For those who don't know, Carthusia is undoubtedly one of the best and most perfume houses in Italy. The brand is located on the beautiful Italian island of Capri, and it draws inspiration from this location's rich history. The story goes that in 1948, the Carthusian Monastery discovered perfume formulas written by a 14th century local monk who had accidentally created Capri’s first fragrance from a bouquet of flowers he had gathered for Queen Giovanna d’Angio. Paying homage to this perfumed past, all Carthusia scents are made by hand, to guarantee the accurate application of the natural methods involved and the precious care of traditional craftsmanship. And this couldn't be more evident in Aria Di Capri.
One of the brand's best selling scents, Aria Di Capri, features top notes of lemon, bergamot, and petitgrain, heart notes of mimosa, jasmine, geranium, and rose, and base notes of bay leaf, cedar, and musk. The eau de parfum is powerful, not just in its projection but how long it lingers on the skin. It is one of the strongest fragrances I've smelt in a long time and, because of that, I can imagine it being quite polarising - disliked by those who love their scents subtle and adored by those who like the most beautiful of fragrance blends to make an impact the impact they deserve.
Available from Liberty London, Aria Di Capri is £80 for 100ml.