The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Cestius arrived in 2022, composed by Maurizio Cerizza for Mauro Lorenzi Profumi. Cerizza built the fragrance around a vivid meeting point: Mirabelle plum and yuzu bring tart fruit and citrus light, while rose, black iris, and lily of the valley lend a composed floral heart. Sandalwood, Ambroxan, vanilla, musk, and guaiac wood then give that brightness weight and warmth. As the opening settles, the sharp citrus edge softens into the rounder character of plum, with yuzu keeping the fruit bright rather than sweet. The floral notes add a graceful contrast: rose gives a familiar rosy warmth, black iris introduces a cool, powdery depth, and lily of the valley contributes a clean, green freshness.
The unusual part is how neatly opposing textures share the same frame. Mirabelle plum is juicy and honeyed, yet yuzu cuts through it with clean, tart citrus. Bergamot keeps that opening polished. In the heart, Taif rose and black iris introduce a velvety floral darkness, while lily of the valley adds a pale, powdery echo. Sandalwood and guaiac wood make the base dry and architectural, and vanilla, musk, and Ambroxan supply warmth without flattening the composition.
The evolution
The first impression is sharp and bright: yuzu and bergamot flicker over the rounded sweetness of Mirabelle plum. Rather than staying purely fruity, the citrus gradually hands over to ylang-ylang, Taif rose, black iris, and lily of the valley. That middle stretch feels darker and more velvety, with the iris lending a cool powdery shadow while the flowers soften the fruit. Ylang-ylang adds a lush, gently sweet floral texture, and Taif rose deepens the bouquet without making it overly romantic. Lily of the valley keeps the heart fresh, creating a clean counterpoint to plum's ripe softness. As the hours pass, the bright material recedes and the base takes charge. Sandalwood and guaiac wood create a smooth woody backbone, Ambroxan adds a dry mineral warmth, and vanilla and musk round the edges.
Cultural impact
Cestius presents a polished unisex composition built around a clear contrast between fresh citrus and ripe fruit, a cool floral heart, and a warm woody base. The opening is lively and transparent, with yuzu and bergamot sharpening the rounded Mirabelle plum. Rose, black iris, lily of the valley, and ylang-ylang then create a more expressive floral phase before sandalwood, guaiac wood, Ambroxan, vanilla, and musk bring depth and softness. This measured progression invites attention to the details, making Cestius a rewarding fragrance to explore as its different facets come forward over time.
The House
Mauro Lorenzi ProfumiMauro Lorenzi Profumi is an Italian niche perfume house founded in Rome in 2017. The brand creates limited‑edition fragrances that echo the city’s ancient topography and imperial history. Each scent arrives in a minimalist glass vessel, the label bearing a Roman numeral that hints at its inspiration. Beyond personal fragrances, the house offers scented candles and a line of home fragrances that translate Roman art and architecture into aroma. The collection grows slowly, with new releases announced only after a careful creative process, ensuring each bottle feels like a small, handcrafted tribute to the Eternal City.
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.
