The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Released in 2014 to mark Maserati's centennial, this fragrance is a collaboration between two Argentine heritage brands, the luxury automaker and La Martina, the polo heritage house founded by Lando Simonetti in 1985. Maurizio Cerizza built the composition around the ceremonial side of the sport: the rituals before the match, the quiet afterward. Citrus and green notes open like morning practice on a dewy field. Incense, musk, and vetiver settle in like the smell of leather and open air after the horses go home.
The structure is unusual, bergamot and nutmeg at the opening give it a sharp, almost medicinal brightness that most incense fragrances avoid entirely. Then the heart shifts to violet and ivy, which introduces a cool, powdery quality that bridges the citrus and the smoke. Patchouli and vetiver in the base keep everything earthy without ever turning heavy. It's the kind of pyramid that works as a complete arc rather than a series of phases, nothing disappears, everything evolves.
The evolution
The bergamot hits immediately, bright, almost acidic. Tangerine sweetens it within the first minutes, and the nutmeg arrives like a warm hand on the shoulder. Ten minutes in, the citrus begins to recede and the ivy takes over, green and slightly cool. Violet arrives quietly, giving the heart a powdery softness that contrasts with the opening's sharpness. By the drydown, the frankincense is the loudest voice in the room, smoky, resinous, warm, but the musk wraps around it, keeping everything soft and close to the skin. Vetiver lingers longest, dry and green, lasting well past the incense. Moderate sillage throughout, this fragrance reaches for you, not the room.
Cultural impact
This fragrance occupies a specific corner of the market, men who want Argentine heritage and equestrian refinement without the heavy oud or sweet orientals that dominate the niche space. It's for someone who knows La Martina's polo roots and wants to wear that identity. Community reviewers describe it as smoky and nutmeggy, with a soft incense character that reads as gender-neutral to some. It has a loyal following among those who appreciate its understated character and respectful sillage that works the room without commanding it.
The House
La MartinaLa Martina channels the spirit of Argentine polo into a fragrance collection rooted in heritage and equestrian elegance. What began as a Buenos Aires-based sportswear label has grown into a lifestyle brand with a distinct olfactory identity. The fragrance range draws from South American landscapes and the refined traditions of polo culture, offering scents that range from smoky oud interpretations to fresh, woody compositions. Each fragrance carries the brand's sporting DNA while appealing to those who appreciate craftsmanship and understated luxury in their scent wardrobe.
The Creator
Maurizio CerizzaCerizza's work reflects the discipline of the Roure method he absorbed early in his career. He favors working with natural materials, drawing on his family's deep expertise in extraction and distillation to inform every creation.
