Summer Rerun: Vero Kern onda

By Tom Last week I reviewed the new EDP Vero Kern is debuting, Mito. She sent samples of her others to remind me of them (or to torture me, since they're so darned lovely) I've written about the EDP versions here, and the perfume versions of kiki and rubj here. Of course in the package was the perfume version of onda which I think is one of my five all-time favorites (clearly I changed my mind about me wearing it, thank goodness). I wore it to my friends mom's funeral in San Marino, in a suit, in 103° weather, outdoors and I wouldn't have changed it for anything.. My dear scent twin Gaia, the Non-Blonde sent me a sample of these for my birthday, lovely creature that she is. Vero is the perfumer that no less than Andy Tauer describes as his muse, and I can see why. The scents are startlingly simple while managing to seem incredibly complex. On me Onda starts with a minted tobacco, the smokiness perfectly balanced with the brightness of the mint. It later becomes more complex as the vetiver comes in, seemingly ripped fresh from the earth and torn joyfully asunder. Colombina describes it as "an urban person's vision of bucolic utopia" while Gaia writes that it is "beautiful, dramatic and romantic". They are of course both correct: it's earthy yet glamorous. It's Garbo joyfully tearing a root from the ground with her manicured fingers, brushing the dirt and laughing, biting in heedless of the juice that may stain her Adrian gown. It's earthy, it's glamorous, it's gorgeous.... it's not me. I might be an old man, but I think that there are a few scents that should be ladies only, and although I could wear this, I really think it's best served by being worn by you ladies. Onda is available at her website; it's well worth checking out. Note: Available at LuckyScent as well