I seem to be somewhat out of step with my colleagues in the critical community, as I’ve found myself unmoved by most of Ramon Monegal’s eponymous scents. However, I’d like to give a thumbs up to Entre Naranjos. It’s not often we see a perfume based on a petitgrain note – maybe it’s considered too heavy and metallic to take pride of place in a citrus composition – but I’ve long admired its twilit seriousness. Perhaps because it’s extracted from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree, it manages to convey both the optimistic vim of the fruit and the deep earthiness of the soil from which they have sprung. Whatever the source of its appeal, there’s little doubting its impact and Monegal has employed it here to admirable effect. From its unassuming, cologne-like opening, to the sophisticated intonations of its drydown, it presents multiple facets of its source material, coming across as a duskier, more Mediterranean Habit Rouge, with less sweetness, a heavier reliance on musks, and a top button undone to reveal a coating of dark chest hair. But don’t worry: it’s not too dangerous.
Persolaise
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It sounds highly appealing from your description ('optimistic vim of the fruit' is a brilliant way of describing petitgrain), a note I like in measured doses, even if the essential oil does scythe through my brain like sunlight piercing the eye sockets: I usually find it too much, somehow.
I now need to smell this perfume to see how it has been tempered.
Black Narcissus, yes, I totally agree, petitgrain can be too powerful. I often think of it as metaliic, a bit like neroli, when it's overused. I certainly thought the note was handled very well in this particular scent.
Let me know if you ever manage to sample it.