The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Paolo Terenzi named this one after the castor plant. Ricinus communis. Ornamental, striking, with variegated leaves and seed pods that look almost decorative. Beautiful enough for any garden. But inside those seeds lives one of the most potent poisons nature makes. The castor plant blooms year-round, cheerful and productive, while hiding its most dangerous secret in plain sight. Sweet fruit and powdery florals above. Oakmoss and oud below. The beauty and the poison, inseparable.
The top accord is where Ricina earns its name. Bergamot and stone fruit create an immediate sweetness that reads almost like a dessert. Peach and plum sit close together here, the plum adding a slight tartness that keeps the peach from going too candied. Orange blossom threads through, brightening the whole thing without making it feel like a citrus fragrance. It's the heart that shifts the energy. Peony, jasmine, and Siberian iris together create a powdery floral quality that softens the fruit from the opening and adds a sophisticated middle age. Then the base does what bases do. Oakmoss anchors everything with an earthy, green depth that grounds the sweetness and gives the fragrance its staying power.
The evolution
The opening hits fast. Bergamot and stone fruit arrive together, the plum adding a tartness that keeps the peach from feeling too sweet. For a while, this reads as bright and sweet. Almost innocent. Then the florals take over. Peony and orange blossom shift the character toward something powdery and elegant. The fruit does not disappear, but it steps back and lets the softer notes lead. The drydown is where the oakmoss earns its place. It does not explode. It settles. Grows. Becomes the dominant force as the florals fade and the woody base notes take over. Oud and sandalwood create a warm, slightly animalic foundation that stays close to the skin for hours. The next morning, there is a quiet trace of sandalwood and oakmoss that lingers. Not loud. Just there. A reminder.
Cultural impact
Ricina has developed a loyal following among those who appreciate the sweet-floral-to-woody arc done with more complexity than the category usually offers. It is not a safe blind buy in the sense that the oakmoss drydown will surprise anyone expecting pure fruit and flowers, but for wearers who want that specific journey, it delivers consistently. The composition commits fully to the duality at its core rather than hedging.
