The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta – Some perfumes are easy to understand from the first spray. You smell the main notes, recognize the direction, and immediately know whether they are for you.
The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta wasn’t quite like that for me. Maybe that’s why it took me so long to prepare this review.
I liked it from the beginning, but it surprised me. I expected something much more obviously marine from a fragrance inspired by Venice, the lagoon, and the historic Regata Storica. Instead, Gold Regatta takes that marine idea and redefines it into something much warmer, sweeter, and surprisingly well-balanced for this type of scent.
The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta Eau de Parfum: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most interesting notes in The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta?
Two of the most interesting notes in Gold Regatta are Red Algae and Helichrysum.
How does Helichrysum smell?
Helichrysum, also known as Immortelle or Everlasting Flower, is a fascinating ingredient in perfumery. It has a warm, slightly herbal and earthy smell, with a sweet honeyed side that can remind me of dried fruit, hay, tea, and even a touch of tobacco.
It can also have a slightly spicy, dry quality, giving a fragrance more depth and character. To me, it’s one of those notes that can be difficult to describe with just one word because it changes depending on what it’s blended with.
In Gold Regatta, Helichrysum brings out many of its different facets, adding warmth and depth to the composition while complementing the marine character.
How does Red Algae smell?
In perfumery, red algae gives a fragrance a clean, mineral and marine character. It doesn’t have that strong or fishy smell that seaweed can have. Instead, it has a crisp, salty quality that reminds me of cold sea spray, wet pebbles and fresh coastal air.
As it dries down, the salty character becomes softer and warmer, almost like the salty trace left on your skin after a swim in the sea.
In Gold Regatta, red algae adds that fresh marine touch without making the fragrance smell too aquatic or “seaweed-like.” It helps create a clean, salty effect that feels elegant rather than overpowering.
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How does The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta smell?
Gold Regatta smells warm, sunny and salty, with a marine character balanced by honeyed, ambery, smoky and woody nuances. There’s also a dusty, slightly tobacco-like edge that gives the fragrance more depth without making it overly sweet.
Overall, Gold Regatta is a woody, marine and sweet fragrance with an unusual contrast between salty aquatic nuances, fig, driftwood, immortelle, amber and vanilla.
Is The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta long-lasting?
The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta has good longevity on my skin. I get around 6 – 7 hours of wear, although the projection becomes softer after the first few hours. It stays closer to the skin toward the end, but I can still smell the warm, salty and woody character.
What seasons is Gold Regatta best for?
I think Gold Regatta is better suited to cold weather and works beautifully in autumn and winter. Its warmer notes become especially inviting in cooler temperatures.
You can wear it in summer too, but I’d choose it for the evening, when you want something different from a typical fresh marine scent.
How strong is the projection of The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta?
The projection of Gold Regatta is moderate. It has a noticeable presence during the first few hours without becoming overwhelming. As it dries down, the projection becomes softer and the fragrance sits closer to the skin.
What occasions is The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta best for?
Gold Regatta is great for evenings, dinners, and special occasions when you want to wear something a little different. Its warm, salty and woody character feels classy and dressed-up.
I’d also happily wear it for a relaxed evening out or a holiday dinner by the sea. It has enough character to get noticed, without being overpowering.
Where can I buy The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta?
The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta is available to purchase directly from The Merchant of Venice, as well as from selected luxury fragrance retailers. The official website currently lists the 100 ml Eau de Parfum for £220.
What are users and reviewers saying about this perfume? Are there common compliments or complaints?
Reviews of The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta are generally positive, with many users praising its unusual combination of salty marine notes, fig, warm woods, vanilla, and amber. A common compliment is that it feels different from a typical fresh aquatic fragrance, while some complaints focus on its high price and distinctive character, which may not suit everyone. Performance is generally considered good, although its projection is more moderate than powerful.
What size bottles does this scent come in, and what is the price range?
The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta is currently available in a 100 ml Eau de Parfum bottle. The official price is around 220 Euro, although prices can vary between retailers and countries.
What Does The Merchant of Venice Say About Gold Regatta?
Gold Regatta was launched in 2023 and created by perfumer Véronique Nyberg. The Merchant of Venice describes it as an exclusive and luxurious Eau de Parfum inspired by one of the most iconic events in Venice: the Regata Storica.
The idea behind the fragrance is to capture the atmosphere of the Venetian lagoon – the canals, the excitement of the regatta, and the beauty of Venice.
It opens with a salty touch of Red Seaweed, combined with delicate fruity nuances. This gives the fragrance a marine character inspired by the Venetian canals and the energy of the regatta.
Image Credit: Photo from ACTV/AVM S.p.A., Regata Storica.
Source: ACTV – Regata Storica partnership proposal
As it develops, Everlasting adds warm Mediterranean facets, while Driftwood brings a woody, marine touch. The fragrance settles into a warm, ambery trail of Amber and Vanilla.
What Are the Fragrance Notes in Gold Regatta?
Fragrance Family: Woody Amber
Top notes: Fig, Red Algae
Heart notes: Immortelle, Salty woods, Driftwood
Base Notes: Amber, Vanilla
Scent Profile of Gold Regatta
The Opening: Salty, Marine and Unexpected
The Red Algae gives me this salty, green, slightly mineral smell. It reminds me of the sea, salty wood, and wet green notes, but I wouldn’t call it a typical marine opening. There’s much more going on.
The first spray is very green and sharp because of the fig. For a moment, it feels like standing under a fig tree on a cold day, surrounded by all that green, slightly bitter freshness.
At the same time, there’s a strong dusty and smoky woodiness. Then, around the edges, I start to get soft vanilla and warm amber.
The mossy and seaweed notes all come through together, with some soft floral touches in the background.
And I really like that about this fragrance. You can smell the sea, but it doesn’t feel cold or like strong seaweed. It feels warm and sunny.
The Fig: Fruity, But Not a Typical Fig Perfume
The Fig is worth talking about because it doesn’t smell like the typical fig perfumes I know.
I don’t get that creamy, milky fig here. Instead, it adds a fruity touch to the salty and woody notes. At first, the fig feels crisp and fresh, but then it makes everything feel softer.
I also like that the fig doesn’t stand out on its own. It feels mixed in with the marine and woody notes, rather than sitting on top of them like it often does in marine perfumes with fig.
The Heart: From Marine to Vanilla Amber
As Gold Regatta develops, the marine character is still there, but it becomes less dominant. The woody side starts to come forward.
The fig also changes. It feels riper now, adding a sweet, fruity and honeyed touch, almost like sun-warmed fruit. This is beautifully wrapped in tobacco, with a subtle spicy edge that gives the fragrance more depth.
This is also where the immortelle, sometimes called everlasting flower or helichrysum, adds an interesting warmth. It has a distinctive personality, bringing slightly herbal, honeyed, earthy and warm nuances to the composition. Here, it creates a smooth connection between the salty woods and the sweeter base. And personally, I really like how smoothly this transition happens.
The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta doesn’t suddenly turn into a vanilla-amber perfume. Instead, the creamy, floral and woody side slowly starts to come through, and honestly, I enjoy this part much more than the opening.
The Drydown: Soft Vanilla, Amber and Smoky Woods
This is my favorite part of Gold Regatta. Once it settles, I find it really addictive. I keep catching myself smelling my wrist. It becomes a soft, well-balanced vanilla amber scent with a subtle smoky edge.
As the vanilla and amber come through, the fragrance feels warmer and creamier, but the marine character doesn’t completely disappear.
The vanilla isn’t the sweet kind you’d usually find in a gourmand perfume. Here, it feels more refined, warmed by amber and balanced by the salty, woody notes underneath.
The Amber is soft and delicate at first, but as the fragrance dries down, I notice more woody nuances coming through. There’s also a faint incense-like touch, along with hints of dried fruit and something slightly herbal. All those greener, sharp notes from the beginning have now dried down, leaving a warmer and deeper feeling on the skin.
Is Gold Regatta a Sweet Perfume?
Yes, but I wouldn’t describe it as a simply sweet fragrance.
The sweetness becomes much more noticeable as the perfume dries down, especially with the vanilla and amber coming through. However, the salty and woody notes keep it from becoming too sweet. There’s always something slightly salty, woody or marine underneath that keeps the sweetness balanced.
Is Gold Regatta a Marine Fragrance?
Yes – but it’s not your typical marine fragrance. If you usually associate marine perfumes with fresh citrus, aquatic notes, or a strong seaweed note, Gold Regatta may surprise you.
It’s more like its name suggests: a Venetian lagoon surrounded by wood, stone, and warm air.
How Versatile Is The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta?
I personally prefer it during autumn and winter, when its salty, woody character feels most at home. It can also work on summer evenings, especially for dinner or a night by the sea. It’s unisex and, to me, feels especially suited to someone who enjoys sophisticated, atmospheric fragrances rather than very fresh or youthful scents. If you’re over 30, I think its elegant character may feel particularly appealing.
How Long Does Gold Regatta Last?
Gold Regatta is long-lasting, but it isn’t too strong or overly projecting. Interestingly, I find that the perfume smells even more divine in the decant than it does on my skin. I personally wish it lasted a little longer on my skin and projected more, but that’s just my experience. Perhaps the softer projection is intentional and part of the fragrance’s character. Instead of filling the room, Gold Regatta stays closer to you and creates a more intimate scent experience.
Final Thoughts on Gold Regatta: Is It Worth Trying?
When I first saw the name Gold Regatta and learned that it was inspired by Venice, I expected a much fresher and more aquatic scent. I pictured cool water, a salty breeze, and that clean feeling you get near the sea. But the reality is quite different. It feels more like a warm, sunny day by the shore, with aged wood, salty air, and a hint of smoke from a nearby fire. That unexpected combination is what makes Gold Regatta so intriguing to me.
The opening may feel a little unpleasant at first, especially if you’re expecting a fresh marine fragrance. If you’re familiar with Guerlain Santal Royal (← read my full review) and enjoy it, though, you probably won’t have a problem with the opening. For me, it’s worth getting past those first moments because the drydown is where Gold Regatta becomes really beautiful.
The drydown is my favorite part. The combination of sweet, fruity, slightly tobacco-like nuances over amber and vanilla is amazing. Despite the woody, smoky, and dusty notes, the fragrance still feels soft and warm. You get that salty air, but it’s mixed with something sweet, creamy, and vanillic, while still staying balanced.
That’s why I see The Merchant of Venice Gold Regatta as a different take on the marine fragrances we know. It isn’t trying to be a “typical” aquatic perfume, and it isn’t trying to be an ordinary vanilla fragrance either. It sits somewhere beautifully in between. It’s elegant and interesting, but at the same time, it feels modern and easy to wear.
That said, I don’t think Gold Regatta is a safe blind buy. It’s modern, classy, and distinctive, but the unusual opening and the combination of salty, woody, smoky, dusty, fruity, and vanilla notes make it a fragrance I’d recommend testing first.
Rating: 4/5
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