Bambini

3 reviews for Bambini

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   Luka – April 26, 2023

   Ethereal. Like a veil made of fabric so fine, you can barely see it’s there. Of all the perfumes from Master Salaam I’ve tried so far, this is my favourite. Why? Because this perfume simply cannot be scrutinized, it can evoke nothing but love and can bring with it nothing but peace. There isn’t a time or a place where this perfume would intrude, impose or irritate. It simply is there, with you, not over you or around you. Metaphysical musings aside, this is one fine citrus fragrance.

   To begin with, this is so far the only fragrance I’ve ever tried where even the immediate opening upon application, when the alcohol hasn’t yet fully evaporated, is a pleasant experience. Because of the volatility of lemon, it jumps straight at you from the first second, coming very close to the experience of pouring a glass of limoncello. In this sense, we could speak of a pre-top note. This effect of course settles quickly, and the dance of the citrus fruits begins. The first half hour of this perfume can’t be described in any other words than a megacitrus. What does a megacitrus feel like? To quote a dear book, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, it feels like “having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.” A rather grotesque analogy, but one I find to be perfectly fitting. This stage is exactly like the description on the website, with a dance of tangerines, oranges, lemons and grapefruit, which come and go as they please. Early on I also briefly smell something peppery, almost incense-like, but this disappears into the fruit very soon. If I had to summarize what this stage feels like, it’s like making one of those powdered citrus drinks, but using Fanta instead of water to make it and then dropping a glass of limoncello on top. It’s that citrusy.

   After a while, the fizziness of the citrus fruits starts to soften, and the fragrance starts getting creamier and creamier. It is at this stage that the neroli starts to shine, and a strange (but oh, so welcome) tranquillity descends upon me. This is when Bambini becomes the perfume of “la dolce vita”, but not at all in the hedonistic sense, which is often attributed to this saying, but in a pure, happy way. The effect of neroli is almost narcotic, and suddenly that genuine smile to the passing stranger appears on your lips even more naturally, and the touch of sunshine on your skin seems even warmer and more pleasant. Every time I inhale this heavenly scent, I am overcome by this feeling of gratitude, not in the narrow sense of solely being grateful to the perfumer for creating this scent, or to God for letting me experience it, but a complete gratitude for everything and everyone that surrounds me, which brings me as close to a sense of complete unity and harmony with the universe as possible in this physical manifestation. Along with the lingering sour blast from the top and the opulent sweetness of neroli, there is a certain fresh-spiciness, which perfectly ties everything together. I could swear I get occasional whiffs of cardamom, perhaps even something akin to ginger? This could just be my mind and youthful memories playing tricks on me though… In summary, this stage swaps the multitude of fizzy drinks from the top notes for a very creamy and slightly spicy lemon popsicle, an image so vivid you can almost see the ice-cream melting in the heat.

   In the dry down, this wonderful juice somehow keeps on getting creamier, which, together with the sour and fresh-spicy aspects of the fragrance creates an association to a genuine sorbetto. The sweet, sour and spicy aspects create an almost holy trinity. In the far dry down, the perfume also gets a slight green edge, which almost feels like the bright, citrusy aspects of vetiver. As for the longevity, some people say it doesn’t last, well, I can smell whiffs of it the next day after applying it, so go figure… The fact that something so juicy and pleasant lasts for so long is almost preposterous, bordering on blasphemy. In any case – if my introspective descriptions are of no interest to you, and you’re just wondering whether this citrus fragrance is worth your time (and money), then yes, this is truly the one citrus to rule them all. If you also seek a transcendent olfactory experience, then I would urge you to try it even more.

2. Rated 4 out of 5

   Isaie – September 17, 2018

   Bambini. As I wore it, I could see my nephews as the danced in the garden of our family home, in the countryside, as the sun was setting. As I saw them and heard them chanting and dancing, I knew it was a moment so precious it would never leave my memories and would forever remind me how simples are the joys in life.

   Bambini is just that. Crisp simplicity, the cristalline sound of a child’s laughter, of children jumping and dancing around like butterflies. Yes, Bambini is perfect to wear as you wake up, so as to forget the grim lights and faces of the city.

   It opens on a chord which reminds me of Vetiver by Guerlain with a heavy neroli showing his face. A light scent which feels like flying over a sea of mundane problems. A cloak of white light, a shroud of happiness as you go down your day.

   Definitely worth trying if you are looking for a beautiful citrus or a quick neroli fix ;)

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   Say – July 31, 2018

   Ephemeral as they are, I can’t help but love a good citrus top note.

   Bambini is just that: a beautiful, fleeting citrus top note that, on my skin at least, predominates with lemon and grapefruit. Very refreshing, simple, one of the best in its class.

   That said, it truly shines in a capacity for transmuting other perfumes and colognes through the power of layering. Amber Chocolate, which for me is more of an initial whiff of strong vanilla extract followed by amaretto, is turned into an orange confection with the addition of Bambini. Tartar Leather’s balsamic freshness becomes even more invigorated. I haven’t combined it with one of the florals yet, but I’m sure there’s almost no scent that wouldn’t be complimented by the addition.