The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
195 a.C. refers to 195 BCE, the year Roman citizens repealed the Lex Oppia, a law that had restricted women's display of wealth and beauty. The repeal was a restoration. Maurizio Cerizza built 195 a.C. around that moment of reclaimed elegance. The fragrance opens with fig leaf, brightened by bergamot, with pomegranate lending a tart depth. It's a composition rooted in historical resonance, reimagined for contemporary perfumery.
The fig note in 195 a.C. is not the sweet, lactonic fig of summer drinks. Maurizio Cerizza worked the green, bitter character of the leaf itself, the stem, the cut edge, the waxy surface. Combined with mint, this opens sharp and herbaceous rather than fruity. The black tea and frankincense base is where the composition makes an unusual choice: tea and incense together create a distinctive foundation. The drydown maintains presence without shouting, offering depth that rewards attention.
The evolution
The opening arrives fast. Fig leaf and mint hit together, green and cool, with bergamot brightening the edges. Pomegranate adds a tartness and sweetness that evolves as the heart develops. Jasmine and cardamom arrive, turning the green sharper, warmer. The fig note shifts from leaf to fruit, creamier, rounder. As time passes, the drydown begins its reveal. Cedarwood, oud, and patchouli form a substantial woody base. Black tea and frankincense linger in the background. The longevity is notable, lasting through multiple hours. On fabric, traces remain into the next day, a whisper of incense and oud on a collar, a sleeve. The kind of presence that announces itself only when you've already been in the room.
Cultural impact
195 a.C. presents a green fig note that draws comparisons to other niche releases, though it leans more bitter and incense-forward than many. It's a fragrance for people who want complexity that rewards sitting with it.
