Maison Spoturno Barbicaja

Spoturno Barbicaja via the brand’s website

“François Spoturno bought the Barbicaja property that had been in his family for several decades along the Route des Sanguinaires. When Véronique shared this family memory with me, I had the idea of a perfume of carelessness, of happiness, which reveals a sea breeze, scented with flowers of orange, jasmine with a fruity apricot touch.” ~ Master Perfumer Christopher Sheldrake via website

Véronique Coty-Spoturno and Christopher Sheldrake via Instagram

Sometimes I arrive late to the “perfume party”. I only recently sampled a few of the relatively new Spoturno fragrances based upon three criteria: a) my love for the legacy and body of work from the original house of Coty; b) my ongoing passion for British master perfumer Christopher Sheldrake’s fragrant compositions; and c) the fact that several friends (whose opinion I value) were very enthusiastic about them. I have, perhaps, a reputation as an avid admirer of the houses of Guerlain, Caron, Balmain, Patou, and Lanvin – but I also adore the compositions of François Coty (born Joseph Marie François Spoturno). I cannot deny that Monsieur Coty’s great-granddaughter, Véronique Spoturno-Coty’s decision to spearhead a new brand honoring her ancestor’s heritage while creating thoroughly modern perfumes spurred my desire to explore them for myself. To my delight, the four I sampled were exquisitely composed and of very high quality.

François Coty via Fragrances of The World

I chose to review Spoturno Barbicaja, Christopher Sheldrake’s fragrant evocation of the familial Coty home Barbicaja (it translates from the native tongue Corsu as “untamed house”) which graces the Corsican coastline’s capital city, Ajaccio. Barbicaja is about as éblouissant as it gets – a carefree, ebullient fruity floral with undeniable blowsy charm; it possesses an irresistible je m’en fiche (which translates to “I don’t care”) quality. Barbicaja personifies la dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing) to me: a leisurely manner of being, existence punctuated by the acknowledgment that “in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.” – as Khalil Gibran so elegantly posited.

Master Perfumer Christopher Sheldrake via Instagram

The Spoturno family are known for their cultivation of orange groves along the Route des Sanguiniers, so-called because its rocky terrain appears blood-stained at sunset. In conjuring the heady, ubiquitous orange blossom, Monsieur Sheldrake employs potent white florals which enhance it: tuberose, jasmine. This bouquet commences with an accord that summons the florist’s parlor and its verdant charm; tones of freesia, lily-of-the-valley, and hyacinth further flesh out this impression. Yet more green accompanies them with the judicious touch of galbanum and vetiver (neither of which is overdosed). An apricot accord provides delicious adornment. While its base incorporates cedar, patchouli, and vanilla, they are well-integrated and fairly seamless in their effect.

Barbicaja coastline in Corsica via Instagram

Spoturno Barbicaja is not only enchanting at first sniff – it also grows on you over time. In this wise, it feels like someone you immediately take a liking to and appreciate more the longer you become acquainted – so there is instant gratification as well as the probability of a long-term relationship. As florally effusive as may be, this fragrance is full-throated, openhearted, and exceptionally companionable to wear. It possesses an easygoing good humor, a friendly solarity which is welcome in any season when one craves illumination and much-needed détente.

Notes: florist freshness accord, freesia, lily of the valley accord, hyacinth accord, orange blossom, tuberose, jasmine grandiflorum, galbanum (per the brand’s leaflet which accompanies the sampler set), apricot accord, cedarwood, vetiver, patchouli, vanilla

* (Florist accord reminiscent of the ambient smell at the florist’s: the green of the stems, the green of water and hyacinths with this note of cut grass. ~ per website)

Please enjoy J Wearescentient’s review of Spoturno 1921 and L’ Âme du Phénix here. Ermano Picco selected Spoturno 1921 as one of his top ten perfumes of 2025

My review is based upon a sample set I purchased from Aedes Perfumery. My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor

Special thanks to Michael Edwards of Fragrances of The World for the photo of Francois Coty

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