The house and the story of Raphael and Margherita
As Leone Fadelli tells it, the idea behind the brand comes from a Renaissance story. Raphael, summoned to Rome by the pope to paint his apartments and already promised to a young aristocrat, falls in love with Margherita, the daughter of a Trastevere baker, and today he lies buried in the Pantheon. Many of the house's perfumes take their names from the people and places of this story, even from Annone, the white elephant given to Pope Leo X in 1513.
The fragrances in our selection
Annone, Annone Supremo and A
Annone is a perfume with deep, animalic tones, refined by ambers, soft musks, spices and resins, and it is signed by perfumer Arturetto Landi. Its reinterpretation is Annone Supremo, in a golden bottle and with a luminous opening. The whiteness of the same albino elephant inspires A, which the house presents as a hymn to purity, ethereal and tangible at once.
Raffaello, R, Donna Margherita and M
Each of the two lovers has one perfume bearing their name and one bearing their initial. Raffaello works on two levels, with absinthe on one side and pepper, leather, teak wood and tonka bean on the other, while R is a second tribute to the artist, inspired by the idea of elegance and strength. For Margherita there is Donna Margherita, a tuberose bouquet with narcissus, jasmine and amber. The same woman is also honored by M, which the house describes as precious in its simplicity.
Trastevere and Dolce Passione: the gourmands
Among the gourmands is Trastevere, built around Artemisia pallens, made indulgent by chestnut and vanilla and paired with jasmine. The name is that of the neighborhood which, as the house points out, was Rome's bakery in the sixteenth century. Dolce Passione centers on dark chocolate deepened by white truffle, with a heart of hazelnut, honey, vanilla, strawberry and plum, barely perceptible flowers and a base of tonka bean and white musk.
O, Auris, Il Giardino and Così Blu
The name of O recalls the oculus of the Pantheon, and the perfume opens sparkling with pink pepper and rosé champagne. Auris is citrusy and bright, with grapefruit, lime, yuzu, lychee and ginger. Il Giardino is green and musky, with vetiver, ivy and woods over a leather base and a light hint of fruit. Finally, Così Blu draws on the blue skies of Renaissance painting and pairs absinthe, cinnamon and incense with sandalwood, cedar and ambergris.
Anniversario and Notte d'Amore
Anniversario opens with strawberry, blueberry, coconut, peach and a touch of saffron, with rose, jasmine and heliotrope at the heart, which according to the house give it an oriental touch. Notte d'Amore pairs oud with notes of damp skin, vetiver and distant hints of citrus, and the house describes it as passionate yet fresh.
How to choose a Pantheon Roma perfume
For a men's fragrance, you can start with Raffaello, which the house presents as masculine and unisex and which has a leather note, like Il Giardino. Citrus lovers will find Auris, fans of fruity scents Anniversario, and those looking for a gourmand Trastevere or Dolce Passione. Finally, for incense and spicy woods there is Così Blu.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Pantheon Roma?
Pantheon Roma was co-founded by Paolo and Leone Fadelli, and it is Leone who speaks when the brand is presented. It is an Italian niche perfume house based in Rome, inspired by the love story between Raphael and Margherita, the young woman from Trastevere identified with the Fornarina.
Why is the house called Pantheon Roma?
The name comes from the Pantheon in Rome, where Raphael is buried, the protagonist of the story that gave birth to the house. The monument also appears in the perfumes, alongside the people and places of the same Renaissance tale, such as Raffaello, Donna Margherita, Trastevere and Annone.
What do the letters R, M, A and O stand for?
The letters refer to the people and places in the house's story. R is dedicated to Raphael and M to Margherita, the woman he loved, while A is tied to the whiteness of Annone, the white elephant of Pope Leo X. Finally, O recalls the circular shape of the oculus, the great opening in the Pantheon's dome.
Which Pantheon Roma perfume is best for men?
For men, you can start with Raffaello, which has absinthe, pepper, leather, teak and tonka bean and which the house presents as masculine and unisex. If you love oud, try Notte d'Amore, where oud is paired with notes of damp skin, vetiver and distant hints of citrus.
What is the difference between Annone and Annone Supremo?
Annone is the original extrait, signed by perfumer Arturetto Landi, with deep, animalic tones refined by ambers, soft musks, spices and Oriental resins. Annone Supremo is its reinterpretation, with a luminous opening and a golden bottle, and the house presents it as opulence in its highest form.
Which one should I choose if I love tuberose?
Tuberose lovers can choose Donna Margherita, an enveloping, deep bouquet built on tuberose with narcissus, jasmine and amber. As the house points out, in the sixteenth century this flower was considered so seductive that young girls were forbidden to wear it. M is also dedicated to the same Margherita.
What are the gourmand perfumes in the line?
The house's gourmand perfumes are Trastevere and Dolce Passione. The first combines artemisia, chestnut, vanilla and jasmine and is named after the neighborhood that was Rome's bakery in the sixteenth century. The second is built on dark chocolate and white truffle, with hazelnut, honey, strawberry and plum over a base of tonka bean and white musk.
Which one has citrus notes?
The citrus fragrance of the house is Auris, a sparkling extrait with grapefruit, lime and yuzu in the opening, alongside the sweet, exotic note of lychee and the spicy note of ginger. A few citrus notes also appear in Notte d'Amore, but only as a distant hint next to oud, damp skin and vetiver.
Which one should I choose if I like fruity notes?
For fruity notes, you can start with Anniversario, which opens with strawberry, blueberry, coconut and peach and a touch of saffron, and has rose, jasmine and heliotrope at the heart. Dolce Passione also contains strawberry and plum, but together with an indulgent accord of dark chocolate, hazelnut and honey.
