A Timeless Opulent Amber: Krazy Krizia

“The Handbook of Great Italian Perfumery” by Marika Vecchiattini has revived my interest in fragrances I had long forgotten. One of these creations is Krazy Krizia, which I remember for the golden and rich aroma along with the distinctive flacon and sophisticated commercial ad (some of you may remember the woman with the black panther). I don’t associate it with any special moment, but its beauty and timelessness are undeniable.

Krizia is the Italian prêt-à-porter fashion house founded by Maria “Mariuccia” Mandelli. It is known for colorful and patchwork clothing items (Mariuccia’s inspirations were Pop artists like Andy Warhol, as well as Kandinsky and Mondrian), experimental fabrics (rubber, high-shine, and animal prints), and hot pants (the fashionable “microshorts”).

Krizia launched several successful fragrances in partnership with renowned perfumers, starting in the eighties, throughout the nineties, and into the early 2000s. K, the house’s first release, is an elegant green chypre and one of the many scents my mom wore. This gave me early exposure to the brand, but I had only tried Krazy Krizia in fragrance stores.

Krazy Krizia was the house’s second fragrant release in 1992. Even though the fragrance was created in the nineties, Krazy Krizia’s scent and esthetics are perfectly in line with the fashion of the eighties, calling to mind yellow gold jewelry, blousy dresses, and shoulder pads. This is a must-try for all lovers of opulent ambers and for those who love their fragrances to be sumptuous and long-lasting. Krazy isn’t for the faint of heart but, despite its bold character, it is also poised, smooth, and sophisticated.

This glowing and enveloping amber creation has a heart of clove-rich carnations; hefty doses of tonka, resins, and vanilla; and hints of dried fruit and animalic notes. The overall sensation is comforting, sticky, and indulgent, but the composition is balanced by aldehydes and green notes that keep it from becoming overpowering.

I had fun comparing the original Eau de Toilette with the Eau de Parfum. Both versions are deep and lavish with perceptible differences in the level of powderiness. The EdT is more ethereal (as far as opulent amber fragrances allow) and, indeed, powderier. The dusty, almond-like aroma of tonka in the EdT eases up the spiciness that seems to be more noticeable in the EdP. As both versions unfold side by side on the skin, the EdT preserves its boudoir-like quality, while the EdP smells more like deep, creamy woods and golden resins.

Krazy Krizia was created by Dominique Ropion, who later also designed Accenti and Fiori for Krizia. Krazy is an underrated gem in both formulations and can still be found at reasonable prices.

Both bottles were purchased by me from Enchanted Perfumes.

Pictures were taken by me.