Costa Azzurra by Tom Ford

Oh, the bottle and name are so handsome; they evoke Italy, Portofino, and that salty tranquility… but nothing. It’s an all-time classic, the dry-down is zero innovation, just a solvent gentleman’s cologne. It has class and doesn’t clash, but it smells familiar, with no extra flair. Starts with a herbal, medicinal note, featuring a lovely incense that pulls me out of the algae and hot rocks vibe. It lacks that creamy salinity of Olivier Cresp; in the end, it’s a serious, traditional perfume. Hard to mess up, but it doesn’t surprise me at all.

Normally a perfume smells like its natural origin, but with Costa Azzurra it was the opposite. At a herbal shop, I smelled absinthe, which smells like cilantro, and the association was immediate. That plant used to repel mosquitoes smells like the perfume. It doesn’t smell like the sea to me, but like fresh greenery, my grandma’s patio with herbs, penetrating, with celery that reminds me of the soup I hated as a kid. Without pedigree or prejudice, it’s a balanced aroma that evokes a sunny spring in the countryside, positive and stimulating. Lasts less than 6 hours, projection for an hour, then it lingers as a protective aura. I use it in summer, though in autumn I prefer heavier scents. I bought it on sale, and although there are cheaper options like Aramis New West, I don’t regret it; I make up for the celery soup.

I’ve never understood the hype for this brand. I tried several in Liverpool and they ALL have terrible performance and ridiculous prices, especially the summer ones. It smells clean and pleasant, but others smell like Neutrogena sunscreen due to the coconut note. It’s the second ‘niche’ brand with a following after Creed, but they don’t want to see the reality that they aren’t worth the cost. OVERPRIVED TRASH.

It’s an exquisite marine, citrus fragrance with natural notes, pristine and clean impressions, but it doesn’t match the outrageous price. It lasts very little and projects even less. I bought a large 250 ml bottle on sale and can over-apply without a care, but the trail was only high for the first half hour. Then it sticks to the skin in a pleasant, subtle woody facet, like a skin scent. It should cost: 50 ml around $40 (instead of $200) and the 250 ml around $150 (instead of $450). The scent is indeed very good, in the vibe of the original Bvulgari Aqva, and the dry-down resembles Versace Pour Homme combined with Issey Miyake L’Eau de Issey. P.S. I was dying to post a famous Mexican meme of a chubby girl with a stupid face: ‘Want to see my stupid face?’

I don’t know it, but based on reviews in Spanish and English, I wonder why pay more than $230 for something that smells like skin and is so simple. Maybe buy a small sample to get out of the curiosity of what a forum user says: the finest detergent in the world. I’ve made mistakes and paid fortunes for perfumes that are only worth it for the brand, advertising, and a pretty bottle, but the liquid leaves much to be desired.

Fresh oud? Tom Ford Costa Azzurra smells like wood soaked by the ocean waves, a bit acidic at first but not gross, reminds me of bottle corks. It settles down after a while and keeps sounding good. Projection is almost non-existent, just skin scent, but it’s timeless. The only downside: the price.

Smells super fresh, marine, and salty, but clean. The bottle is gorgeous, just like the whole Tom Ford line.