Maria Candida Gentile Fragrance House

Maria Candida Gentile is a perfumer, a mother and the independent entrepreneur behind a new line of fine fragrances, luxurious candles and a custom-made service reserved for those clients who want to feel even more special.

Maria Candida Gentile's story begins like with many of us perfume entusiasts in childhood, when she was mesmerised by the Clair Matin roses in her home garden. Gathering the petals, infusing them in water and offering the finished rose-water to loved ones was the first step into a life journey that would eventually take her to Grasse in France, perfume capital of the world. There, under the guidance of master perfumer Carol André she learned the techniques, but also the little known trade secrets of rendering unique fragrances which stem from the heart and aim straight  to the heart. To that end, her brand uses only the choicest natural materials, while her methodology has earned her the title of Maître Parfumeur; she's in fact one of the few women bearing this prized title.

Her fragrance line, rich, varied and with attention to detail is presented in three categories: Classic, Travel and Exclusive.
 

A collection of fragrances in Eau de Parfum that come in two declinations: Either bigger 100 ml/3.4 oz bottles (available from Febraury 2012)  or small atomizers (15 ml/0.5 oz) in travel-friendly guise. All include the following rich scents inspired by travel mementos:

	EXULTAT (Fragrance family: Hesperidic, Floral, Woody) A visit to the Church of Saint Lorence in Lucina during the hour of Vespers "provoked" the fantasy of Maria Candida, for the creation of Exultat. An evocative and spiritual perfume, which blends trascendence and matter, holy and lay. Into Exultat, Violet and Vetiver overlap and merge with Incense of Somalia, but the absolute of Violet leaves gives a touch of depth and spirituality to this creation.
	CINABRE (Fragrance Family: Spicy, Floral, Amber)   A real revolution in the fragrances made of roses. Cinabre creates the fragrance of a magic rose with a breakthrough formula. It blends the essences of the Moroccan Splendens roses, absolute of may roses & pure vanilla to recreate, by magic, the scent of the Ayrshire rose Splendens, an ancient rose well known for having exquisite and extremely rare notes of myrrh.
	GERSHWIN (Fragrance Family: Citrus, Floral, Woody)   Gershwin is an ode to the forests, flowers and sounds, music of different continents which one can grab only by exploring, an ode to our spirit of freedom and belonging to the same planet, the earth, our home. Gershwin is made of citruses and rare incenses. It contains at the same time the vibrations of the the Sicilian sun and the Memphis blues, the sycomore fragrance vibrating together with the peated scents of the night.
	BARRY LYNDON (Fragrance Family: Aromatic, Floral, Leathery) We are in the Age of Enlightenment, in the 18th century AC, when extreme sensuality meets refinement. Barry Lyndon, the character of William Makepeace Thackeray, interpreted by Ryan O'Neal in the movie of Stanley Kubrick, is who I had in mind when I created the Barry Lyndon Fragrance. The walk of the young Barry Lyndon with his horse, resonate in the mist, along little paths in the country side covered with heather flowers and peat. Scents of fresh leather of his saddle mixes in the air. It is an harmony, a vibration which I felt when walking in the pristine mountains of the Val d'Aosta in the Italian Alps.
	HANBURY (Fragrance Family: Citrus, Floral, Amber) The inspiration comes from the gardens of the Hanbury Villa in Ventimiglia, a city of northern Italy by the mediterranean sea. The essences of this garden have been assembled during a life time by its owner, a very charming and beautiful lady, Dorothy Hanbury. In spring these essences combine all together in the air and are blended by the soft and warm wind from the sea producing an exquisite harmony which has been recreated in the Hanbury fragrance. This is the most "feminine" fragrance up to date of the classic range.
	SIDERIS (Fragrance Family: Amber, Floral, Woody)   Sideris was born during a walk along a Mediterranean beach in Liguria (Italy) at night. The moment was so beautiful that one could feel like floating in the air, between the sea and the stars in the sky. It is purely poetic fragrance. Dedicated to the last night star "In The Morning You Always Come Back" a poem written by the author Cesare Pavese.

This line by M.C.G. set to launch in the spring of 2012 includes four fragrances that come in 30 ml/1 oz bottles of Eau de Parfum concentration in the following scents:

BURLESQUE (Fragrance Family: Citrus, Floral, Amber) The power of seduction, where the success is not given by the visible beauty, but the ability to fascinate, to play, to create the right atmosphere, to surprise. Burlesque is a secret formula where the iris pallida dances in harmony with the Balsam and the Patchouli.
GENTILE (Fragrance Family: Aromatic, Floral, Woody)   The formula is built around the most gentle components of the Vetiver roots, probably the most iconic of the men's fragrances, together with the Osmanthus, little white flowers, which bring its serenity and gentleness. Gentile means "gentle" in Italian.
LUBERON (Fragrance Family: Aromatic, Floral, Citrus)   Luberon is a composition which comes directly from the natural valleys of the south of France in spring. It carries the gently relaxing and comforting scents of this beautiful and happy region, the Luberon. The delicate fresh herbs are blended with an oak musk.
LADY DAY (Fragrance Family: Green, Floral, Amber) Billie Holiday, the famous blues and jazz singer would never go on stage if she had not a flower of gardenia on her head. I dedicate this fragrance to her, to her talent and the beauty of her voice. Lady day is the nickname of Billie Holiday. A real Lady of the blues music.

Finally, Maria Candida Gentile is working on updating her candles line and catering to tailor-made creations for clients who want either personal fragrances that are exclusive to them or signature scents for homes, yachts, air-jets and residences. She is also delivering a two-level course on perfumery for those interested in learning more about the craft.

Discover Maria Candida Gentile at her official site
 

Author: Elena Vosnaki is a historian & perfume writer from Greece and a Writer to Fragrantica. She is the founder and editor of Perfume Shrine, one of the most respected independent online publications on perfume containing fragrance reviews, industry interviews, essays on raw materials and perfume history, a winner in Fragrantica Blog Awards and a finalist in numerous blog awards contests. Her writing was recognised at the Fifi Awards for Editorial Excellence in 2009 and she has been contributing to publications around the world.