The Story
Why it exists.
Roma arrived in 1988 as Laura Biagiotti's tribute to the eternal city, not its monuments, but its light. The brief was the stones after a long afternoon of sun, the warmth they hold when the crowds have thinned. Bergamot and blackcurrant opened the composition with something almost cold, almost green, while the heart carried the florals that Mediterranean gardens actually grow: jasmine, rose, the unexpected heat of carnation. The base anchored everything in amber and myrrh, resins that smell like the inside of old churches, like memory. It was never meant to be polite.
If this were a song
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Rome
Celi
The Beginning
Roma arrived in 1988 as Laura Biagiotti's tribute to the eternal city, not its monuments, but its light. The brief was the stones after a long afternoon of sun, the warmth they hold when the crowds have thinned. Bergamot and blackcurrant opened the composition with something almost cold, almost green, while the heart carried the florals that Mediterranean gardens actually grow: jasmine, rose, the unexpected heat of carnation. The base anchored everything in amber and myrrh, resins that smell like the inside of old churches, like memory. It was never meant to be polite.
What makes Roma unusual is the way it holds two temperatures at once. The top notes arrive cool, almost sharp, mint and citrus cutting through like light before it softens. But underneath, the amber and myrrh are already waiting. They're patient. This push-pull between fresh and resinous is the engine of the whole thing. The heart introduces florals that bring their own character to the composition. Jasmine appears with a creamy richness, rose follows a moment later, and carnation adds its particular spice.
The Evolution
The opening belongs to mint. It arrives clean and bright, then blackcurrant swells and softens its edge. The florals arrive next, jasmine appearing first with its creamy richness, then rose following as a second voice. Carnation threads through this middle phase with its distinctive spice. As the top notes fade, the base begins to assert itself. Amber and myrrh emerge with resinous warmth, vanilla and musk settling in behind them. Civet adds an animal quality to the drydown that gives the final phase its character. The overall effect is of a fragrance that unfolds gradually, each stage distinct but connected to what came before. The evolution isn't dramatic. It's patient.
Cultural Impact
Roma occupies a distinctive position among fragrances that value depth over projection. The fragrance features an unusual mint-resin contrast that sets it apart. The composition evokes Mediterranean atmosphere, with sun-warmed stone and a particular quality of light that feels both ancient and immediate. The scent doesn't demand attention. It rewards those who give it time, unfolding its layers slowly and asking for a certain patience from the wearer. It's a fragrance for those who appreciate complexity over simplicity.
The House
Italy · Est. 1972
Laura Biagiotti began as an Italian fashion house in the early 1970s and later expanded into fragrance, creating a line that reflects the brand’s architectural roots and Mediterranean sensibility. The perfume portfolio mixes classic Italian ingredients with contemporary structures, offering scents that feel both familiar and unexpected. From the early floral launch of Fiori Bianchi in 1982 to the recent Roma Uomo Nero Estremo in 2025, each fragrance carries a sense of place and a quiet confidence that appeals to collectors who value depth over flash.
If this were a song
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Roma sounds like a city at the hour when the tourists have gone and the stones are still warm. There's an opening sequence that feels like a door opening onto a piazza, cool air, then the smell of something blooming in a courtyard. The middle register carries weight: jasmine and carnation together, floral but not feminine in the delicate sense. By the final act, it's strings and low brass, something old, something that has been standing for a while. This is not a fragrance that rushes. Neither does the music.
Rome
Celi
