Dilmun is one of the fragrances in Lorenzo Villoresi's ready-made line. It was released in 2000. The name refers to an ancient city that is thought to have been located on what are now the islands of Bahrain. Dilmun was known in Sumerian lore as a place where death and disease did not exist and all men lived in peace; the legends surrounding Dilmun are said to have influenced the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden. The fragrance notes are citrus, rose, jasmine, orange blossom, green leaves, neroli, petitgrain, laurel, opoponax, incense, floral extracts, elemi, vanilla, cedarwood and sandalwood.

Dilmun opens on bright, sweet citrus and orange blossom tinged with green. Despite the sweetness it is a bit sharp until it settles; after that it is very soft, and as it drys down it gets warmer and richer. It is neither sheer nor heavy, but somewhere in between. If I close my eyes and breathe deep, I can smell hints of the rose and other floral notes, and the vaguest whisper of incense over a pale wood base, but to my mind all the other notes exist only to highlight the orange blossom and neroli.

It strikes a perfect balance between sweet and dry, depth and clarity. Orange blossom and neroli are among my favorite fragrance notes, and they ring out clear and true to the end. I have seen complaints by men that it is too feminine, and by women that it is too masculine; perhaps that is the very definition of a unisex fragrance?

As with the others in the Villoresi line, it smells like all the materials are of the highest quality. It is my favorite of the ready-made line, although after yesterday's interview I will be forever yearning for the unembellished violet, not for a woman, but for a being.

Lorenzo Villoresi Dilmun is an Eau de Toilette and has very good lasting power.  For buying information, see the listing for Lorenzo Villoresi under Perfume Houses.

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