The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Hany Hafez built Rome in 2017 as Alexandria Fragrances' answer to Memo Paris Italian Leather, translating a specific olfactory idea into something the collector could actually own. The brief was simple: take leather seriously. Not as an accent, not as a base note buried under wood and amber. Leather as the point. What emerged was green before it was warm, sharp before it softened, honest in a way that invites rather than challenges.
The note structure holds a deliberate tension. Tomato leaf appears twice, in top and heart, threading green through the entire arc instead of vanishing after the opening. Galbanum and clary sage push the heart toward aromatic territory while orris root adds the powdery earthiness that bridges into the base. The result is leather that doesn't just smell like leather. It breathes.
The evolution
Tomato leaf and leather arrive together, bright, green, almost astringent. The vanilla is there too, but restrained at first, letting the contrast between fresh and dark do the work. Within 20 minutes, the green begins to soften. Clary sage introduces itself as a warm herbal note, not sharp. The leather deepens, taking on a slight smoky quality as it mixes with orris root and the resinous galbanum. The drydown is where it earns its name. Vanilla and benzoin wrap close to the skin. Iris and sandalwood create a powdery, woody warmth. Musk and labdanum linger. On fabric, it survives until the next morning.
Cultural impact
Leather notes have always held a special place in perfumery, evoking craftsmanship, heritage, and a certain rugged elegance that spans centuries. The combination of leather with tomato leaf brings something distinctly Mediterranean to this composition, capturing the essence of sun-warmed Italian countryside. Tomato leaf as a note is relatively modern in perfumery, gaining popularity for its green, slightly aquatic quality that cuts through heavier base notes. This fragrance captures the tension between rustic authenticity and refined luxury, reflecting how modern fragrance houses draw from diverse cultural traditions to create something that feels both nostalgic and contemporary.
