Monserrat

Like any true beauty, Monserrat is so much more than just a pretty face. Which is to say, while you may find yourself swooning over its luscious, brightly fruity opening, this is no simplistic department store fruity floral. It's a Bruno Fazzolari, and that means that what starts as a straightforward- if mouthwatering- burst of juicy peach and green grapefruit soon grows far more literate and complex with a delicately indolic jasmine and an unexpected plaster note that recontextualizes all that vibrant fruitiness into something delightfully dry- as if you were looking at a Cézanne still life so masterfully done that you find yourself wishing you could take a bite. Fruity florals often get a bad rap, and not always undeservedly. But if they were all as clever, innovative and compelling as Monserrat, even the most die-hard critic might be singing a different tune.