The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Paolo Terenzi designed Per Sempre, Italian for 'forever', as an olfactory translation of something less tangible than a place, more durable than a feeling. The fragrance captures what the brand calls the 'honest admission and unbreakable promise of eternal love' that visitors to Tuscany bring home without meaning to. Drive from Siena to Florence. See the purple iris fields. Promise yourself you'll return. Per Sempre is that promise, held in liquid form. The number 08 marks it as the eighth in DiVina Terra's numbered collection, each fragrance a sensory record of an emotional moment rather than a geographic survey.
The composition pivots on a tension rarely resolved this cleanly: powdery floral versus warm woody base. Iris and violet don't just open the fragrance, they persist, casting their violet-hued dust through the heart and into the drydown. This is unusual. Most fragrances let the top notes introduce and exit. Here, the powdery quality is the spine of the scent, the thing that holds when everything else settles around it. The sandalwood in the top note and guaiac wood in the heart create a buttery, almost creamy wood presence that supports the iris without overwhelming it. White oud in the base is more about atmosphere than impact, a distant, clean wood note rather than the animalic punch of traditional oud.
The evolution
The first minutes belong to violet and sandalwood, a dry, powdery opening that smells like the pages of a book left open in sunlight. Within 15 minutes, the iris takes over, pushing the fragrance from 'introduction' into 'the thing itself.' The heart arrives quietly: vanilla and tonka bean don't crash the party, they slip in sideways, sweetening the powder without diluting it. Copaiba balsam adds a resinous warmth that reads as 'amber' more than 'balsam.' The drydown is where Per Sempre earns its name. Four hours in, the cedar and white oud emerge, not replacing the powder but deepening it. The fragrance becomes less a scent and more an impression, something that clings to skin and fabric without announcing itself.
Cultural impact
DiVina Terra operates in the niche fragrance space where small-batch production and artisanal sourcing drive appeal. The brand's focus on traditional iris extraction and sandalwood sourcing reflects a broader movement toward authentic, craft-driven perfumery. These ingredients carry significant cultural weight, iris representing Florentine perfumery heritage and sandalwood connecting to sacred and cosmetic traditions across multiple continents. The combination signals intentionality, appealing to consumers seeking depth over trend-chasing. Such fragrances contribute to a cultural conversation about slowing down, appreciating craft, and valuing longevity over novelty in personal scent choices.
The House
DiVina TerraDiVina Terra is an Italian niche fragrance house established in 2019, operating at the intersection of perfumery, visual art, and the sensory traditions of Tuscany. The brand emerged from a creative collaboration between founder Larisa Karaban and the design duo Tiziana and Paolo Terenzi. Their fragrance collection follows a numbered system (01 through 09, plus limited editions), offering olfactory interpretations of emotional moments, natural landscapes, and moments of human connection. The house draws direct inspiration from Tuscan terroir, translating the aromas of vineyards, olive groves, and Mediterranean herbs into wearable compositions. As of 2025, the brand has released sixteen distinct perfumes, with annual limited editions expanding the collection. The brand maintains a presence across European markets while cultivating a devoted following among collectors who value their unconventional approach to scent creation.
The Creator
Paolo TerenziWorking from a studio filled with rare essences and precious ingredients, Terenzi gravitates toward oud wood, ambergris, and benzoin resin, among other treasured materials. His creative ritual begins each morning with meditation before he gives free rein to instinct.
