A philosopher turned perfumer
Born in Florence in 1956, Villoresi studied philosophy and, to complete his thesis, traveled through the Middle East tracing Jewish, Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures. Before founding the house, he spent many years working on bespoke fragrances. His Florence boutique is in a Renaissance palazzo on Via de' Bardi, and the city is also home to the Museo Villoresi, an interactive journey through raw materials and how a perfume is made.
The fragrances in the collection
Teint de Neige, the powder of the Belle Époque
Teint de Neige is a fragrance with sweet, powdery notes, with jasmine, rose and ylang ylang over a base of musk and tonka bean. The house describes it as soft, gentle and enveloping, inspired by the light of the Belle Époque. It comes in eau de toilette, eau de parfum and parfum, all with the same olfactory description.
Florals, woods and the Orient
Alamut Eau de Parfum pairs rose, tuberose and jasmine with sandalwood and ambergris. It also comes as an eau de toilette, where the flowers of the Arabian Nights are joined by amber, musk and precious woods. Kamasurabhi brings together delicate, colorful Indian flowers, exotic woods, leather, amber and musk. Musk is built on Tonkin musk with rose, sandalwood, cedar and Oriental woods. Then there is Patchouli, which combines patchouli with aromatic woods, citrus, rosewood and cedar, and Atman Xaman, an intense, deep fragrance of leather and tobacco.
Fresh, green and spicy
Acqua di Colonia is a citrus eau de toilette "mindful of ancient customs," made with natural essential oils of bergamot, lemon, sage and rosemary. Yerbamate is green and aromatic, with tea, maté, hay, lavender and galbanum. From the same fresh family comes Aura Maris, which recalls the sea breeze, Mediterranean scrubland, sparkling sea foam and citrus. Finally, Piper Nigrum is a fresh, aromatic and pungent scent of peppers and African spices, inspired by the Arab markets along the Mediterranean.
For men
The house's men's fragrance is Uomo, which blends citrus, equatorial pepper and Tuscan spices with Mysore sandalwood and Bourbon vetiver. The line also includes a gentle shower gel for body and hair, in 125 or 250 ml, and an alcohol-free deodorant in 100 ml.
How to choose
If you are looking for a floral perfume, there are two paths: Teint de Neige, sweet and powdery, or Alamut and Kamasurabhi, where the flowers meet amber, musk and woods. For musky and woody notes there are Musk, Patchouli and Atman Xaman, the last with leather and tobacco. If you prefer citrus and green notes, choose among Acqua di Colonia, Yerbamate and Aura Maris, which also has a marine note; for spice there are Piper Nigrum and Uomo.
Teint de Neige and Alamut are the two fragrances offered in more than one concentration, the first in eau de toilette, eau de parfum and parfum, the second in eau de toilette and eau de parfum. The others are eaux de toilette.
Bath, body and solid perfume
Villoresi has also devoted a book to the art of bathing. The Teint de Neige line includes 500 g bath salts, also suitable for whirlpool tubs, a shower gel, a 200 ml nourishing body cream and a 250 ml emollient body oil. There is also the Sparkling Body Gel, a shimmering gel with a "glamour" effect, and the hair mist, a scented veil for the hair. The solid perfume has powdery, floral, citrus and woody notes and comes in a refillable metal case inspired by Belle Époque powder compacts. Alamut has its own body cream too, which the house says is nourishing and quickly absorbed.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Lorenzo Villoresi?
Lorenzo Villoresi is a Florentine perfumer, born in 1956, with a degree in philosophy. He came to essences and spices during trips to the Middle East made to complete his studies and, after years of bespoke fragrances, founded his house in Florence in 1990, where production still takes place in-house.
Where is the Lorenzo Villoresi perfume house located?
The Lorenzo Villoresi house is based in Florence, on Via de' Bardi, where the boutique occupies a Renaissance palazzo with restored frescoes. The same city is home to the Museo Villoresi, an interactive journey dedicated to the raw materials of perfumery and to how a perfume is made.
What does Teint de Neige smell like?
Teint de Neige is a floral fragrance with sweet, powdery notes, inspired by the atmosphere and light of the Belle Époque. It has jasmine, rose and ylang ylang over a base of musk and tonka bean, and the house describes it as soft, gentle and enveloping.
What is the difference between Teint de Neige eau de toilette, eau de parfum and parfum?
The three versions of Teint de Neige share the same olfactory description, with jasmine, rose and ylang ylang over musk and tonka bean. What changes is the concentration, meaning the perfume formula you pick among eau de toilette, eau de parfum and parfum, depending on how you like to wear the same powdery fragrance.
Which Lorenzo Villoresi fragrance is best for men?
For men there is Uomo, the fragrance the house defines as masculine, with citrus, equatorial pepper and Tuscan spices over a base of Mysore sandalwood and Bourbon vetiver. The same scent also comes as a shower gel for body and hair and as an alcohol-free deodorant.
What does Alamut smell like?
Alamut is a warm, sensual fragrance that the house describes as a journey to the Orient, with rose, tuberose and jasmine over a base of sandalwood and ambergris. It comes in eau de toilette and eau de parfum and also has a matching 200 ml body cream.
Does Teint de Neige come in body and hair products?
Yes, Teint de Neige has a body line with shower gel, bath salts, body cream, body oil and Sparkling Body Gel, and for the hair there is the hair mist, a hair perfume. There is also a solid perfume in a refillable metal case inspired by antique powder compacts.
How can you recognize Lorenzo Villoresi perfumes?
Lorenzo Villoresi perfumes are recognizable by their hexagonal bottle, which the house considers the signature of its collections. The raw materials often recall the founder's travels in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, such as spices, resins, precious woods, musk and citrus.
Which Lorenzo Villoresi perfumes have fresh, citrus notes?
The house's fresh, citrus fragrances are Acqua di Colonia, Yerbamate and Aura Maris. Acqua di Colonia uses natural essential oils of bergamot, lemon, sage and rosemary, Yerbamate combines tea, citrus, maté, hay and lavender, and Aura Maris recalls the sea breeze, Mediterranean scrubland and citrus.
