Maria Candida Gentile Finisterre Eau de Parfum Review

"The engine stopped. She heart the click of the other door. They must have arrived to the place he was taking her to. As he opened her door, a fresh breeze filled in the car. Although her eyes were blind folded, she could feel the smile and excitement on his face. Carefully she got out off the car while holding his hand and took a few steps forward as he led her. 

Warm breeze was messing her hair. She didn't care about a few strands blocking her vision as she didn't have any at that moment. She smiled at the thought of the freedom of her sightlessness and took a long, deep breath. The scent of the sea carried by the breeze filled her lungs. Another deeper breath would reveal the secret aroma of the pine tree leaves struggling to overcome the wind. She could hear the gulls scream while blooms of immortelle were hushing them. Were they screaming with each fallen leave and each sea wave? 

She was so carried away with the sensuality of the blindfolded scene, she wouldn't open her eyes even after he let her do it. She knew it, it was Finisterre, where they first met. Now she met this beautiful cape in another dimension, with her other senses. " 

Maria Candida Gentile Finisterre Eau de Parfum

Although I am the writer and narrator of the story, I don't know how it ends. All I wanted was to describe how I feel when I apply a spray of my favorite summer fragrance on my wrist and let it linger in the air. I have purchased a bottle of Maria Candida Gentile's Eau de Parfum in Finisterre after circling around the flacons for months in Stuttgart Breuninger. It was not easy to make a decision between her other equally lovely creations and this one. I added Sideris to my wish list for Fall/Winter and decided for the light hearted marine fragrance Finisterre for summer. 

Maria Candida Gentile Finisterre Eau de Parfum

Finisterre was released just last year and I have noticed the reviews about this one is very limited on the internet. This is how I decided to go to the sea side and make a few photos which would underline the beauty of the vintage flacon. Finisterre is classified as a marine fragrance. Its top note is marine accord and heart notes are immortelle and pine. The base notes are grey amber (ambergris) and sandalwood. 

On me a few minutes in, the fragrance opens up with a humid sea air carrying a refreshing accord reminding me of an anis spirit, such as raki or ouzo. Although Finisterre can not be describes as sweet, this anis spirit scent has a slightly sweet character to it. I believe this is the pine tree pronouncing itself. Slowly the yellow floral immortelle comes out to play with now more developed pine accord as ambergris always grounds these notes to a marine feel. Immortelle never becomes very pronounced on my skin. Thirty minutes to an hour, the scent becomes close to the skin although it can still be noticed by my friends. After three hours mark I notice the sandalwood taking over, leading the way to a lovely fresh but woody dry down. On a not particularly hot day, I can still smell sandalwood, ambergris and pine on my wrist even after 8 hours. I describe this fragrance as long lasting considering how light and refreshing it is.

Maria Candida Gentile Finisterre Eau de Parfum

From Maria Candida Gentile's website (not affiliated), described with her own words:

"I chose to dedicate this perfume to the Way of St. James, a long path where wanderers often find their way back to a lost dimension between the realms of the sacred and that of the physical. In particular, it is dedicated to the Finisterre, the place where you can decide to keep walking for about a hundred kilometers after arriving in Santiago. The local tradition calls for travellers to bathe in the ocean, to then burn a garment they had been wearing during their march, and finally to collect a shell as evidence of their experience. The encounter with the ocean, the power of the sea, the wind and nature, along with the special energy of this place inspired this creation."

Maria Candida Gentile Finisterre Eau de Parfum

Maria Candida Gentile Finisterre Eau de Parfum is offered in 100 ml flacons and costs 150€ in Breuninger and Allesliebezumduft in Germany. She also has an online store at her website and ships worldwide at rates around 15-20€. At her online store the perfumes cost less than in stores (120€ for classical 100 ml Eau de Parfum line).  She also offers 15ml flacons if you are in the mood for trying out her different creations. 

Final thoughts: It is no secret that I miss the sea climate in Stuttgart. If you are like me and like woody fragrances and a refreshing one for summer without being citrusy, you will like Finisterre. I would classify it as a summer fragrance but it can be worn into and out of summer alike. On me it pronounces itself rather linear, changing a little from the beginning to the end but this doesn't bother me slightest since I love the opening and the dry down as well as its slow progression. All in all thumbs up for a lovely fragrance which is unique and interesting yet easy to wear, office appropriate and most important of all survives a long day without reapplying.

Have you yet tried Maria Candida Gentile's fragrances? Which one is your favorite?

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