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In my vast collection of perfumes (I own over 200), you might expect to see a ton of designer names like YSL, Armani and Chanel. While I do have a few, I tend to stray away from designer fragrances, because frankly, there’s nothing wow-worthy about them. Fashion house fragrances, as I like to call them, are so mainstream that your ‘signature scent’ is also probably thousands of others’ signature, too. I want the fragrance I spritz daily to be unique, exotic and fresh — like nothing anyone has smelled before. And I’m more likely to find that in niche perfume brands like Casamorati.

If you’ve never heard of Casamorati, you’re not alone. The Italian brand was super popular in the early 1900s (and well-loved by European royalty!) but shuttered in the mid-twentieth century. Xerjoff reincarnated the brand in the 2000s, and it’s now available at Nordstrom! Each of the brand’s carefully crafted creations takes your nose on a journey. My favorite and most worn scent in my entire perfume anthology is Lira, a bright, captivating gourmand.

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The most popular gourmand fragrances typically center around hints of vanilla or chocolate, but Lira’s main attraction is rich caramel. This scent offers a lush yet refreshing take on sweet scents that I haven’t seen (or smelt) anywhere. It opens with a jolt of bergamot and blood orange before warming with a dash of cinnamon and licorice. The dry down feels inviting and intoxicating with a sumptuous blend of caramel, vanilla and a tinge of musk. Together, these notes create an exceptional spicy-sweet aroma that reminds me of a spiced cookie or spiked eggnog.

I was hooked from the first sniff, mainly because it reminded me of my adolescent signature, Pink Sugar, a caramel and cotton-candy tinged juice that I spritzed all throughout high school. Lira is like the more sophisticated older cousin. It exudes the flirty playfulness, but the licorice and cinnamon facets give this an elegant twist.

While I wear Lira year-round, I find it especially perfect for the cold winter months. The cozy aroma acts like a warm veil on my skin, adding an extra pep in my step while drawing people in. Anyone who catches a whiff of this on my skin becomes instantly enamored. There’s no better compliment than someone telling me, “You smell so good,” but I get even more joy out of telling people it’s a perfume they’ve never heard of before.

I debated on gatekeeping Casamorati Lira, but I hope that more people are able to discover and appreciate the fragrance now that it’s available at Nordstrom. If you, like me, yearn to smell one-of-a-kind, you can’t go wrong with this bewitching gourmand — or any fragrance from the brand. Be sure to check out all of the Xerjoff scents at Nordstrom!

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