Vista Sul Mare Linari for women and men

I'm afraid that I'm going to have to add my voice to choir on Linari VISTA SUL MARE. Although the quality of the components is beyond dispute, and this really does smell very nice, it is not at all unique or original. Upon application, in fact, it called immediately to mind Benetton BLU, which, while much more synthetic, is still entirely wearable and costs a tiny fraction of the price of this niche perfume.

I actually prefer to ignore the price in reviewing perfumes, for a couple of reasons. One is that I think that perfume is one of the best bargains around, and luxury perfume is by far the least expensive luxury product. (Consider the price of "niche" wine, for example!) So all things considered, I do not think that paying $200 for a bottle of perfume is exorbitant, especially given how long it lasts, and given the cost of everything else which people who use perfume also tend to enjoy (dinner at fine restaurants, nice clothes, taking taxis when they might have walked or used public transporation, fine wine--a bottle of which lasts at most for the duration of one meal--etc., etc.).

That said, it is not unreasonable, I think, for people to say that if two perfumes are nearly identical (empirically indistinguishable to the wearer himself), then, all things considered, the one which costs $20 is preferable to the one which costs $200. That's just common sense.

Back to VISTA SUL MARE. This is a masculine cologne, not really a true unisex perfume, in my opinion. Several of the notes which we associate with masculine colognes are here, and, in particular, the "cool ozonic accord" just screams masculine cologne. So if you want to call this unisex, then you must be willing to concede that every so-called masculine ozonic cologne is also unisex. Fine. Use language however you like, but if you're going to allow the possibility of a masculine cologne, then I cannot really see how this one would not qualify.

I would recommend this composition in particular to the gents who like ozonic colognes but whose physiology is incompatible with some of the synthetic components of vat-produced, low-cost colognes. For everyone else, a purchase of this perfume is just not going to make a lot of sense. Even if you happen to love the bottle, there are better choices within this house's line-up.

Oceanic/aquatic scents are not my favorite category by any means, but Vista Sul Mare smells very nice. It is definitely unisex, leaning more towards the masculine in its dry-down. I prefer to smell this one on my husband rather than wear it myself.

Have to agree with the previous reviewer that while it does smell nice, Vista Sul Mare is a fairly typical example of this genre. Ocean, with citrus and a bit of spice. They did not break any new ground with this one. It's an upscale version of ocean-y crowd-pleaser masculines that we've all smelled before.

It does distinguish itself with its sillage and longevity, both of which are excellent in a category whose scents often come on too strong but fade within three hours. Vista Sul Mare will get you through the workday and is perfectly office-appropriate.

Generic and ordinary. If you like fresh, innocuous fragrances, go for any cheaper mass market scent of the same famlily. Almost 200 bucks for "Vista Sull Mare"

Rating: 2/10