The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Shalom takes its name from the Genesis moment when Noah understood that the waters had withdrawn from the earth and peace would follow. That image gives the fragrance its contemplative center, a passage from tension into stillness. Laura Bosetti Tonatto builds that idea around olive, incense, Damask rose, myrrh, and frankincense. Olive brings a green, earthy clarity, while the incense materials add resin, smoke, and ceremonial weight. Damask rose gives the composition its human warmth, preventing the sacred mood from feeling remote. The result is less an imitation of church incense than a sensory idea of revelation, release, and restored calm.
The central pairing is olive and incense, which sets a useful tension in the composition. One is green, bitter, and mineral by association; the other is smoky, resinous, and ancient. Damask rose sits between them, adding floral depth without turning the scent sweet. Myrrh and frankincense deepen the ritual register, giving the bouquet a slow, burning warmth. Together, the materials make Shalom feel contemplative, but not solemn. There is a living quality in the olive and rose, while the resins lend structure and a sense of ceremony.
The evolution
On skin, Shalom begins with a clear green impression, shaped by olive and a lifted incense quality. The brightness is quickly joined by the tender, slightly spiced presence of Damask rose, which softens the composition without erasing its resinous edge. As the scent settles, myrrh and frankincense become the lasting materials, carrying a dry, balsamic warmth that feels closer to a quiet sanctuary than a dramatic smoke cloud. The drydown leaves a woody-resinous trace on fabric and skin, intimate rather than room-filling. Its expected 4-6 hour wear ends with the soft recall of incense, olive leaves, and rose.
Cultural impact
Shalom sits within Essenzialmente Laura's Roman sensory scholarship, where sacred spaces, hidden courtyards, and atmospheric places become fragrance subjects. Its contemplative register connects incense and rose with a sense of private ritual, appealing to wearers who prefer beauty that is quiet, intellectual, and close to the skin.
The House
Essenzialmente LauraEssenzialmente Laura is a Roman perfumery brand founded by master perfumer Laura Bosetti Tonatto. Based in Italy, the house creates artisanal fragrances that draw deeply from the sensory heritage of Rome, translating the city's gardens, churches, palaces, and courtyard atmospheres into wearable scent compositions. The collection spans 55 fragrances organized across seven families according to the Classification officielle des Parfum system. Bosetti Tonatto's work bridges private commission work for royalty and a publicly accessible collection available through her Roman boutiques.
The Creator
Laura Bosetti TonattoTonatto's signature lies in her command of Italian raw materials and her commitment to bespoke creation as a foundational practice, not a luxury sideline. Her technical palette draws from classical French parfumerie while her sensibility remains distinctly Italian.
