Intenso di Basilico EDP 50ml

Part of Carthusia’s Intenso collection, a contemporary new direction for the heritage brand, aimed at bringing that “Made in Italy” flair to a modern international audience. Renowned noses Luca Maffei and Antoine Lie have centred each of the Intenso fragrances around a classic Italian perfumery ingredient, reinterpreting and refreshing them. In colourful new bottles, the Intenso fragrances showcase the best of what Italy has to offer in the present day while remaining rooted in Carthusia’s rich history and tradition.

INTENSO DI BASILICO
Intenso di Basilico transforms tradition into a contemporary olfactory experience, with a fresh, vibrant, and irresistibly modern composition.
While you might be more used to encountering basil in a culinary context, in Italy, basil has long been associated with love, devotion and divinity. Naturally therefore, Intenso di Basilico, which is fresh and aromatic, also has a romantic, sort of airy feel about it, especially due to the addition of jasmine in the heart notes.

NOTES
Top: Bergamot, Tangerine, Pink Pepper
Middle: Basil, Tea Leaves, Jasmine
Base: Cashmeran, Patchouli, Vetiver

PERFUMER
Luca Maffei, Antoine Lie

HOW IT WEARS
Intenso di Basilico’s opening is an explosion of energy: bergamot and mandarin bring a bright, citrusy touch, while pink pepper adds a lively, spicy edge. In the heart, the undisputed protagonist is Basil: fresh, green, and incredibly contemporary, it intertwines with the airy lightness of tea leaves and the floral romance of jasmine. The base notes then wrap the fragrance in a warmth and sophistication. Cashmeran, with its soft, woody texture, blends with the earthy depth of patchouli and the elegant fresh spice of vetiver, creating a finish that is both enveloping and dynamic, designed to leave a bold and unmistakable impression that will last hours on the skin.

LORE LOVES
We think Intenso di Basilico perfectly encapsulates what the Intenso range is all about – using a traditional Italian perfumery ingredient but reimagining it in a contemporary, extremely wearable way. It is definitely a true basil scent, but the additional top notes of citrus paired with jasmine, tea and the green spice of vetiver round it out, making it feel more complex and interesting. Fun fact: in Renaissance Italy, eligible bachelorettes would place pots of basil on their windowsills to signal they were available to potential suitors – so who knows, maybe wearing this fragrance will have a similar effect – spray wisely!

ABOUT THE BRAND
In 1380 on the island of Capri, the monks of Carthusian Monastery of St. Giacomo were taken by surprise when they learnt that Queen Joan of Anjou would be visiting them. Legend has it the father prior went around the island, gathering the most beautiful flowers he could find to present to the queen. The flowers were kept in water for 3 days, and just as the monks went to throw them away, they noticed a beautiful fragrance coming from the water. They went to their alchemist, who figured out how to recreate and preserve the scent, thus creating the first perfume of Capri.
Hundreds of years later, in 1948, the monks’ perfume formulas were rediscovered by the Priory of Certosa. With permission from the Pope, a chemist went about reproducing the formulas in a small laboratory, named Carthusia.
In the late 40s painter Mario Laboccetta created Carthusia’s logo – a flower siren surrounded by native Capresi blooms, symbolising the brand’s indissoluble bond with Capri.
Today, Carthusia’s fragrances are still all handmade, observing centuries old practises, ensuring the highest level of quality in their fragrances. The spirit and history of Capri is embedded in every Carthusia product, and all ingredients are derived from Capri’s environment, paying homage to the beautiful island.

FREE RETURNS
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