The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Novecento arrived in 2025 as part of Eredi Zucca’s eau de parfum collection. Nanako Ogi composed it with an unusual first gesture: carrot seeds and Indian cardamom bring a green, lightly lit energy, while lavender keeps the opening aromatic rather than purely spicy. Together, the opening notes move between vegetable brightness, cool spice and a clean herbal edge, giving the fragrance an immediate sense of contrast. It feels fresh without becoming simple, with a subtle thread of earth running beneath the brighter materials. As the composition develops, that opening settles into a deeper woody register, turning brightness into something more grounded. Novecento is built around the idea that tradition can still have a pulse, balancing aromatic clarity with a warmer sense of texture.
The opening works by placing familiar aromatic materials beside a less expected vegetable note. Carrot seeds bring an earthy, almost savoury brightness; cardamom adds a cool, peppery lift; lavender supplies the familiar clean edge. That trio makes Novecento feel fresh without becoming innocent, since the earthy carrot note gives the opening a darker undertone from the start. The heart then turns structural, with Indian patchouli grounding the composition through a soft, smoky quality.
The evolution
The opening starts with a spark of carrot-seed greenery, cardamom’s cool spice and lavender’s clean herbal lift. It feels light on the surface, but there’s already a darker thread beneath it, like earth seen through polished glass. As the opening settles, Indian patchouli brings a soft, smoky depth that gives the composition a grounded centre. The result is less airy than green and more like shade moving across warm stone. In the drydown, Ambrettolide, Ambroxan and Musk smooth the edges. Together they create a creamy texture around the earlier herbal and earthy notes, while ambroxan leaves a mineral, woody hush. The effect evolves from a crisp aromatic opening into a deeper, quieter composition, with each stage preserving the contrast between brightness and earth.
Cultural impact
Novecento expresses a fragrance identity built around atmosphere and character. Its appeal is both practical and sensory, offering a clear aromatic opening, a grounded heart and a soft, mineral finish. The composition is especially effective for someone who values balance between brightness and depth, and who enjoys a fragrance that reveals different textures as it develops. Its character is more noticeable than a quiet skin scent, yet it remains composed rather than forceful. The result feels like a shared fragrance, suited to a wide range of tastes and occasions while retaining a distinctive sense of shape.
The House
Eredi ZuccaEredi Zucca is a Milanese barbering and grooming name that traces its history to a barbershop opened by Carlo Antonio Zucca in 1652. Its fragrance collection extends that setting into eau de parfum, with compositions connected to Milan, historic barbershops, and figures associated with the city’s cultural identity. The range includes Tabacco, Duomo, Veritas, Vetivero, Cuoio, Novecento, Ultima Cena and Narciso. Novecento, created by Givaudan senior perfumer Nanako Ogi, opens with Indian cardamom, lavender and carrot seeds before moving into a green composition shaped by cedar and ambroxan. Across the collection, the central idea is clear: scent acts as an atmosphere, translating the ritual, materials and character of traditional shaving culture into a contemporary fragrance wardrobe.
The Creator
Nanako OgiHer work blends Eastern subtlety with Western boldness, informed by her multicultural background. Ogi gravitates toward warm woods, resins, and rich florals, often structuring compositions around aldehydes for a sophisticated, almost nostalgic quality.
