Heritage
A house, in its own words
Christopher Draghi and Robert Dobay established Source Adage Fragrances in 2014, building their initial presence in New York before eventually relocating their creative operations to Tuscany. The two founders opened their first fragrance collections in a carefully curated boutique located in what was described as a rivertown setting, establishing the brand's retail footprint in the United States. Over the following years, the brand released a succession of named fragrances including c'i'aan in 2016, aka'ula in 2016, monto'ac in 2017, i'khana in 2019, aétai in 2021, and ki'lei in 2024, with Nahasá announced for 2026. The gradual expansion of their catalog demonstrates a sustained creative output that has attracted attention beyond American borders. An Italian radio program, Story Time, featured an interview with co-founder Christopher Draghi discussing the brand and its fragrance philosophy, indicating the house had developed a notable presence in Italy prior to establishing its scent studio there. This progression from American boutique origins to a European creative base reflects the brand's evolution within the independent fragrance landscape.
Source Adage positions itself as creating fragrances for what the brand describes as independent spirits, a framing that informs both their unisex approach and their naming conventions. The house draws names from diverse linguistic sources, suggesting an interest in cross-cultural olfactory storytelling rather than singular geographic or olfactory traditions. Draghi, in his Italian radio interview, discussed the philosophical underpinnings of the brand and the meaning embedded in individual fragrance names. The sharp top accord signature that Luca Turin identified across their catalog appears to be a deliberate creative choice rather than coincidental, suggesting the brand values immediate presence and clarity of expression in its compositions. The unisex positioning reflects a broader industry movement toward gender-neutral fragrance, though Source Adage developed this approach independently from its New York origins. Their expansion to Italy and the establishment of a Tuscan studio indicates a commitment to the craft that extends beyond commercial considerations, embracing the heritage of Italian perfumery as a creative influence.