The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Rosso Epicureo is part of Fath's Essentials, the collection that defined a new chapter for the house. After the first four scents, created with perfumer Cecile Zarokian, rehabilitated house classics like Green Water, the second chapter of the collection arrived with a different direction: more feminine, more lush, unveiled at Esxence in Milan under creative director Rania Naim. The brief centered on "la Joie de Vivre", the joy of living that Jacques Fath himself embodied through his work. To translate that, Luca Maffei selected innovative raw materials and noble ingredients, paired with a color palette of violet, pink, red, and gold. The Italian name is a nod to the perfumer's roots.
What sets Rosso Epicureo apart is its structural ambition. The aldehydic lift in the opening gives it a sharpness that cuts through the sweetness of plum and blackcurrant, preventing the composition from becoming another sweet skin. The Sichuan pepper and artemisia reinforce that edge, making the top phase feel purposeful rather than decorative. In the heart, the tuberose absolute doesn't arrive quietly, it fills the space with a creamy white floral that dominates without being loud.
The evolution
The opening hits aldehydic and bright, bergamot and bitter orange leading with an effervescent quality. Plum and blackcurrant arrive in a sweet-tart burst, almost fizzy, while Sichuan pepper adds a clean, sharp spice that lifts rather than burns. Artemisia threads an herbal coolness beneath, keeping the top phase from settling into standard fruity territory. In the heart, tuberose takes command. Jasmine and ylang-ylang amplify its creamy, opulent character, while orange blossom tempers the tropical sweetness with something cleaner. The damask rose keeps the florals structured, elegant rather than heady. The florals build into the composition's lushest phase as fruit notes evolve rather than disappear. The base arrives quietly. Vanilla and musk create warmth, patchouli adds earthiness, amber smooths everything into a soft golden finish.
Cultural impact
Rosso Epicureo offers something different within the floral-fruity category. The aldehydic opening and warm drydown give it a distinctiveness that positions it as an alternative for wearers seeking richness without loudness. Perfumer Luca Maffei, a two-time Art and Olfaction award recipient, brought award-winning credentials to the 2017 Jacques Fath release.
