Riflesso by Trussardi

I got this as a gift around Christmas. I honestly hadn’t thought of this brand in years, and since it’s a launch batch, I’m really happy with it. The opening is citrusy with a noticeable crisp green apple. As it settles, it becomes balsamic and slightly leathery. I’d bet that anyone who likes the classic Hugo Boss Bottled would enjoy this too; while they aren’t identical, they share the same style, especially in the first 30 minutes. After that, they diverge: while Hugo Boss dries down to woody and vanilla notes, this Trussardi leans more toward lavender and a very wearable leather (even though I usually hate the smell of leather, I can tolerate it here). Longevity: 5-6 hours, normal for an EDT. Projection and sillage: it’s a bubble personal scent (that’s the main ‘con’ I see). Season: Autumn and especially Spring are ideal. It’s one of those EDTs that, for some reason, remind me of the early 2000s when we weren’t saturated with today’s overly sweet party scents. It’s a perfume ‘Italian’ in every sense of the word: restrained (I’d say excessively so), elegant, mature, classic yet current (the bottle’s aesthetics give a good hint), versatile (especially suited for work or formal settings), and above all, it reflects neatness without being a ‘clean’ scent per se. It’s not a memorable fragrance, but it’s one where people will say ‘you smell great.’ For men over 30, this is a safe bet especially for daily wear. P.S. As a negative note, the bottle finish needs mentioning, specifically the metal arch decorating the front and surrounding the name. After two days of literal use, it has peeled off (and I discovered on YouTube I’m not the only one this happened to). If you’re cutting costs, either put enough glue in the factory or just skip the embellishment altogether. These details count too.

Riflesso by Trussardi is a quite pleasant fragrance with a rich aroma. On top, you feel the citrus, the acidity of green apple, and intense floral notes, especially geranium and lavender; tonka and leather also appear from the start but in the background. After five minutes, the fruity notes fade, although apple bursts sometimes come through, while geranium stays intense alongside the sweetness of tonka bean. In this fragrance, the leather note is more complementary: it’s perceived, but never as the protagonist. I think it has good versatility; despite having warm notes, the fruity ones add freshness to wear it day or night, and it has a touch of sensuality. When I tried it, the longevity was moderate, about 6-8 hours, with little projection except for the first hour where it’s more noticeable. Its aroma reminds me of parts of YSL L’Homme and La Nuit de L’Homme, and given this fruity-warm style, I think it could fit with Boss Bottled or Chanel Allure Homme. In any case, Riflesso is cheaper than any of the above. The bottle deserves special mention; it has a somewhat ‘vintage’ style; I read that the designer was inspired by a car radiator to achieve that design.

Yes, it starts like La Nuit de L’Homme, but quickly blends into the house specialty: leather. Like Poker Face by Lapidus, it’s a variant of that YSL scent but with iris; this one is its leather alternative (both are winners). It’s not 100% sharp leather, but a leathery fragrance mixed with those declared mid-notes, especially soft vetiver, lavender, and violets. It opens luminous and settles into something more serious; it will please leather fans as well as those who enjoy versatile, daytime, masculine aromatics. I think given the price, it’s a great option, standing out from sweet youthful scents or the usual ‘blue’ fragrances common in commercial perfumery. Lasts about six hours correctly, performs better in moderate climates since it can fade in the cold; works for both casual and formal occasions. Italian house Trussardi, with a certain but little-known track record, at least with this fragrance that showcases Italian perfumery flair, offering accessible quality versus price, at least here in South America. Give it a try.

In my opinion, Trussardi Riflesso is a modern men’s fragrance perfect for daily wear during autumn and winter. Its opening is characterized by a harmonious blend of apples and citrus, with the latter adding a sparkling edge that perfectly complements the sweetness of the fruit. The evaporation is so slow and controlled that the transition to the lavender and geranium, which announce themselves in bursts, is at least a precise testament to what a fragrance’s heart should be; it also hints that this is for men. This fragrance never breaks down; it’s a continuous compendium of modernity, quality, and execution. It culminates with the house’s well-known leather, here mixed with tar, forming a pleasant accord with tonka and vetiver. Prominent, a decree of elegance.

With Riflesso, I feel the green apple note more on the top than the listed bergamot. It has a lovely opening where it makes a presence. The dry-down feels a bit sweet, and that’s where the tonka bean and leather settle, the latter in a very light, subtle way. It’s not a monstrous leather. I haven’t tried YSL La Nuit de l’homme so I can’t compare it, but it gives me a vibe similar to Boss Bottled; it’s not the same, but it’s of that style, although I find Trussardi Riflesso more refined than Hugo Boss. Longevity is very weak; it will project for an hour with a lot of luck. Then it’s a personal bubble at skin level and you have to reapply, like almost all perfumes nowadays.

I tried it because I got a sample and thought it smelled great. It’s a well-executed classic ‘Oriental Woody’ scent. It does exactly what it needs to—it feels like it’s built to handle almost any situation. I love how citrusy it is while blending seamlessly with florals and leather. I’m not usually a fan of this type of fragrance, but I like this one. I’d wear it if someone gifted it to me; for me, it’s versatile enough for any occasion. The only downside is that you might need to apply many sprays. The opening is super strong, but it seems to fade quite quickly over time.

I bought this looking for something to replace my beloved Hugo Boss Bottled. It has a light sillage but definitely feels like it’s in a different lane. Basically, it’s tonka bean sweetening a subtle body with a very striking opening of green apple. It projects well for 60-90 minutes and gets a lot of compliments from those around me. After that, it settles in and sticks with you throughout your workday without any issues. It has a warmth that feels like an embrace.

I received a sample from the Spanish consortium Idesa, which distributes for Trussardi, and honestly, it seemed like an exquisite fragrance that resembles the acclaimed Prada Amber Pour Homme in certain touches, but with a more woody note. I hope it reaches retail points in Latin America, as not all references are destined for our market.

I had high expectations for this Riflesso, which were met with a great opening for about five minutes, but after that, it was a letdown. It smells like cheap deodorant to me. On the positive side (though not for those who enjoy it), it doesn’t last very long and has low projection.

My wife smelled it on my skin and said it ‘smells like my grandfather’s bar soap.’ After that, I can’t really add much more.