not your typical clean, soapy neroli fragrance. It starts out bright, green and slightly bitter with that neroli and citrus up front, but it doesn’t take long before you realize this is still Francesca Bianchi. The iris, oakmoss and leather start coming through and give it that deeper, slightly dirty and animalic character that she does so well. What I really like about this one is the contrast. It smells fresh, but there is some darkness underneath it. There is an old-school chypre feel here without it smelling dated to me. Sophisticated, a little funky, and definitely more interesting than another basic summertime neroli. Performance is also very good for something that gives off this much freshness. Solid projection early on, a noticeable scent trail, and plenty of staying power. Libertine Neroli is basically Francesca Bianchi proving that a fresh fragrance doesn’t have to play it safe.

The fragrance opens with a slightly spicy, green character, softened by a restrained touch of sweetness. The introduction feels fresh and intriguing, with an earthy quality already beginning to emerge. At around 15 minutes, the spice begins to settle as pistachio and matcha tea move forward, creating a distinctive green, subtly nutty profile. By 30 minutes, these notes dominate completely, while the initial sweetness has faded away. At around 60 minutes, the fragrance retains its fresh green character as an elegant leather accord begins to surface. The leather adds sophistication and depth, beautifully balancing the earthier qualities of the pistachio and matcha. The dry down settles into a smooth, powdery leather layered over a subtle green earthiness. The contrast between soft leather and fresh, earthy nuances creates a refined and surprisingly versatile composition. Overall, this is an intriguing evolution from spice and green pistachio-matcha nuances into soft, powdery leather and earthy freshness. Distinctive, elegant, and impressively versatile. Performance: Projection is okay, creating approximately a two-foot scent bubble for around two hours. Sillage is similarly moderate, leaving a 2+ foot scent trail for over two hours. Longevity falls around 5–6 hours, becoming a skin scent at approximately the three-hour mark. My Rating: 7.5/10