Milano Fragranze: a perfume for every place in the city
The brand's creator was born and raised in Milan, and the idea behind the collection is the *genius loci*, the spirit of the place. Each fragrance starts from a specific spot and tells the story of the people who have passed through it, from the washerwomen of the Naviglio to the audience at opening night at La Scala. The brand belongs to Masque srl, based in Pioltello, just outside Milan. All the fragrances are eaux de parfum, and each one names its perfumer: Cécile Matton, Violaine Collas, Dominique Moellhausen, Julie Massé, Mathilde Bijaoui and Nathalie Feisthauer.
Piazza Affari: the Stock Exchange fougère
The house describes Piazza Affari as an aromatic fougère inspired by the energy of the Stock Exchange and the elegance of Milanese gentlemen. The scene is set in front of Palazzo Mezzanotte, where business never stops and a group of young businessmen, with unmistakable Italian style, have fun ringing a bell. The composition is by Cécile Matton and opens with pink pepper and cardamom, both Pure Jungle Essence, followed by bourbon geranium and lavender at the heart and bourbon vetiver in the base.
The other fragrances in the collection
Fresh and aromatic: Naviglio, Diurno, Derby
Naviglio is inspired by the Vicolo dei Lavandai, and the house presents it as fresh and aquatic, with an accord of Marseille soap, Calabrian bergamot, neroli, lavandin and white musks. The city's historic public baths inspire Diurno, by Julie Massé, which pairs lavender with an amaretto accord and sage, over a base of balsam fir and musk. Horse racing is the theme of Derby, by Dominique Moellhausen, a woody musk that opens green with galbanum and continues with mimosa, tuberose, vetiver and oakmoss.
Floral: Brera, Cortile, La Prima
Brera, by Violaine Collas, takes the rose from Hayez's The Kiss and the patchouli from Caravaggio's paintings and pairs them with chili pepper, saffron and vanilla. Cortile is dedicated to the ballatoio, the shared courtyard balcony, in summer, with coffee and cinnamon at the opening and a heart of jasmine sambac, tuberose and osmanthus. Also by Violaine Collas is La Prima, dedicated to December 7 at La Scala: an amber floral of orange blossom, osmanthus and jasmine with bourbon vanilla and a fur accord, which the house associates with the allure of Milanese evenings.
Woody: Basilica and Galleria
Among the woody scents is Basilica, inspired by Milan's basilicas, with thyme, rosemary, a warm milk accord, incense and Virginia cedar. Galleria is a dry woody scent dedicated to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, with coffee, iris, a leather accord, sandalwood and patchouli. The product sheet recalls those who, at the turn of the century, traveled from afar for the fine leather goods of the "salotto di Milano," Milan's drawing room.
Gourmand and nocturnal: Panettone and Neon Lights
Panettone, by Mathilde Bijaoui, is a gourmand amber inspired by the Christmas cake, with bitter orange, mandarin, rum, helichrysum and vanilla. Finally, Milan's nightlife of the eighties and nineties inspires Neon Lights, by Nathalie Feisthauer, a fruity floral of tuberose and strawberry with spices at the top and amber and vanilla in the base.
How to choose a Milano Fragranze scent
The starting point is the olfactory family the house gives for each perfume. If you love rose or white flowers, you can choose between Brera, with its spicy rose, Cortile, with jasmine and tuberose, and La Prima, which the house calls an amber floral, with orange blossom and osmanthus. For an aromatic fougère there are Piazza Affari, with pink pepper and lavender, and Diurno, with amaretto and lavender. If you prefer woods, there is Galleria, which the house calls a dry woody, Basilica, a woody, and Derby, a woody musk. Finally, for gourmand notes there is Panettone, with rum and vanilla, or Neon Lights, a fruity floral with strawberry and tuberose.
Frequently asked questions
What does Milano Fragranze Piazza Affari smell like?
Milano Fragranze Piazza Affari is an aromatic fougère created by Cécile Matton and inspired by the Milan Stock Exchange. It opens with pink pepper and cardamom, continues with a heart of bourbon geranium and lavender, and has a base of bourbon vetiver. It is an eau de parfum with a masculine character.
Who created the Piazza Affari perfume?
Piazza Affari was composed by perfumer Cécile Matton for Milano Fragranze. Every fragrance in the collection has a named nose: Violaine Collas signs Brera, Basilica and La Prima. Dominique Moellhausen signs Galleria, Derby and Cortile. Then there are Mathilde Bijaoui for Panettone, Julie Massé for Diurno and Nathalie Feisthauer for Neon Lights.
Is Piazza Affari a men's fragrance?
Piazza Affari has a masculine character: the house presents it as an aromatic fougère that reflects the elegance and determination of Milanese gentlemen. The Milano Fragranze product sheet sets it in front of Palazzo Mezzanotte, home of the Stock Exchange, among young businessmen with unmistakable Italian style.
Which Milano Fragranze scent is best if you love woods?
Galleria is a dry woody scent with coffee, iris, a leather accord, sandalwood and patchouli. Basilica combines thyme and rosemary with labdanum, incense and Virginia cedar. Derby is a woody musk with galbanum, mimosa, vetiver and oakmoss.
What is the idea behind Milano Fragranze?
The idea behind Milano Fragranze is the genius loci, the spirit of the place. Each perfume starts from a specific spot in the city, such as the Naviglio, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Brera or Piazza Affari, and tells the story of the people who have passed through it over time, rather than just describing the setting.
Which Milano Fragranze scent should you choose for something fresh?
The house presents Naviglio as fresh and aquatic, with an accord of Marseille soap, Calabrian bergamot and neroli, followed by lavandin and petitgrain. If you want an aromatic freshness, you can choose the fougères, Piazza Affari and Diurno, while Derby has a green opening of galbanum and mandarin.
What is the difference between Piazza Affari and Diurno?
Piazza Affari and Diurno are both aromatic fougères, but with different notes. Piazza Affari, by Cécile Matton, opens spicy with pink pepper and cardamom and closes on cedar and vetiver. Diurno, by Julie Massé, is inspired instead by the historic public baths and pairs lavender with an amaretto accord and sage, over a base of balsam fir and musk.
What does Milano Fragranze Panettone smell like?
Panettone is a gourmand amber signed by Mathilde Bijaoui and inspired by Milan's Christmas cake. It has bitter orange and mandarin at the top and rum and helichrysum at the heart, which the house associates with the scent of the cake fresh from the oven, with vanilla in the base. The house offers it to lovers of gourmand fragrances.
