How sad am I, getting laundry done on Valentines night 😂 Well I nipped into the local Lidl to grab a bottle of water and there was a big display of G. Bellini fragrances. All cheap budget knock offs. But prices between €3- €5. There was a good selection of both male & female. But these four are what stood out. The fourth one was all sold out, so I asked the manager would they sell it to me and he just handed it to me and said Happy Valentines 😂😂😂 I'll do a wee review later, no doubt all will be easy guesses.

If you’re looking for a fragrance that captures the vibe of an Italian cafe without smelling like a the standard shot of bitter expresso that is found in many modern fragrances, this little gem might just fit that gap. Released in late 2023, Amore Caffè is Mancera’s love letter to the Italian affogato. It's decadent dessert where a scoop of vanilla gelato is drowned in a shot of hot espresso. While the nose behind the fragrance is officially credited to Pierre Montale, it was developed under the creative direction of his daughter, Amélie Montale, who has been modernizing the brand’s aesthetic and scent profiles. The first spray is a photorealistic burst of black coffee and Amaretto liquor. It’s sharp, slightly boozy, and bitter, exactly like the steam rising from a fresh espresso machine. The almond note from the Amaretto gives it a cherry like nuttiness that prevents the coffee from being too harsh. As it settles the Affogato inspiration really shines. The bitterness of the coffee begins to drown in creamy vanilla ice cream. You get a soft, wafting sweetness that feels thick and chewy, like brown sugar. The base is a cozy mix of brown sugar, vanilla beans, and a hint of grey amber. While some coffee scents can turn stale on the skin, Amore Caffè stays sweet and balsamic. The coffee never fully disappears; it just becomes a dark, roasted background for the vanilla. This is a strong contender to become a favourite for me from this house. This is exactly how a coffee fragrance should be put together. And you can expect great performance with several hrs on skin, and it will cling to your clothes for an age. Whilst projection is moderate to strong, It’s not as aggressive as say Red Tobacco, but people will definitely smell you within a 4-foot radius. It creates a scent bubble rather than a trail. Cold weather is its best friend, perfect for autumn/winter, date nights, or cozy evenings. Definitely not a scent for the hot days. This is one of Mancera’s most crowd-pleasing releases. If you love scents like Kilian’s Black Phantom or Montale’s Chocolate Greedy, this will be an instant hit for you. But don’t over-spray if you’re going to be in a small car or office. The brown sugar note can become very heavy if applied too liberally.