Andrea Casotti
Andrea Casotti did not arrive at perfumery through the expected route. Trained as a nuclear engineer at Milan's prestigious Politecnico di Milano, he spent his early career building a business presence across Monte Carlo, Paris, Miami, and Milan, completing an MBA in International Business along the way. Perfumes were part of his life throughout, but it was a desire to move beyond mere consumption into creation that eventually pulled him into the laboratory. He founded The House of Oud as a vehicle for his vision, blending the precision of engineering thinking with an authentic passion for raw materials, particularly the rich, resinous world of oud. Casotti approaches fragrance creation like an architect, designing scents that feel structured yet deeply sensual. His collaborations with perfumers like Cristian Calabrò have produced work that balances Italian elegance with Middle Eastern warmth, establishing THoO as a house that rewards attention. Pure Diamond, a fragrance he described as an attempt to capture how a diamond would smell, exemplifies his willingness to pursue unusual creative briefs. At events like Pitti Fragranze, he has brought his creations directly to audiences, preferring conversation over marketing.
The hits
Notable creations
The signature
How Andrea composes
The House of Oud fragrances under Casotti's direction tend toward richness without heaviness. He favors oud as a foundational material but renders it in ways that feel modern and wearable, often pairing it with transparent woods, bright citruses, and clean musks. His Live in Colours line explored the properties of hinoki, a Japanese cypress he clearly admires for its mineral, almost spiritual quality. The "Sparkling wood" concept he has discussed suggests an interest in texture and luminosity, creating woods that feel effervescent rather than dense. His Pure Diamond work demonstrates comfort with abstraction, translating concepts rather than merely combining notes. Overall, his style reads as contemporary Italian luxury: refined, slightly cerebral, with warmth that emerges gradually rather than announcing itself immediately.
Philosophy
What drives Andrea
Casotti believes fragrance should tell a story without needing explanation. His creative process begins with emotional questions rather than ingredient lists: what should this smell like? What feeling should it leave behind? He draws a direct line between his engineering background and his nose work, describing both as exercises in precision and problem-solving. His desire to collaborate with artists like Ksenia Penkina suggests someone who sees perfumery as part of a broader creative conversation rather than a siloed craft. Casotti has spoken about wanting to bridge worlds, and his work reflects that ambition. He does not chase trends; he builds scents that feel lasting, that accumulate meaning over time rather than announcing themselves loudly and fading.
The houses
Maisons Andrea composes for
In the same league