Heritage
A house, in its own words
Giovanni Sammarco was born in Italy and pursued a career in law before his life took an unexpected turn toward perfumery. Reports indicate that his fascination with rare, natural raw materials developed during his earlier years, though the exact circumstances of this transition remain somewhat personal to the founder's story. In 2013, he established the Sammarco brand in Switzerland, drawn to the country's reputation for precision manufacturing and access to quality natural materials. The choice of Switzerland as a production base was deliberate, allowing complete oversight of the creation process from raw material sourcing through final formulation. Rather than following the traditional route of formal perfumery training, Sammarco's analytical background as a jurist shaped his approach to fragrance composition, bringing methodical thinking to the art of scent creation. The brand's early releases in 2013, including Bond-T, Alter, and Vitrum, established a foundation of complex, material-driven compositions that would characterize the house's identity. Over the following decade, Sammarco continued building the brand's catalog, releasing fragrances inspired by figures from mythology and literature, including Naias (named for water nymphs), Yael, Ariel, and Daria. The 2024 release of Thaumas marked a continuation of this exploration into mythological themes, demonstrating the founder's ongoing engagement with narrative-driven perfumery.
Sammarco approaches perfumery as a craft rooted in authenticity and material integrity. The founder has spoken openly about the challenges of independent perfume making, emphasizing that working with precious raw materials requires both patience and deep knowledge. Rather than prioritizing speed to market or trend-following, the house operates according to internal standards that prioritize the quality and authenticity of ingredients above other considerations. The brand's stated aim has been to craft authentic fragrances through an artisanal approach, a philosophy that manifests in deliberate production choices and selective use of natural materials. Sammarco has described fragrance creation as similar to any work of art, noting that creating something meaningful takes time and cannot be rushed. This measured approach extends to the house's release schedule, with sometimes years between new compositions. The brand's mythological naming conventions suggest a broader interest in storytelling and symbolism, using fragrance as a medium to evoke specific characters, places, or concepts rather than pursuing purely commercial fragrance categories.