The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Grietas de Oro launched in 2023, created by Alessandra Castelbarco for Amarsi Fragrances. Its title points toward gold and its fractured, gleaming surface, and the composition follows that idea with light rather than heaviness. Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Mandarin Orange and Yuzu bring a polished citrus shine, sharpened by Blackcurrant. Beneath that brightness, Iris, Jasmine, Mimosa and Neroli introduce a refined floral register. Pink Pepper and Wasabi stop the arrangement from becoming conventionally pretty, adding a green, peppery tension that makes the scent feel tactile and awake. The citrus notes lend the opening a clean, sparkling lift, while Blackcurrant deepens the brightness with a darker fruit accent.
The unusual detail is Wasabi sitting beside Neroli, Mimosa and Iris. That pairing gives the floral heart a clean, snapping edge, while Pink Pepper pushes the brightness toward something more athletic. Beneath it, Hinoki Cypress and Vetiver bring structure, and Labdanum, Myrrh, Musk and Vanilla supply warmth. The result feels less like a neat floral bouquet and more like polished gold catching a blade of green light.
The evolution
The opening starts with citrus doing what citrus does best: flashing bright, lifting the spirits and moving quickly. Bitter Orange, Mandarin and Yuzu sharpen the mood, while Bergamot keeps it polished. Blackcurrant adds a dark, juicy twist, and the first hints of Wasabi bring that unmistakable green snap. As the fragrance settles, Iris and Neroli take over, creating a cool, elegant floral center. Jasmine and Mimosa make the heart fuller without losing its freshness, while Pink Pepper gives the transition a dry, rosy edge. The floral notes unfold gradually, balancing their softness with the sharper citrus and green accents established at the start. The drydown becomes quieter and more tactile. Hinoki Cypress gives the base a clean woody line, Vetiver adds earth, and Myrrh brings resinous depth.
Cultural impact
Grietas de Oro is a unisex floral fragrance built around contrast. Elegant blossom meets the vivid green edge of Wasabi, while the opening combines Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Mandarin Orange and Yuzu with the darker fruitiness of Blackcurrant. Iris, Jasmine, Mimosa and Neroli create a refined floral center, and Pink Pepper adds a dry, rosy accent. As the scent develops, the base settles into Hinoki Cypress, Vetiver, Myrrh, Labdanum, Musk and Vanilla, giving the composition a clean woody line with warmth and subtle sweetness. Its appeal lies in this changing balance of citrus brightness, floral texture, green snap and soft warmth.
The House
Amarsi FragrancesAmarsi Fragrances is a London-based independent perfume house that draws creative direction from the sensory world of Indian spice markets. Founded in 2020 by Alessandra Castelbarco, the brand crafts fragrances intended to evoke the atmosphere of bustling bazaars, where aromatic threads of cardamom, saffron, oud, and amber interweave. The house operates with a distinctive atelier model, producing small-batch scents that include Ibiza Wood, Illegal Honey, London Fields, and the more recent Sombras De Oro. Unlike many contemporary brands that emphasize individual perfumer credits, Amarsi presents its creations as collaborative expressions, allowing each wearer to form their own relationship with the scent narrative. The brand's output spans nearly a dozen formulations released over four years, with most debuts clustered around its 2020 launch and notable additions in 2023 and 2024. Based in the United Kingdom, Amarsi Fragrances represents a modern approach to heritage-inspired perfumery, where olfactory memories serve as the foundation for contemporary scent creation.
The Creator
Alessandra CastelbarcoHer style leans toward the natural and the narrative. Castelbarco gravitates toward high-quality raw materials, particularly those with Mediterranean origins, and builds compositions that feel rooted rather than abstract.
