Description
Opulent. Enigmatic. Beguiling.
My Italian Journey no.8; A journey of time and space, rather than a physical one. Cimabue (pronounced chim-ah-boo-ey) was the artist to bridge the opulence of Byzantium with the insight, knowledge and brilliance of the Florentine Renaissance.
* EdP / VdP sample vials are 1/2 filled; Perfume / Extrait sample vials are full.
feraljasmine@gmail.com (verified owner) –
I had read of this as a saffron perfume, but on me the
cardamom note dominated strongly. I could also detect some cinnamon and clove, but they were well integrated. I like cardamom, but as a nearly-solo note it doesn’t make it for me. It also faded very quickly, although my scent-eating skin may be at fault there. It’s an interesting frag, and I will probably get some for layering, but there are other perfumes in this line that I will acquire first.
littleflowerlove@comcast.net (verified owner) –
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it did not wow me as much as Mata Hari, which is my FAVORITE fragrance from DSH…..but it is beautiful and well-balanced. It stayed close to my skin and dried down spicy but soft. I will wear it when I don’t want to make the entrance that I would wearing Mata Hari. If you are looking for exotic spices, richness, and a bit of mystery and adventure in the unfolding of a fragrance, this is for you. Changed it to 5 stars! 🙂
littleflowerlove@comcast.net (verified owner) –
This is a PS to my review. I retried Cimabue today and had a friend try it too. The vanilla was more distinguishable on her than on me, but we both felt that it was a spicy gourmand experience, but subtle and she loved it so much that I gave it to her. She was so happy.
leslie@anchovysoft.com (verified owner) –
I’m mad for this fragrance and wear it daily, winter and summer. Orange, pepper, cinnamon and vanilla co-mingle in this I’ve-got-cookies-in-the-oven-but-I’m-naked-under-my-apron scent. Sweet, sexy and sophisticated, it hews close to the body, making it ideal for the office. I’d bathe in the stuff if I could!
yuUmay –
Cimabue is one of my current favorites. Warm with subtle spice notes it is a lovely mix of so many beautiful scents including jasmine, cardamon, orange, beeswax, vanilla, bergamot and more. It lingers well adding joy to my day.
lbasich@att.net (verified owner) –
This is such a beautiful scent! I receive compliments every time I wear it.
wooddogs3@gmail.com –
When I initially sniffed a sample of this, I thought it was too
cardamom-heavy. A year or so later I tried the sample again, and now I smell a beautifully balanced saffron and cardamom spice accord, on a plush base with just the right amount if vanilla, never cloying. A bottle will be in my near future.
amanda@amandadewees.com (verified owner) –
Cimabue may just edge out Egyptian Shalimar as my favorite DSH fragrance. I love its exotic spiciness and its golden, warming glow. Someone told me (and I have no idea if it’s true) that Cimabue was inspired by L’Artisan’s saffron fragrance, Safran Troublant, but the two are quite distinct to me. Both are beautiful, but Cimabue has greater presence, more heat, and definitely superior sillage and longevity. This will be a standby for me in fall and winter.
sebastienb84 (verified owner) –
I had ordered this one following reading a review from ClaireV on her blog. It is simply exquisite; it’s quite heavy at the top, where many notes are competing for our attention (cinnamon, cardamom, clove) before sliding in a sweeter core (vanilla, orange, resins) At the end, what remains is a perfect balance between the spicy, sweet and creamy notes along with sandalwood. This perfume is a must-sniff for fragheads. 5 stars without hesitation!
alle11019id (verified owner) –
Amazing spice perfume! Cimabue is just lightly sweet and doesn’t have that dreaded craft store quality that so many with a similar profile have. I feel comfortable wearing it in cold or hot weather. Cardamom is one of my favorite scents and here it shines, while blending with the other notes to smell almost edible. My only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the strength and longevity being a bit too light on my skin.
Emily Westfall (verified owner) –
Shimmering and rich, modern and traditional. Showcases the beauty and breadth of Dawn’s expertise and creativity. Although it seems at first glance like a “cool weather” perfume, I wear this year round. I tore through my sample and purchased a full bottle. You will be hard pressed to find a more beautiful saffron design available today. This perfume is my happy place.
Jonathan Gilligan –
I love this scent. It’s my partner’s everyday go-to and I never get tired. The saffron is a terrific main note, and the vanilla and sandalwood undertones give it nice complexity and subtlety.
Lafeuillenoire (verified owner) –
Dawn is a synesthete and her fragrances often have a color to them. Cimabue is a pale yellow topaz with hints of pale rose pink. It opens with rose, subtle neroli, a hint of lemon or orange (like sweet Meyer lemon juice, not sharp at all) and is softened by a heart of saffron, beeswax, vanilla, and warm spices like cinnamon. The vanilla that grounds the fragrance is luminous and light, not a gourmand vanilla, and merges seamlessly with the resinous base notes. The overall sensation is very light and luminous with the top notes shimmering above the smooth, creamy heart and base. My favorite perfume and my signature scent.
Wendy C. (verified owner) –
Cimabue is one of my go-to fall and winter fragrances, though when I’m feeling particularly cozy in the summer I’ll dab a little on. I’m not a gourmand-lover – I prefer aromatics, generally, and I strongly dislike anything that reads as sugary. I love this composition. It’s warm and spicy without being sweet. It reminds me of sticking my nose in a bag of dry rooibos chai tea. I’ll layer it with Orion or Au Lait if I’m feeling particularly soft around the edges.