New Niche Fragrance Review: Bruno Fazzolari Editions – A Fine Artist Branches Out + Creative Sample Set Draw

Bruno Fazzolari Header CaFleureBon

The Bruno Fazzolari Editions line of perfumes had an exceptional debut at the second San Francisco Artisan Salon, bringing in several top awards from the judges.  Now that I have sat down with them, I can understand their appeal. Bruno Fazzolari is an accomplished visual artist with a passion for perfumery. He created several of his scents to be used in conjunction with his art exhibitions to heighten the experience of viewing his work. Eventually, he took the plunge and launched a line of these perfumes, which are Monserrat, Lampblack, and Five, adding additional scents inspired by other forms of art, Jimmy and Au Delà.

Bruno Fazzolari 1 Monserrat CaFleureBon

From the New Work Exhibition by Bruno Fazzolari

Originally titled with only a dab of paint on the bottle, Monserrat was ultimately named after the paint color Monserrat Orange. Like the squirting juice of a grapefruit when you stick in the spoon, this perfume gave my nose a good tickle when first sprayed. It settled fairly quickly into a grassy, earthy, and slightly fruity scent.  Something in it still tickled my nose, but in a good way, when I pressed my nose to my arm to inhale. It is a bit herbal, and as it develops, the apricot starts to bloom nicely, and lingers through the drydown. Monserrat has minimal sillage, making it an excellent springtime scent for work.

Notes: pink grapefruit, green leaves, carrot seed, apricot, jasmine, white musk, wet plaster

Bruno Fazzolari 2 Lampblack CaFleureBon

From the Lampblack exhibition by Bruno Fazzolari

When I first tried Lampblack, I thought just off the top of my head that it was a leather scent. On closer inspection, I realize it is not. Lampblack is a pigment made from incompletely burned organic material, used to make ink and paints for artists. Mr. Fazzolari’s series of works created with lampblack ink was the inspiration for this scent. The perfume is an interesting mix of sweet, sour, and dark notes that combine to create an olfactory illusion of smoke. It is a complex smoke, as if a building full of exotic foodstuffs was burning down. The undercurrent has a lovely hint of sweetness that keeps it from being harsh. I am a vetiver fan, and I encourage vetiver lovers to try this one. Vetiver can easily take over a fragrance, and although there is vetiver here, Mr. Fazzolarii has done a good job of incorporating it into his scent whilst reining it in. After its initial outburst, Lampblack stays fairly close to the skin, but the aroma there is smoky, herbal, grassy, and compelling.

Notes: sweet orange, black pepper, bitter grapefruit, nagarmotha, benzoin, vetiver, shadow

Bruno Fazzolari 3 Five CaFleureBon

From the Mirror 5 exhibition by Bruno Fazzolari

Created for an exhibit of artworks that were made with a lot of cadmium lemon paint, Five is a bright, citrus-herbal blend that has an intriguing mineral note.  It doesn’t smell like earth, more like clay; it is a colder smell than loamy dirt. I can smell the citruses when I get closer to my skin, but my scent aura is less organic. It’s an interesting dichotomy, and I am having fun with it. Although my first impression was that it veered masculine, I have settled into its concept and can understand the gender-neutrality. I can see wanting to wear this for summertime activities. I resist the temptation to say it’s a sport scent, because so many of those smell horrible, but it is one in the best possible way. The drydown is nice; just a clean, almost soapy smell close to the skin.

Notes: lemon, sweet orange, rosemary, petitgrain, sweet Woods, minerals, high altitudes

Bruno Fazzolari 4 Five CaFleureBon

Jimmy and John by Fairfield Porter

Inspired by the works of poet James Schuyler, Jimmy is a refreshing, summery perfume that reminds me a bit of fresh cucumbers at first, and then morphs in to a sunny, violet-laced floral that will be wonderful in warm weather. I detect a bit of triple-milled French soap, then the scent quiets down to become a lightly shimmering green floral. It’s very appealing, and people looking for a fresh but unique scent for warmer days should try Jimmy. I am looking forward to trying it again when the weather warms up.

Notes: ylang ylang, rose otto, geranium, violet leaf, heliotrope, sandalwood, daylight

Bruno Fazzolari 5 Jimmy CaFleureBon

Portrait of Olivier Messiaen by Tom Phillips

Of all the Bruno Fazzolari scents, the one that is the most “me” might be Au Delà. It has an earthy, animalic tone that is quite sexy. Mr. Fazzolari is apparently not afraid of indoles and although this fragrance is not fecal, it is not virginal, either.  I enjoy a good dirty floral, and this perfume is one of the better ones I have smelled in a while. It purrs nicely on the skin, with minimum throw. Someone coming in for a hug would get a sensuous surprise. As the fragrance dries down, it settles into a soft warm floral that is just beautiful. Mr. Fazzolari found inspiration in the unique music of Olivier Messaïen to create this perfume.

Notes: coriander, neroli, jasmine, oakmoss, orange flower, amber, immanence

The Bruno Fazzolari Editions line is wonderful for those who want to be scented uniquely but not obtrusively. Most of these are perfect office scents, every day scents, being in a crowd scents. Lampblack and Au Delà are bolder than the other three, but not room-clearing. That this line was popular at the Salon doesn’t surprise me in the least; it is very well-done and I anticipate that it will be successful. The fragrances and a sample set are available on the Bruno Fazzolari website.

Bruno Fazzolari 6 Sample Pack CaFleureBon

I received my sample set from Mr. Fazzolari, and he has kindly offered a sample set to anyone in the USA. Let us know in the comments which of these scents sound like a winner for you, and let us know you are in the US. Draw ends on April 19, 2013.

We announce the winners only on site and on or Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option….or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

Tama Blough, Senior Editor

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36 comments

  • Thanks for the draw! I think Jimmy would suit me; it has some of my favorite notes, but I am learning new things about scent all the time now, and really enjoy the journey.

  • Great review! I’m also a visual artist and love that Mr. Fazzolari creates scents that complement his art. I think of fragrance as another medium to explore emotion, memory, texture, etc. Would love to try them all but especially Au Delà.
    Thanks!

  • Lovely review! I was lucky enough to smell his line at the SF Salon and was immediately taken with Jimmy and Lampblack. I would love to spend more time with the line and see how they develop.

  • great review, Tama! I am always on the lookout for a good office scent and these sound perfect! I would enjoy them all I think and was intrigued by the notes in Au Dela (oakmoss 🙂 !!)

  • I am in the US, and all five actually sound intriguing — but I’ll go with Monserrat as my first choice.

  • I can’t decide, but I’ll go with Five, I love the idea of a perfume that smells like clay (I’m a potter). An intriguing new line!

  • I would have to try Au Dela because it was inspired by music. The “wet plaster” in Monserrat also sounds interesting, and it’s the only list of notes that doesn’t mix metaphors. I’m in the US.

  • wefadetogray says:

    Lampblack! I love to try anything smokey and your description is quite interesting: sweet, sour, and dark notes. Thanks for the draw. I am in the US

  • I’m in the US. I love that the one fragrance I would like, Monserrat, was inspired by a painting, and that the other fragrance I would like, Au Dela, is inspired by music. Very interesting article…will look for this perfumer in the future.

  • Great review Tama! Lampblack is my choice and I’m in the US. Thanks so much for the draw! 🙂

  • This reminds me (in a good way) of Olfactive Studio. I’m loving these visual inspired themes for perfume. I’m excited to try these and see how they feel with the paintings. The one that most speaks to me is Au Delà. I’m in the USA. Great review.

  • matildaben says:

    I’m in the US and would love to try Au Delà and Monserrat. Thanks for the review, it is great to see new creative artists in perfumery.

  • rosiegreen says:

    Terrific review. I would love to try Lampblack. I am in the U.S. p.s. I love the paintings you chose to illustrate this post.

  • Au Dela sounds like the one for me! Thanks for posting those paintings, makes me want to try the line even more! I live in the U.S. thanks!

  • As a HUGE fan of vetiver, I would have to say Lampblack sounds intriguing.

    In the US

  • Lampblack sounds very interesting. I am in the US and I’d love to try these. Thanks!

  • I live in the US and would love to try these. Au Dela sounds fantastic; I love when my perfume is a little “dirty” smelling.

  • Monserrat is for me. Smells like an artist’s studio, mixing fruit, earth and plaster. I make installations with these sorts of materials. Gritty pleasure. I live in the US.

  • lovely review. I love the poetry from that era so Jimmy appeals to me. au dela also sounds great! I live in the us. thank you.

  • Mary Carol says:

    All of these perfumes sound really nice, but I think I’d have to single out Montserrat, with its apricot and carrot seed. I live in the US.

  • Mary Ellen says:

    Really enjoyed a peak into this house. Jimmy would be nice. I live in the us.

    Thanks!

  • Brenda Patrickson says:

    Lampblack is most my style. Thanks for the article, I’ll be checking the house out.

    USA here.

  • Au Dela sounds like my kind of perfume – your description of the someone coming in for a hug has me convinced. I am in the US. Thanks for the draw.