The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Fantasma was created by perfumer Vincenzo Arpaia as a unisex fragrance. Its composition pairs bright citrus and pink pepper with rose, camellia, vanilla, oud, incense, patchouli, and cedar. The opening feels lucid and lively, with citrus providing a clean shine while pink pepper adds a lightly rosy edge. Floral notes then soften the impression: rose and camellia bring a delicate, rounded quality, balanced by vanilla's smooth sweetness. Oud, incense, patchouli, and cedar form a woody, smoky foundation. As these notes interact on skin, the fragrance shifts from crisp brightness toward a warmer floral presence and a close, gently fading woody trail.
Fantasma's note structure brings together contrasting textures. Citrus, orange, and pink pepper create a clean flash of energy, while rose, camellia, and vanilla give the composition a polished and seductive character rather than an innocent one. Incense, oud, patchouli, and cedar add a smoky, nocturnal dimension to that polish. The floral notes keep the scent approachable, while the woody materials give it depth and a slightly unresolved mood. On skin, the brighter opening gives way to a softer blend of flowers and vanilla, followed by a drier, woodier finish that lingers close to the wearer.
The evolution
The opening begins with a brisk lift: pink pepper gives the citrus a rosy edge, while bergamot and orange bring a clean, polished shine. That brightness gradually gives way to the floral heart, where rose and camellia add softness and vanilla contributes a rounded sweetness. The composition then tilts toward deeper notes. Incense, oud, patchouli, and cedar settle into a warm, smoky base, changing the impression established by the opening. On skin, the arc moves from vivid and clean to floral and sensuous, then toward a woody close that feels like the afterimage of a late evening. Its appeal lies in the gradual change of temperature and atmosphere, as fresh citrus, delicate florals, sweet vanilla, and resinous woods overlap and fade at different rates. Fantasma offers an evolving presence for wearers who enjoy smoky florals and layered, close-to-the-skin compositions.
Cultural impact
Fantasma brings a distinctive note combination to contemporary fragrance culture through its unisex presentation and its use of name, texture, and mood. The name evokes a ghostly or elusive image, while the listed notes move between bright citrus, pink pepper, rose, camellia, vanilla, oud, incense, patchouli, and cedar. This range of materials allows the fragrance to be experienced through several sensory dimensions. Citrus and pink pepper create a lively opening, the floral notes introduce softness and elegance, and the deeper woods and resins give the composition a smoky, lingering character.
The House
RheymsRheyms is an Italian niche perfumery house that debuted its first fragrance collection in 2024. The brand operates from Italy and produces its scents by hand, positioning itself within the artisanal end of the niche fragrance market. Its debut lineup includes Cruel, Fantasma, Ombra, Arabian, and Star, a five-piece range that signals the breadth of moods the house intends to explore. Rheyms sells through its own website, rheyms.com, and through select stockists, reaching fragrance enthusiasts who seek out smaller, independent labels.
The Creator
Vincenzo ArpaiaNo completed fragrance or specific signature technique is confirmed in the available material, so a precise description of Arpaia’s finished style would be speculative. What can be said is that his training points toward clarity, structure and a close reading of natural materi…
