Antonio Alessandria Parfums Gattopardo, Fleurs et Flammes and Fara + The 3 you should be wearing draw

May 29, 2021May 29, 2021

Photo of Antonio Alessandria courtesy of Antonio Alessandria Parfums (Antonio has curated books for Jean Claude Ellena)

Candlewax and creamy carnations melt together as a little boy gazes, large-eyed, at fireworks exploding and igniting the dark sky. Hot sun cracking the ground in Calabria at the height of summer as a waft of bitter, minty lemon Italian soda beckons. In the study of the prince of Salina, the aromas of fine whiskey in a crystal tumbler, of old leather volumes, permeate the dark wood walls while the smells of the feast next door seep beneath the closed door. These are tales told by the wonderful perfumes of Antonio Alessandria, one of independent perfumery’s finest griots. Alessandria’s special magic is translating very specific stories – most from his childhood memories of Sicily – into personal but entirely accessible perfumes. If you haven’t tried any of his creations yet, here’s a starting point for what you should be wearing this summer.

Gattopardo was a top ten favorite of Ermano and Michelyn 2017 CaFleureBon Best of Scent– photo via Antonio Alessandria Parfums from Esxence 2107

Antonio Alessandria Pafums Gattopardo (2017) put Alessandria on the fragrance map for me. I first encountered it, and Antonio, at Esxence in Milan and was immediately struck by how brilliantly constructed it is. It was inspired by the great twentieth century novel by Giuseppe di Lampedusa, Il Gattopardo (The Leopard, 1958), a book I count among my favourites. The perfume magically captures key elements of the novel – the Prince’s study, a feast at the novel’s heart, the sense of tradition and power that is vanishing – that unfold like turned pages. A carefully delineated array of notes moves us through key scenes in the novel while the prince’s signature – whiskey and wood – thrums in the background throughout. Alternately gourmand, leather-woody and floral-resinous, Gattopardo is a fascinatingly changeable fragrance, keenly balanced between masculine and feminine.

Notes: Bergamot, fig, whisky, geranium, iris, benzoin, hazelnut, almond, cocoa, beeswax, amber, patchouli, cedarwood, musk.

photo courtesy of Antonio©

Antonio Alessandria Pafums Fleurs et Flammes (2017) is a stunning floral built around spicy, creamy carnation and lush rose that is full of unexpected surprises. Alessandria’s recollections of a July festival day guides the composition, starting with stemmy green of fresh cut flowers and fernlike foliage. Flowers bloom into technicolor, culminating in an extraordinary burst of roman candles: Alessandria recreates the experience of fireworks with a pop of fizz from aldehydes, a flinty note that subtly suggests gunpowder, and the unmistakable waxy smell of still-burning candles. I’ve always thought of carnation-centric perfumes as cool weather affairs, but this one blooms in the heat. Dreamy and lifelike at once, Fleurs et Flammes is one of the most original and gorgeous florals I’ve come across, and my absolute favourite of the line.

Notes: Bergamot, citrus, summer fruits, galbanum, aldehydes, green and mineral notes, carnation, rose, lily, white flowers, soft woods, almond milk effect, musk.

photo by Antonio at Pitti Fragranze 2018: Antonio Alessandria Parfums Fara was one of Lauryn’s top ten CaFleureBon’s Best of 2018 and his seventh fragrance

Antonio Alessandria Pafums Fara (2018), in local Sicilian dialect, the word for when the summer heat when the is at its apogee, sings of summer and simple pleasures. This thirst-quenching fragrance of lemon, salt, mint and herbs conjures the aromas of a famous fizzy local drink sold by the cioschi vendors that line the market squares of the region. Fara opens with an effervescent burst of bitter lime and salt, a spray of salt crashing into bitter citrus, and plays with warm and cool sensations in a delightful way. Just behind that margarita rim opening is the buzzy bite of bergamot, and a chilly hit of peppermint that immediately chills everything down a few degrees. A subtle pinch of cumin adds a touch of skin and heat without announcing itself, while gossamer florals drift in and out of cedar and cypress. As it dries down, some clean musk comes forward, the warm and cool notes meld and cling to the skin like the after-effects of a day at the beach. One of the most delightful, fragrances for hot, sticky weather or to summon July in the middle of winter, Fara is a delicious, inviting slice of Sicilian summer.

Notes: Bergamot, lemon, finger lime, peppermint, magnolia, light jasmine, cumin, cedarwood, cypress, incense, musky and amber notes.

Mood board for Gattopardo via Antonio©

Antonio Alessandria Pafums are like invitations to intimate memories of home and childhood, a passport to other times and places, seen through the loving eyes of an adult self. They are carefully constructed, beautifully imagined, wearable stories. Come pull up a chair.

Disclaimer: samples of Gattopardo, Fleurs et Flammes and Fara kindly given to me at Exsence by Antonio Alessandria. My opinions, as always, are my own.

Lauryn Beer, Senior Editor

Travel sprays Antonio Alessandria Pafums

Thanks to the generosity of Antonio Alessandria Parfums, we have three beautiful travel sprays for one registered reader in the U.S. or Europe. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what appeals to you about Antonio Alessandria Parfums Gattopardo, Fleurs et Flammes or Fara based on Lauryn’s review and whether you have tried any Antonio Alessandria fragrances. Draw closes 6/2/2021.

All photos courtesy of Antonio Alessandria Parfums

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