Illusione for Him

Illusione for Him, inspired by Bottega Veneta Illusione for Him (2019)

Illusione for Him starts with lemon and bitter orange, the second adding a slightly peel-like bitterness to the citrus. Fir balsam follows, a resinous note that smells like pine needles warmed in the sun, and white cedar gives it a dry, pencil-shaving structure. Vetiver brings an earthy, rooty tone in the base. Tonka bean rounds the edges with a little almond and hay sweetness without turning it gourmand.

About the original

Bottega Veneta launched Illusione in 2019 as a pair, Illusione for Him and Illusione for Her, and L'Officiel described the duo as capturing 'la dolce vita'. Two flankers, Illusione Bois Nu and Illusione Tonka Solaire, followed in 2021 and are separate fragrances. The line belonged to the years when Coty held the Bottega Veneta fragrance licence. Press reports say those fragrances were withdrawn when the licence ended, and the house returned to perfume under Kering in October 2024 with a new five-scent collection that does not include Illusione.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Bottega Veneta stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

A man who wants something fresher than an amber or leather but more grounded than a sport citrus will find the balance here. Fir and vetiver give it a resinous, earthy character, and tonka appears only in the base, so it is not built around sweetness.

Related scents

• Bottega Veneta Pour Homme Extreme
• Hermes Terre d'Hermes
• Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Top notes: Lemon, Bitter Orange

Heart notes: Fir Balsam, White Cedarwood

Base notes: Vetiver, Tonka Bean

Lemon and bitter orange open it, tart and a little pithy.

The heart turns resinous with fir balsam, while white cedarwood keeps it clean and linear.

In the drydown vetiver gives an earthy, slightly smoky depth, and tonka bean adds a quiet sweetness underneath.

Is Bottega Veneta Illusione for Him discontinued?

It no longer appears in Bottega Veneta's current fragrance range. Press reports link its withdrawal to the end of the Coty licence, though the brand has not announced a discontinuation, and some retailers still sell remaining stock.

Is this the same as Illusione Bois Nu or Tonka Solaire?

No. This page is the original 2019 Illusione for Him. Bois Nu and Tonka Solaire are 2021 flankers with different compositions.

Is it sweet?

Only slightly. Tonka bean sits in the base, but citrus, fir and cedar carry most of the scent.

Is Bottega Veneta Illusione for Him coming back?

So far, we have found no announcement from Bottega Veneta that it will return. Our version is an eau de parfum in 50 ml or 100 ml.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Bottega Veneta and Illusione for Him are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Bottega Veneta in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.