Heritage
A house, in its own words
The story of Esse Strikes The Notes begins with Roberta Cerizza, who draws on a family connection to perfumery through her work with Paolo Cerizza. While the Cerizza name in Italian fragrance circles remains relatively understated compared to legacy houses, the collaboration between the two has produced a consistent body of work since 2018. The earliest confirmed fragrance in the collection, Miranda, appeared in 2018, establishing the house's signature approach: naming each scent after an Italian first name to give it an immediate, human identity. In the years that followed, the house released Priscilla and Donatella (both 2018), Vittoria (2019), Serena (2023), Sveva (2023), Sofia (2023), Tonkaholic (2024), and the 2025 pair of Vanilla Circus and Rock 'n' Salt. Esse Strikes The Notes appears in niche fragrance retail environments including The Perfume Nest, a UK-based specialist known for profiling emerging houses. The house has also been featured at industry events, with a presence noted at TFWA 2019. The brand's roots in Italian naming conventions reflect a broader Mediterranean approach to fragrance as personal narrative rather than commercial product.
The philosophy of Esse Strikes The Notes rests on the belief that a fragrance should carry a name with weight and personality, not merely a marketing label. By assigning Italian first names to each composition, the house frames its perfumes as characters in a story, each embodying a different facet of human temperament. This naming convention is not incidental. It shapes how the house approaches formulation, encouraging compositions that are distinct and assertive rather than broadly appealing. The house's self-described approach to producing unique and unconventional fragrances suggests an intentional resistance to mainstream fragrance conventions. Rather than chasing trend-driven accords, the brand appears to favor compositions that surprise, challenge, or provoke a response. This positions the house firmly within the artistic niche segment, where fragrance functions as a form of personal expression. The decision to work exclusively in Extrait de Parfum concentration signals a commitment to longevity and depth, choosing intensity over accessibility.