Tiziana Terenzi

Tiziana Terenzi began as Cereria Terenzi, a candle maker started in 1968 in Cattolica in a room of 16 square metres. Its founder, Evelino Terenzi, came from a family in the trade: his father Guglielmo had helped found a waxworks, and his wife Luigia Mancini helped him set up the workshop. His children Tiziana and Paolo now own the house. Tiziana is the designer, and Paolo is the nose and the president. These family details come from the retailer La Maison du Parfum; the house's own pages name the same family companies under Terenzi Group Holding.

It is known for scented candles first and then perfume, mostly extrait de parfum. The house says its work is done by hand, and that its perfumes began as notes jotted down in old notepads. Each collection has a theme: Classic Gold and Classic Black follow a journey through fire and memory, Comete is about love and comets, and Luna about childhood wonder. Its candle headquarters is in Cattolica.

In Italy you can smell the range in its own boutique at Via del Babuino 167 in Rome, or in its Milan boutique at Via Senato 45, on the corner of Via Manzoni. A 100 ml extrait of Kirke costs 220 euros at its own shop, and a 1.5 ml sample vial 8.50 euros. Try Kirke first, which also comes in a stronger Kirke Overdose: it is inspired by a park south of Rome and by Circe, the sorceress of the Odyssey.