Heritage
A house, in its own words
The origins of Optico Profumo trace to the partnership of Renato and Simone Bongiorno, a father-and-son team whose shared background in the perfume industry shaped the house's direction. While the exact founding year remains unclear from available sources, the brand has been producing fragrances since at least 2016, when it released Italy, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, and Reunion simultaneously. This coordinated launch suggested deliberate portfolio building from the outset. The Bongiorno name does not appear in widely documented perfume dynasties, indicating the family built their expertise through industry experience rather than inherited perfume houses. Their approach to naming fragrances after world destinations indicates either personal familiarity with these regions or extensive research into regional olfactory materials. The choice of Italy as a namesake fragrance reflects the brand's roots, with multiple sources emphasizing its Italian identity and what they describe as bridging classic craftsmanship with contemporary sensibility. The brand's social media presence describes its fragrances as part of an Optical Art collection, celebrating detail from raw materials through packaging design. This framing positions Optico Profumo as drawing from artistic traditions, specifically geometric and perceptual art movements, rather than purely commercial perfume-making. The house has maintained a consistent output over several years, with releases spanning from 2016 through 2023, indicating sustained operation rather than sporadic limited editions.
Optico Profumo approaches fragrance creation as a discipline requiring precision and intentionality. Rather than chasing trends, the house builds its collection around geographic and conceptual anchors, with each perfume named for a specific destination or idea. This naming strategy implies a commitment to place-based storytelling in perfumery, where a fragrance should evoke not just an abstract accord but a particular location's character. The father's-and-son's joint involvement suggests a blending of generational perspectives, with the elder Bongiorno contributing industry knowledge while the younger brings contemporary sensibility. Sources describe the brand as combining craftsmanship with bold choices, indicating willingness to pursue unconventional directions when material quality and conceptual coherence support them. The Optical Art framing found in their communications hints at an underlying interest in perception and geometry, suggesting the house views fragrance as something that creates deliberate tension between clarity and illusion. This philosophical stance extends to their attention to detail, described as encompassing both the finest raw materials and refined packaging presentation. The brand's Italian identity shapes its values, drawing on a tradition where craft objects carry cultural significance beyond mere function.