Sometimes, men’s fragrance can feel a little ‘same-ey’. The classics are, well, classic, but sometimes, an unexpected twist is what makes a scent spectacular.
The Merchant of Venice is a luxury perfume brand like no other, drawing inspiration from the rich Venetian heritage of perfumery and its trade with the Orient.
Specialising in rich, traditional scents for men and women, these masculine colognes from The Merchant of Venice are traditional but FAR from boring.
The Merchant of Venice Fragrances for Him
Stylish, masculine, and oh-so Italian, here are 7 of the best The Merchant of Venice fragrances for men that every guy should consider.
1. Gold Regatta Eau de Parfum
Review
Gold Regatta is one of my all-time favourites from The Merchant of Venice, thanks to its robust and sweet undertones.
Opening with notes of red algae and prickly pear, Gold Regatta mellows down to let salty woods, amber, and rich vanilla come to the fore. The layers reveal themselves slowly.
Top Notes:
Prickly Pear, Red Algae
Mid Notes:
Helichrysum, Salty woods
Base Notes:
Amber, Vanilla
Seasons & Longevity
Despite its rich nature, Gold Regatta is fairly light and airy. It’s perfect for spring and autumn wear, creating a robust scent bubble that lasts 6+ hours.
2. Ottoman Amber Eau de Parfum
Review
Ottoman Amber is the right choice if you like intensely rich colognes that scream quality. In fact, the best word to describe it is majestic.
Bergamot, geranium, and plum make the opening surprisingly fruity, leading to a woody heart. For me, the myrrh and vanilla add a touch of mystery.
Top Notes:
Bergamot, Geranium, Plum
Mid Notes:
Cedarwood, Patchouli, Sandalwood
Base Notes:
Labdanum, Myrrh, Oud Accord, Vanilla
Seasons & Longevity
Thanks to its rich profile, Ottoman Amber is perfect for winter nights when its warming notes shine through. Its lasting power is incredible: 8+ hours.
3. Damascus Desert Eau de Parfum
Review
As a woody aromatic, Damascus Desert is a timeless choice; effortlessly masculine and complex without being too strong.
You may not expect lemon, ginger, and bergamot from a woody aromatic, but they lift this otherwise dry, decadent blend. Beneath this fruity top layer, clary sage, amber, musk, and vetiver add depth.
Top Notes:
Bergamot, Ginger, Lemon
Mid Notes:
Clary Sage, Geranium, Iris
Base Notes:
Amber, Cedarwood, Musk, Vetiver
Seasons & Longevity
Damascus Desert is ideal for spring and summer wear, creeping into autumn. It has a solid projection and decent endurance of 6+ hours.
4. Liberty Eau de Parfum
Review
Liberty is a mature, dry fragrance with warm, sweet undertones and a smoky finish. This is a mature, sophisticated cologne.
Opening with a delicate and fragrant blend of saffron and thyme, Liberty melts into a heart of lily, suede, and cedarwood before amber and patchouli give it a smoky finish.
Top Notes:
Saffron, Thyme
Mid Notes:
Cedarwood, White Lily, White Suede Accord
Base Notes:
Amber, Patchouli
Seasons & Longevity
Liberty is one of the best winter and autumn colognes on this list. Its scent bubble is warm and robust, well-suited to cold weather. Expect 7+ hours of performance.
5. La Fenice Pour Homme Eau de Parfum
Review
If you prefer a fresher scent, La Fenice Pour Homme should be at the top of your list! Fresh and spicy, with warm undertones and a slightly powdery edge.
Fresh violet leaf, mandarin, and apple blossom are the first to appear; however, get ready for a blast of spicy black pepper, clove, and basil!
At the base, you’ll catch aromas of amber, cedar, and dry leather. When it all comes together, this one is incredibly sexy and will turn heads.
Top Notes:
Apple Blossom, Mandarin, Olibanum, Violet Leaf
Mid Notes:
Black Pepper, Clove Bud, Lily, Orris, Basil
Base Notes:
Amber, Cedarwood, Leather
Seasons & Longevity
La Fenice Pour Homme is an aromatic springtime cologne but does well on warm summer evenings. It will last you 5+ hours with ease.
6. Venetian Blue Intense Eau de Parfum
Review
Sometimes, you need a getaway, and while most of us don’t get as many holidays as we’d like, Venetian Blue Intense will whisk you away.
A blast of pineapple and citrus leads to a spiced and woody heart of birch, black pepper, earthy patchouli and a rich base of ambergris and musk.
Top Notes:
Apple, Bergamot, Lemon, Pineapple
Mid Notes:
Birch, Black Pepper, Elemi, Patchouli
Base Notes:
Ambergris, Musk
Seasons & Longevity
Venetian Blue is one of the most versatile scents on this list; you can wear it between spring and autumn with fantastic results. Lasts 5+ hours.
7. Vinegia 21 Eau de Parfum
Review
As the nights draw in and the weather gets chillier, you need a warming fragrance like Vinegia 21 to lift your spirits.
Sweet praline, saffron and cinnamon are boosted by a rich heart of oud and patchouli. At the base, vanilla, myrrh, incense, and sandalwood aromas add sweetness and smoke!
Top Notes:
Cinnamon, Crunchy Pralines Accord, Saffron
Mid Notes:
Akigalawood, Oud, Patchouli
Base Notes:
Incense, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Vanilla Absolute
Seasons & Longevity
Lasting 7+ hours, Vinegia 21 is ideally suited to cold weather, and thanks to its rich notes, I think it’s an excellent choice for the festive season!
Sheree’s Top Pick
Damascus Desert
My top pick is Damascus Desert Eau de Parfum, as its vibrant citrus, herbs, and powdery notes complement the warming amber and woods nicely.
Conclusion
Few fragrance brands embrace tradition quite like The Merchant of Venice, and fewer still manage to pull it off with such style and Italian flair.
At Viora London, we first came across The Merchant of Venice brand in Harvey Nichols, but they started popping up in Selfridges and Liberty, too!
Each of these masculine-leaning colognes I have selected is unique and intoxicating, and the brand’s whole scent portfolio is well-curated.
Prices are £140 / $180 for 100 ml, which is decent value. If you want to dip your toe in without breaking the bank, check out TMOV trial kits, which offer excellent value, too.
Also Read: The Merchant of Venice Perfumes: 7 Hidden Gems
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from Viora London’s blog. We write articles on a number of interesting lifestyle topics such as fragrance, beauty, luxury accessories and more.
