[N] NYC - New York City

The name says New York, but the heart of this perfume actually belongs to the landscapes of Mexico. SANTI BURGAS [N] NYC - New York City is Rodrigo Flores-Roux's personal formula, created from memories of the country where he grew up and gifted to Santi Burgas.

The opening is explosively green: bergamot, mandarin, and grapefruit do not taste of sweet juice, but of peel, leaf, and the bitter oils that remain on the fingers after peeling the fruit. Neroli and orange blossom water absolute give it the distinctive elegance of a cologne, but without an old-fashioned impression.

Cardamom, ginger, and coriander leaf introduce a quick, spicy restlessness. The composition seems to constantly change direction: at times it is citrusy, at times green, and then magnolia, aglaia, and rich Chinese jasmine sambac pass through it.

Flores-Roux and Santi Burgas associated the original formula with 2008, the year the brand itself was founded. For the house's tenth anniversary, it became part of the collection, as a modern revision of a classic eau de cologne built from specialized citrus essences available to Givaudan perfumers.

On the skin, the initial citruses lose some of their sharpness, while vetiver, patchouli, and ambrette seeds create a softer, slightly earthy base. Freshness remains present, but no longer hovers above the skin; it gains weight, texture, and a very discreet musky trail.

This is not a marine or typically sporty fresh perfume. It is a cologne with coriander leaf and ambrette that bears New York in its name, while Mexico speaks through it all the time.