Among niche perfumers, Swiss creator Vero Kern stands out for her unique fingerprint that reminds me of classical Guerlain elegance. But there is more. Under that well-behaved, well-coiffed elegance you notice something smoldering and dark. At first, it may feel disconcerting–and for some, it remains so, making Rubj, Onda, and even the brighter and fresher Kiki love or hate perfumes. For me, it’s the former, because I enjoy exploring Vero Kern’s world through the prism of her perfumes.
The newest addition to the collection, Mito, follows her sisters in their steps, but the perfume feels different from the baroque, Guerlain-inspired themes. It’s a chypre so green, it sparkles. Is its effervescence an allusion to the glittering fountains in the garden of Italy’s Villa d’Este that inspired Swiss perfumer Vero Kern to create Mito?
Mito feels like a soft breeze, an uplifting and bright perfume. It layers its tart citrus notes over the crunchy green of galbanum, and in the Eau de Parfum, the exhilarating sensation is particularly pronounced. But give it an hour on your skin, and it becomes velvety and warm. The green now fades into the white of jasmine petals and the yellow of ripe peach. Mito reminds me of Chanel Cristalle crossed with the ripe opulence of Rochas Femme, but the total is more than the sum of its parts.
One would imagine that such a bombshell of a perfume would be hard to pull off, but surprisingly I find Mito to be the most wearable from the collection. It’s not overly demanding or flamboyant. If Rubj is the sultry Jean Harlow, Mito is the coolly elegant Grace Kelly. It has great tenacity, but its sillage is moderate, a plus or minus depending on how you like to wear your perfume.
In order to enjoy Mito, you have to have a taste for retro glamour and an appreciation for fragrances like Rochas Femme, Guerlain Mitsouko and other classical chypres. If you’re in this group of perfume lovers, you will sigh happily as Mito tempts you with her mossy peaches. On the other hand, if you’re new to this genre, Mito (along with Cristalle) would be a great introduction. It’s a luminous perfume from top to bottom. Expect to give it a long courtship, but it will be a worthwhile challenge.
Vero Profumo Mito includes notes of bergamot, magnolia, jasmine, galbanum, hyacinth, cypress and moss. Available at Luckyscent and First-in-Fragrance. 50 ml Eau de Parfum/$200.
Sample: my own acquisition
Photography by Bois de Jasmin (top image)
38 Comments
Astrid: Hello Vicoria, At 40 I’m relatively new to perfume, but gladly discovering my way into this wonderful world and enjoying your articles along the way.
I love Guerlain fragrances like l’Heure Bleue, Shalimar Parfum Initial and Samsara. Chanel Cristalle is also one of my favorites.
I would really like to try this scent from Vero Profumo, but I am at a loss as to where I might be able to get a sample of this in the Netherlands.
Would you have any idea?
Thanks very much! January 3, 2013 at 9:55am
Austenfan: I am not Victoria but being Dutch and the proud owner of some Kern samples I may be able to help.
There is a shop in The Hague that sells the line. Unfortunately I cannot remember what it is called and Ms.Kern’s website was under construction last time I looked. If the website is running you should be able to obtain samples from Vero Kern directly.
Another option is ordering from Aus Liebe zum Duft. They sell samples of most of their perfumes. I have ordered from them often and have so far been really pleased with their service.
Good Luck! January 3, 2013 at 10:30am
Marieke: I replied before I saw your answer. I also love Aus Liebe zum Duft. Every single purchase I made with them was great, very nice service. January 3, 2013 at 10:34am
Cornelia Blimber: That shop in Den Haag is “Emma Joe”. January 3, 2013 at 11:00am
Austenfan: And it’s on the Dennenweg if my memory serves me right? January 3, 2013 at 11:43am
Cornelia Blimber: It’s on De Dagelijkse Groenmarkt. January 3, 2013 at 1:43pm
Janlast: One of the extended benefits of Victoria’s writing is the sense that, wherever I travel, there will be people to guide me in my search for scents. Thanks to you all for sharing your knowledge. January 3, 2013 at 12:27pm
Victoria: I’ve benefited from this too. I gotten such great suggestions on places to explore in and around Belgium, and it helped me to feel more at home here. January 3, 2013 at 2:03pm
Marieke: I ordered samples from Aus Liebe zum Duft in Germany. I’m in Oostende. January 3, 2013 at 10:32am
Astrid: thank you all so much for your information and recommendations. I will try the shop in The Hague shortly. January 3, 2013 at 1:49pm
Victoria: Astrid, you’ve gotten such great responses from Austenfan, Cornelia, and Marieke, so I hope that you can find these perfumes. They are definitely not the kind of thing I recommend for ordering blindly. They are really love or hate. Some people adore Rubj (like myself), others find it unwearable.
But they are so interesting that it’s worth smelling them. January 3, 2013 at 1:58pm
Deborah: How funny… I tried Mito last week and I was wondering why it seemed familiar. Of course, you’re right, Cristalle. I wore it for years, no wonder I love Mito so much. January 3, 2013 at 10:24am
Victoria: Cristalle was my first Chanel perfume, and I still have such a soft spot for it. Just lovely! January 3, 2013 at 2:04pm
Lucas: Lovely review Victoria! Now I need to check out my drawer at the weekend to see if I don’t have a sample of Mito in there, I got some Vero Profumo samples in a swap some time ago but didn’t try them yet. There’s a chance Mito will be there too. January 3, 2013 at 10:34am
Victoria: I’m curious to know what you enjoy from Vero Profumo. Please let me know what you think of Mito too. January 3, 2013 at 2:06pm
Lucas: I will let you know as soon as I dig out my samples. Actually I think I will review some of them so might post a link for you to read 🙂 January 3, 2013 at 4:27pm
Marieke: Victoria, thank you for reviewing Mito. I loved Onda right away but at first I wasn’t so sure about Mito. I expected something darker and strange like Onda, but Mito was different. I’m liking it more and more. Onda is still my favourite. January 3, 2013 at 10:36am
Victoria: I can relate to this, because Mito was very different from my other favorite, Rubj. I also anticipated something rich and opulent, but it was so vibrant and effervescent. January 3, 2013 at 2:07pm
zephyr: Thank you, Victoria, your review makes me really want to try Mito! At least get a sample… I love Mitsouko, so might like Mito too. January 3, 2013 at 11:30am
Victoria: I love Mitsouko too (and Femme and other fruity chypres of its kind), so perhaps, that’s another reason Mito hit the spot for me. January 3, 2013 at 2:07pm
Annikky: I ordered a sample of Mito (and a few others that featured in “best of 2012” lists) last week from First in Fragrance/Aus Liebe zum Duft and am superexcited. Unfortunately, they were out of Vero Kern sample sets, so I need to try again later – I am convinced that I will love Rubj.
The other thing they didn’t have (yet), was Arquiste Boutonniere, so I went with Alexandr for now – the description sounds so perfect.
And Happy New Year, Victoria! January 3, 2013 at 12:36pm
Victoria: Happy New Year to you too, Annikky!
I hope that you enjoy Mito, and I would love to hear what you think.
As for Alexandr, I like very much. Jessica at NST wrote an excellent review of this perfume. She made me order a sample straight away. January 3, 2013 at 2:10pm
Lucas: Annikky they’re out of Vero Profumo samples for a few months. I wanted to order that set of EdP but it was unavailable back in OCTOBER! When I emailed them if they’ll have them in stock again soon they replied “yes” but they didn’t appear since then… January 3, 2013 at 4:29pm
Annikky: Thank you for the info, Lucas! I hope the sets (I am paining for the extrait version as well) will be back in stock, as they are convenient and very reasonably priced… January 4, 2013 at 6:23am
Victoria: I bought one of the sets, and I agree, it’s a fantastic deal. January 4, 2013 at 6:25am
Daisy: I haven’t tried any of Vero Kern’s fragrances 🙁 I don’t think anyone in NY carries her line yet . . . I need to order some samples soon! January 3, 2013 at 2:48pm
Victoria: I also don’t think that anyone in NYC has picked up her line. I really hope that Aedes might. January 3, 2013 at 5:36pm
Daisy: That would be wonderful if they did. January 3, 2013 at 8:19pm
Victoria: I think that the opulence of Vero Profumo matches the aesthetics of Aedes really well. January 4, 2013 at 6:10am
OperaFan: The combination of Hyacinth and Galbannum is a huge attention grabber for me. I can name many (MANY) fragrances I love that are largely due to these notes at the top. I wasn’t going to try this one, but now you have me reconsidering…. January 3, 2013 at 2:50pm
Victoria: I also love this combination of notes. The effect is vivid and crunchy, very springlike. You might also enjoy Tom Ford Ombre de Hyacinth, although the price is not appealing at all! January 3, 2013 at 5:37pm
Agritty: I am so curious to try this one. Victoria – I am one of the lovers of these, especially Onda, and I would LOVE to read your thoughts on it one day! It is unlike anything else January 3, 2013 at 3:35pm
Victoria: I thought that Onda would take me the longest to appreciate, but I liked it almost immediately. It’s an intriguing combination of earthy and leathery, green and floral. You’re right, there is nothing quite like it. January 3, 2013 at 5:39pm
Ilia: Yes, Onda and Rubj are sublime; and this new release just makes me want to buy all of Vero Profumo line, in all concentrations (but be still, my beating, desiring heart).
I have tested and fallen in love with Mito! I thought it was so effervescent and bright. I shoudl try Cristalle since many people say it’s similar. The only problem though is it doesn’t last very long (or shoud I say, the first notes don’t last very long and that’s my favourite part). I have spent the tiny sample in just three days, spraying and re-spraying it. I can see this as a full bottle buy in the future, just as the excesses of holiday spending have been covered. It would be the perfect spring scent. January 4, 2013 at 6:17am
Victoria: I also loved the green intro, but yes, it doesn’t last nearly as long as I wanted it to (not sure if it’s possible to make it last, since those kind of effervescent notes tend to be the most volatile). But the rest of the story is beautiful enough to enjoy Mito. It sounds like you and I agree on our favorites–Rubj and Onda. January 4, 2013 at 6:27am
Rita: My son-in-law bought me Mito for Christmas when he was in Rome last July on a shoot (film making not killing animals!!). I still have to make my mind up about it. My daughter said I must wear it every day even when doing household chores because I have a habit of buying perfumes and storing them and when I come to use them they’ve ‘gone off’. I’m doing as I’m told!!!!! January 15, 2013 at 6:59am
Moni: I have on my perfume journey used and tried
most classic and vintage fragrances of my time (I admit to 67)…but then Vero Kern hit
the perfume market with her fabulous + beyond comparison beautiful fragrances made in an old fashioned and lasting style! OMG… now my biggest difficulty is deciding which one to wear…and when. I love ONDA, RUBJ and MITO…decisions, decisions! They are all beyond comparison…I am hooked forever! October 12, 2013 at 11:12am
Moni: Sorry forgot to mention….I get my supplies from Bloom Perfume in Spitalfields, London who exclusively stock in the UK. October 12, 2013 at 11:18am