MANOS GERAKINIS AMANDUS

OFFICIAL BRAND STATEMENT

AMANDUS (Latin for “worthy of love”) is a tender, delectable fragrance centered around the almond. Its name reflects the association between the almond and eternal love in Hellenic tradition. According to an ancient Greek myth, a heartbroken princess was given a new life by the gods, turned into an almond tree. And to this day, sugar-coated almonds are being offered in most Greek weddings.

The notion of time-transcending love is captured in a sumptuous, enveloping scent that blends the almond’s cocooning powderiness with luscious caramel, buttery toffee, and toasted hazelnut. An abstract bouquet of gauzy flowers adds elegance and sophistication, while the lactonic, pillowy base of sandalwood, vanilla, and musk underlines the fragrance’s soothing, pleasurable character.

AMANDUS feels like a soft, heartwarming caress and lingers on like a sweet, indelible memory. Its comforting gourmand aura echoes a love that never fades.

PERFUMER: SOFIA BARDELLI

From a young age, Sofia nurtured a deep love for perfume, which shaped her life path. Determined to follow her dream, become a perfumer, she moved to Grasse, the world’s perfume capital, to study at the prestigious Grasse Institute of Perfumery. Immersed in the scent-rich atmosphere of the French Riviera, she developed a passion for exceptional raw materials—a passion which continues to inspire her creations and define her distinctive olfactory signature.

In 2023, Sofia was honoured with the “Rising Star Perfumer” award at ScentXplore New York. She is currently based in Dubai, where she works as a perfumer for TechnicoFlor.

Almond
Sugar Dust
Salted Caramel
Dates

Hazelnut
Toffee
Transparent Flowers
Incense

Sandalwood
Vanilla
Amber
Musk

10+ hours on skin
About a day on clothes
Projection is moderate to strong

MY THOUGHTS

Manos Gerakinis Amandus opened with a striking surprise. The first spray delivered a potent and heady bitter almond note that’s raw and unapologetic, capturing the true character of bitter almonds rather than sweet marzipan. It’s bold and demands attention, feeling both familiar and startlingly unexpected. My first thought was “this is what cyanide must smell like”. Funny enough, I was expecting the scent to go uber gourmand on me as my skin is notourious for bringing any type of sweetness up and multiplying it tenfold. However it never happened with Amandus.

The name comes from Latin word amandus, meaning “worthy of love,” honouring the almond’s place in Greek tradition where it represents eternal love. Perfumer Sofia Bardelli captures the duality of tragedy of princess Phyllis from Ovid‘s Heroides, creating a fragrance that honours both the bitter and sweet aspects of almond. And oh boy did she succeed!

As Manos Gerakinis Amandus develops, something remarkable happens. The fragrance transforms dramatically from the piercing note of pure bitter almond into something unexpectedly delicate and musky-floral. When I was wearing it for the first time I was imagining pink petals. It’s that perfect gentle floral accord that kept my mind silent for a while. In a good way. I was very present and simply enjoying its beauty in the moment. Never ever would I have to guess that such elegance and sophistication can follow the bold opulent opening. This airy, graceful quality moves the scent from striking bitterness into something more refined and feminine. At least on my skin. I see myself wearing it a lot in winter. Because the warm heady start is contradicted by faceted crystal-like muskiness.

The sweet elements of sugar and caramel (do not mistaken it with baccarat’s burnt sugar) reveal themselves with awe-worthy restraint. Caramel brings warm richness, while sugary vanilla and hazelnut duo contributes to the very unique nutty depth in the background. Both create an enveloping feeling of comfort without becoming too obviously food-like, existing in that elevated space where sweet scents are being sophisticated and not edible.

The base of Manos Gerakinis Amandus wraps everything in soft sandalwood and more musk, creating a soothing finish that feels like a warm embrace or mom’s hug as I like to call it. This combination makes the fragrance utterly wearable and comforting, settling on my with gentle warmth and intimate softness. And no it is not a quiet scent. Intimate is just a reference to the fact that it’s not loud nor obnoxious as gourmands ofter are.

On my skin, Amandus shows impressive evolution, moving from that vivid opening that made me feel claustrophobic because that part needs space and open air! It can be perceived as overwhelming by many due to its raw intensity. I love how the drydown is shifting 180 degrees into increasingly elegant territory. Amandus projects well, creating presence without overwhelming the wearer nor people around.

Others will notice and appreciate it, no doubt! Fun and pleasant to wear, Sofia has achieved that perfect balance between noticeable and approachable. Her willingness to open with bold, bitter almond rather than safe sweetness shows creative confidence and understanding that memorable fragrances require taking risks. Amandus is at the end of the day a storytelling of bitter-sweet love experience.