This week’s featured fragrance is Intenso di Basilico by Carthusia, a composition that feels both grounded in heritage yet distinctly contemporary. It speaks the language of the present while carrying the quiet elegance that has long defined Carthusia. There is no excess here, no theatricality, just balance, light, and texture. It wears like a second skin, calm, confident, and precise.
The opening is immediate and radiant. Bergamot and mandarin release a clean citrus brightness that feels almost like morning air on stone, crisp and energising. A flicker of pink pepper adds lift and movement, a subtle spice that catches the light without overwhelming the senses. Then the fragrance shifts, softening into green.
At its core, basil becomes the protagonist. Not culinary, not rustic, but sleek and modern, aromatic in a way that feels architectural and refined. It is paired with the airy transparency of tea leaves and the delicate bloom of jasmine, creating a heart that breathes rather than projects. The effect is freshness with depth, clarity with character.
The base introduces warmth and tactility. Cashmeran lends a smooth, woody softness, almost fabric-like, while patchouli and vetiver ground the composition with elegance and restraint. The trail is intimate yet persistent, leaving an impression that feels personal rather than performative.
Intenso di Basilico belongs to the new Intenso Collection by Carthusia, a project that signals a quiet evolution for the house. Alongside Ginestra and Mirto, the fragrance explores raw Mediterranean materials through a more concentrated, contemporary lens. The scents arrive in newly redesigned 50 ml bottles, defined by vibrant colours and refined forms that visually echo their key ingredients, an object language that bridges tradition and modernity.
Developed in collaboration with Italian master perfumer Luca Maffei and Antoine Lie, the collection reflects a shared commitment to research, craftsmanship, and emotional storytelling. The Intenso collection expresses a broader vision, bringing the care and elegance of Italian perfumery to an increasingly global, cosmopolitan audience.
Basilico, in particular, feels like its manifesto: fresh, green, tactile, and effortlessly modern, a Mediterranean lifestyle distilled into scent.
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