Last year I wrote an article about an intriguing perfume boutique in Catania, Sicily, Boudoir 36. Run by Antonio Alessandria, it is a treasure trove of artisanal perfumery and other scented products. Now, the boutique offers its own line of fragrances, Antonio Alessandria Parfums. It includes three fragrances, Nacre Blanche, Nuit Rouge, and Noir Obscur.
Nacre Blanche
“The light of the moon, white as a pearl, enters the window…”
Nacre Blanche is based on tuberose, and it includes notes of coriander, bergamot, osmanthus, jasmine, benzoin, vanilla, and leather.
Nuit Rouge
“A silvery moon illuminates the frosty night. The volcano looms volatile in the dark.”
Nuit Rouge is a blend of woods accented by bergamot, lemon, black currant, geranium, iris, saffron, coffee, and musk.
Noir Obscur
“In a dark still night of a new moon, the memory of the light makes its way through the maze of the soul to lead the way along unknown paths.”
Nuit Obscur is rich in amber and oriental resins. It also includes orange, davana, spices, Bulgarian rose, jasmine, iris, leather, patchouli, and incense.
Available at Boudoir 36, Jovoy in Paris, Germany’s Aus Liebe Zum Duft and Essenza Nobile and other select retailers. 50ml/140 euros. Via press release.
26 Comments
Karen: Sound interesting, and bottles are beautiful! Wish I’d gone to the shop when we were there last year. Noir Obscur sounds particularly good for the fall, hope to see a review soon! October 7, 2014 at 7:17am
Victoria: The shop is beautiful and the location is really nice on Via Filomena in Catania. I loved visiting that city very much. October 7, 2014 at 7:55am
solanace: These look good. Catania is a place I´d love to go back to. 🙂 October 7, 2014 at 7:48am
Victoria: Me too! I have a dream of visiting during the Santa Agatha festival in February. October 7, 2014 at 7:57am
solanace: Just googled it. The city lit with candles is just beautiful. October 7, 2014 at 8:20am
Victoria: I can just imagine how gorgeous it must be. Catania is splendid on its own, and whenever I think back on my visit, on delicious food, on very kind, nice people we met, it’s such a nice recollection. The whole of Sicily was incredible, I have to say, and I can’t wait to return. October 7, 2014 at 8:26am
solanace: Sicilian people are really cool, and the food is amazing! The best pizza I ever had was in Catania. October 7, 2014 at 2:59pm
Victoria: We had really good seafood there. So fresh! October 8, 2014 at 7:42am
solanace: And these perfumes sound really interesting, all three of them! October 7, 2014 at 3:14pm
Victoria: I like the sound of them too! October 8, 2014 at 7:42am
Michaela: Sounds like rare treasures. These perfumes could be art. I don’t feel nor market research, cut expenses, nor frustrations behind them. Just passion and talent. I also feel very much attracted by the picturesque boutique. Wish Antonio Alessandria good luck. October 7, 2014 at 8:05am
Victoria: Same here. I admire people who are driven by passion. October 7, 2014 at 8:24am
Sandra Levine: I wondeer if these will be available anywhere in Rome, where I’ll be spending two weeks in November. October 7, 2014 at 10:00am
Victoria: I think that they are sold in various boutiques in Italy, not just Catania, so they might be in Rome too. October 7, 2014 at 12:46pm
Phyllis Iervello: I love Sicily as well. I hope I will get there again in my lifetime. October 7, 2014 at 10:45am
Victoria: It was one of my favorite trips! October 7, 2014 at 12:47pm
George: Those bottles- like some sort of Estruscan canopic jars re-imagined by Gustav Klimt! I was so excited. I then read a bit of AA’s pr bumf which said that the names of the perfumes were all chosen because they began with an “n”. Oh, how arbitrary I thought! Still, wishing well on this one!: it seems the sort of shop that one would want to buy from just because of the charm of the set-up: I hope the perfumes turn out to be enjoyable. October 7, 2014 at 12:24pm
Victoria: It didn’t seem that way to me when I visited the boutique. It has an impressive selection of fragrances and an attentive, friendly customer service, two essential criteria for me. October 7, 2014 at 12:56pm
George: I don’t disagree: what I meant was that the charm of the set up is reason enough to want to shop there! not that it was the only reason to want to shop there! October 10, 2014 at 7:41am
Victoria: Gotcha! The set up is definitely great, very baroque and ornate. October 10, 2014 at 9:23am
bregje: the people in Sicily are amongst the friendliest in Europe/maybe the world.
But i must say that when i first visited Catania i was quite shocked how poor it was.
Via Etnea is gorgeous but the streets around it are very dirty and grim.
It’s not like,for instance Rome(is my favourite city in Europe;). I lived there for a year) or Paris.Where immediately after you drive into those city’s you’re taken by the beauty that surrounds you.
But the people i met,were very nice.And the food!I never ate as much as i did in Sicily!
There’s also a very small musicshop where you can find everything you’ve ever dreamed of. Bought some local music that i listen to a lot.
Victoria,have you smelled those AA scents?
I’m curious to know if they really smell like Sicily October 7, 2014 at 6:59pm
Victoria: Sicily in general is much poorer than the rest of Italy, not to mention metropolitan France, so I knew that before my visit. The center of Catania didn’t strike me as grim or dirty, in fact, it was anything but. On the other hand, there were different areas of the city that were much rundown and still had the scars left by the WWII shelling. And then you turn around and see the exuberant cascade of bougainvillea radiating the most intense pink. All in all, I found it magical, rubble, graffiti and all. October 8, 2014 at 7:47am
bregje: I did too,eventually.
But the first time we went(it could be because it was a different time of year) and tried to park the car,there was just garbage everywhere and eventhough we’d been to other cities and were aware of the poverty,we didn’t love it on first sight…
Later we discoveerd other parts of town and a different way of entering.
So my last comment was more of a warning for people who haven’t been there yet.In the books and comments you only ever hear:beautiful.But it’s much more layered.
It’s like that boy(or girl),who isn’t the prettiest guy in town,but turns out to be the most friendly,funny person with a characteristic face.And you notice more and more the beautiful facettes his face has and because of his personality he shines even brighter and in the end you can’t help falling in love with him(or her)
Or in other words:Catania is no Brad Pitt,but rather Benicio del Toro or Javier Bardem. October 8, 2014 at 2:06pm
Victoria: Maybe coming from New York, I simply don’t mind a bit of grit, but I really didn’t notice all that much garbage or grimness. Maybe I was just bowled over by the sheer gorgeousness of Sicily in springtime. I’m struggling to remember any negative impressions, and I only can recall a couple of areas here or there that I’d describe as run down. We explored the city a lot. But really, my first overall impression was of this exuberant, beautiful place full of the most incredible baroque architecture. October 8, 2014 at 2:24pm
bregje: I think you being there in springtime may have made all the difference:).I was there at the end of summer(so i think it was probably a lot dryer and dustier).
Over all i thought Sicily was gorgeous.
Catania was actually the only city where both my boyfriend and i were a little disappointed in at first(i had read so many beautiful romantic stories about it) ,but we recovered quickly;) after a cappucci and cassata.
It’s great talking about it with you!Even though it’s not about perfume…
I’m learning so much from this site.So thanks! October 8, 2014 at 6:00pm
Victoria: Same here! I enjoyed chatting with you very much. 🙂 October 9, 2014 at 9:37am