A Surprising Twist: Almost a Virgin by Antonio Maretti

I'll admit, when I first saw the name of this perfume, I had a pretty vivid idea of what the scent would be like. And, yeah, let's just say my imagination had a pretty sultry twist. But, I'm here to disappoint you - the actual aroma is nothing like that. It's classy, elegant, and refined...

Almost A Virgin Antonio Maretti

Almost A Virgin Antonio Maretti is an oriental floral perfume for women, released in 2022. The perfumer behind this creation is Cristian Calabro.

Top notes:

Red currant, Apple, and Pink pepper;

Middle notes:

Rose and Geranium;

Base notes:

Musk, Patchouli, and Sandalwood.

The packaging is quite nice, but the price tag is pretty steep.

The bottle itself is heavy, and feels really nice in your hand.

The cap is sturdy too - no flimsy lid here.

When you hold the bottle in your hand, there's a sense of heft and significance. The first sniff was a pleasant surprise: a fresh, slightly sweet, floral-fruit scent with a soft powdery dry down. It's like a charming everyday perfume. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it reminded me of, but the idea that I'd smelled it before wouldn't leave me alone until the sales associate hinted at Imperial. And it's true - this is Imperial, but not a carbon copy. It's not as ozone-heavy, not as aquatic, and not as green as Imperial. There's no that airy, watermelon freshness (so distinctive in Imperial), but the overall theme is still there. The similarity is undeniable, in my opinion - this is no copy, but a clone of Imperial. And, of course, these two scents (when compared) have their differences, and their fragrance pyramids don't match up 100%. So, the perfumes unfold individually, but overall, the similarity is there and you can't dispute it. If we're comparing it to Imperial, Almost A Virgin is no longer that youthful, direct imperial. It's a more mature, serious, and I'd say, noble lady who has impeccable taste, takes care of herself, stays fresh and looks good doing it. That's the vibe, I guess. I have to admit, I used to be obsessed with L'Imperatrice by Dolce & Gabbana a few years back. But as I grew out of it, I started thinking it was more suitable for young girls. And then I discovered Almost A Virgin by Antonio Maretti - a scent that's similar yet distinct. It's more mature, more sophisticated, and less playful.

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So, Almost A Virgin by Antonio Maretti.

The fragrance starts with a bright, fizzy freshness of red berries and juicy apples, surrounded by a soft cloud of rose pepper. The fruits work beautifully with the flowers: rose adds warmth, comfort, and sweetness, while geranium provides a subtle, soft, and slightly bitter note. The geranium here plays a supporting role, adding a delicate, herbaceous nuance.

The base is a clean, airy, yet slightly soapy musk and wood.The result is a delicate, soft fragrance with a warm, comforting dry-down and sweet, woody undertones.

At first, it smells fresh, fruity, and pleasant. But as time goes on, the natural beauty and charm disappear, and all that's left is the fruit in the musk. The fruit somehow becomes synthetic. Luckily, the musk here is clean and powdery. But overall, the fragrance ends up being quite simple and doesn't have the depth and elegance I was expecting.

In general, the fragrance is decent. It's well-balanced, smooth, and doesn't have any dominant notes. However, it's also quite unremarkable and lacks the sophistication I was hoping for. There are many similar fragrances out there.

But I'm still willing to use it (where else could I go?)... But what about the longevity? It lasts on my skin for just an hour! And that's for 5,000 rubles (including gift bonuses)??!! The full price is 10,000 rubles. I didn't expect such a letdown. Normally, I carefully test the fragrance on myself: I apply it to my skin, to a sleeve, and soak a blotter – then I head out of the store to think about whether I really need it or not. This time, I didn't question the longevity for two reasons:

The manufacturer is Italy.The price is far from budget-friendly. I just fell in love with the fragrance from the very first spray, and I bought it right away. Big mistake!

I wouldn't recommend buying it due to its poor longevity, and to be honest, the fragrance itself is just average. I have to reapply it several times a day. One thing is reapplying a fragrance for 2,200 rubles, but another thing entirely is reapplying one for 10,000 rubles.

If you're testing this fragrance and it still catches your attention, I'd suggest not buying it right away. Listen to it carefully and definitely apply it to your skin. And if you're convinced that this is the fragrance you can't live without, I'd recommend getting the intense version – (Almost a Virgin Intense Antonio Banderas). This is a more intense, longer-lasting, and, in my opinion, more interesting version of this fragrance. It's currently available for purchase.

The packaging differs with a gold stamp bearing the "intense" inscription.

I'm really disappointed that Intens wasn't available when I bought Almost a Virgin. It would've completely changed my review and score. As it is, I've got to give it a 3 out of 5 – it's just not worth the money in my opinion.

Thanks for reading my review!