The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
The number 67 marks Pomellato's founding year, 1967, Milan. A Milanese jewelry house founded by Pino Rabolini, built on the idea that gemstones should be the protagonist, not the setting. By 2014, Pomellato had spent decades translating that philosophy into fragrance. 67 Artemisia was the brand's first unisex offering. The perfumer, Annick Ménardo, was handed a brief that doubled as a name: make something around artemisia. The herb itself is native to temperate regions across Europe and Asia, silvery leaves, a bitter, aromatic quality that reads as green in a way that cucumber and grass simply don't. Ménardo didn't play it safe.
What makes 67 Artemisia distinctive is its commitment to bitterness as an aesthetic choice. Most green fragrances soften their edges, a little lavender here, a touch of white musk there. Ménardo leaned into the artemisia, letting the absinthe wormwood add a sharp, almost medicinal quality to the heart alongside jasmine and violet. The jasmine keeps it from becoming too austere, the violet adds powdery softness, but neither rescues the composition from its fundamental character. This is a fragrance that knows what it is and doesn't apologize. The base of olive wood, vetiver, patchouli, and musk grounds the herbal top without sweetening it, a rare move that keeps the fragrance honest from opening to drydown.
The evolution
The opening hits fast, mint and lemon arrive together, bright and clean, like crushing leaves between your fingers. Neroli threads through almost immediately, adding a floral-citrus softness that prevents the start from feeling clinical. The artemisia note begins to assert itself, its bitter, silvery quality growing more pronounced as the initial citrus fades. The transition isn't gentle, mint retreats, jasmine and violet push forward, and suddenly you're in the heart of the fragrance. This is where 67 Artemisia becomes itself. The absinthe wormwood gives the herbal note an edge that reads as slightly medicinal, slightly bitter, entirely distinctive. Violet and jasmine keep it from feeling austere, but they're passengers here. The base arrives gradually, olive wood and vetiver arrive first, earthy and green, before patchouli and musk settle in for the long haul.
Cultural impact
As Pomellato's first unisex fragrance, 67 Artemisia arrived alongside a broader industry shift toward gender-neutral scent marketing. The fragrance's bold herbal character positioned it apart from the sweet, fruity compositions that dominated the mid-2010s, a deliberate choice by a house known for jewelry that doesn't apologize for color or presence. Community reception has been divided: the artemisia and absinthe notes polarize, with wearers either returning repeatedly or steering clear entirely. The fragrance stands apart from its contemporaries, its bitter herbal character refusing to conform to the sweet, fruity mainstream.
The House
PomellatoPomellato is an Italian fine jewelry house based in Milan, renowned for its bold use of colored gemstones and contemporary design approach. Founded in 1967, the brand introduced its first fragrance, Pomellato Donna, in 1989, marking its entry into the world of fine perfumery. The jewelry house became particularly famous for its Nudo collection, featuring a signature solitaire gemstone held in place by a minimal claw setting that exposes the stone on all sides. Kering (formerly Pinault-Printemps-Redoute) acquired a majority stake in Pomellato in 2013. The fragrance line, developed in partnership with IFF (International Flavors and Fragrances), draws inspiration from the brand's jewel-toned aesthetic, with scent families spanning floral, woody, and aromatic compositions. Pomellato occupies a distinctive position as a Milanese luxury house that bridges traditional Italian goldsmithing with modern, color-forward design philosophy.
The Creator
Annick MénardoDark, smoky, and beautifully resolved. Menardo has built her reputation on bold contrasts: leather against sweetness, wood against air, shadow against light.
