Luxe Provence by Victoria Fantauzzi - Vol 1: LE SUD
Photograph by Tarik Koivisto featuring Louise Pascal for Vol 1: Le Sud Fragrance - Luxe Provence by Victoria
I am thrilled to take you behind-the-scenes of our first Luxe Provence fragrance collaboration to meet the talented niche perfumer, Victoria Fantauzzi! Together, we are creating an exciting three fragrance series beginning with Le Sud: Vol 1 that features own of my absolute favorite notes, bergamot. Meet the talented perfumer and true artist behind the creation, and learn about her journey as a woman in the male-dominated perfume world, while discovering her contagious passion for using only high-quality, natural ingredients in each formulation for her beauty brand Casa Brava. Spawned from her own steely determination and incredible creative vision, Victoria weaves together elegant notes and rich, layered storytelling in each of her fragrances and natural beauty formulations. We have been friends via Instagram for years bonding behind-the-scenes over the highs and lows of being independent, female-entrepreneurs riding the knuckle-bleeding, wave of global pandemics, algorithm changes and tumultuous world affairs. I am thrilled to collaborate with Victoria as we immerse you into Le Sud… a spring journey of slow living rituals, Mediterranean slow lifestyle and natural fragrances inspired by the South of France. This first release arrives just in time for spring!
Be sure to register for the waitlist here, we will release this Luxe Provence by Victoria collaboration in limited edition only for our USA-based clients (due to tariff restrictions), via pre-order.
MEET VICTORIA FANTAUZZI
Founder & Natural Perfumer at Casa Brava and for our Luxe Provence by Victoria Fragrance Collaborations, a three release series beginning this spring with Vol1: Le Sud
THE INTERVIEW
TK: At what age did you know you wanted to be a perfumer?
VF: That’s an interesting question because I was an educator most of my career, but at age 40 I decided to pursue my dream of product formulation and perfume composition.
TK: How did you decide to get into the more complicated, niche natural fragrance world?
VF: I jumped in with two feet because I felt comfortable with natural materials. At one point I took classes to study perfumery but I didn’t feel connected to the structure being laid out before me. I’ve always had a kind of wild nature and wanted to learn at my own pace. I would say I’m an intuitive perfumer.
TK: Who is your perfume idol or mentor that you look up to? We spoke a little together about this and would love to share this story.
VF: I have a few, but Mandy Aftel is perhaps my perfume guru. She is uniquely gifted in natural perfumery and a generous resource that writes about materials the way Hemingway wrote about food. She also told me a long time ago not to allow “experts” to intimidate me into believing I couldn’t be a self taught perfumer and I should follow my own instincts. This is exactly my approach into perfumery.
TK: Tell us about your creative process? I love how you create fragrances from a specific persona, moment, or feeling… What inspires you?
VF: I think of a name, a story, which inspires a profile. Most times I’m inspired by emotional connections or my own experiences that span time, travel, memory or feed off my many interests. I research a lot about places, materials, etc. My perfumes are deeply personal and I compose them from a part of my soul that feels free and open.
TK: Where are you struck most with ideas or inspiration?
VF: Ideas come to me when I’m alone free from distractions. Mostly at 2am because I’m awakened by a stirring feeling or something that manifested in my mind and suddenly needs to come alive. I love it when I dream of an idea and then wake up with it curled in my mind and I immediately get into action.
TK: Tell us about how you select and test the high-quality natural ingredients your perfumes are so renown for?
VF: Ingredients are my favorite thing to discuss but the very thing most people don’t understand well. I once taught a class on a singular note, rose and was really surprised by how almost everyone had never smelled a rose in nature and most of their experiences were with synthetic aromas of rose. I’m always seeking fine materials that are artisan grown and produced especially when it comes to raw materials. Growers that are knowledgeable about their process and maintain high standards for quality products. I talk to people from a place of curiosity and admiration which makes them open up to me and share their worlds. I once met a woman in Florence I spent several hours with just chatting about the history of lemons which led to her connecting me to her uncle in Sicily who would produce a tiny batch of cactus flower oil so rare and coveted that mostly sold to elite perfume houses. Her uncle was charmed by my interest and curiosity and would sell me an ounce per season. This went on for years but he wouldn’t ship so I had to pick it up in Italy. I would send friends in Europe to pick up my treasure and it all felt so special and under the radar. Eventually he grew old and decided to retire. Quality to me is the standard I’ll sacrifice for. Sadly, these days those that scout for big perfume houses buy up most of the supply paying high prices or outbidding individual buyers like me. But I stand my ground with a lot of producers as well as I trust certain companies to buy top notch materials from. Mandy Aftel being one of them.
Vol1: Le Sud. Photograph by Tarik Koivisto featuring Louise Pascal. Luxe Provence by Victoria, a limited edition release.
TK: Let’s talk about the story of Le Sud… This bergamot has become a personal signature note for me and I am so excited to share our collaboration. I recently did a traditional Chinese medicine workshop to create my own personal “wellbeing” fragrance and the notes I chose represented: cedar for strength/confidence and comfort; bergamot for that sparkle and energy, plus rose de Damascus for the heart. I believe a fragrance should not just be worn to attract others but to inherently reinforce how you want to feel and be experienced. Do you see fragrance this way?
VF: I think fragrance is whatever story you’re in the mood for. For me, it’s a portal to venture through time, places and emotions. I rarely wear perfume because of my work, but when I do it’s very intentional I want to reflect a mood. For others it’s an act of beauty that settles into their romantic and curious nature. Sometimes when I hear people wear perfume to ilicit comments from others over how good they smell I get a bit annoyed. Yes, of course it’s nice to draw people to your scent, but to wear perfume for others misses the point. It’s a story, your unique story while you’re wearing a fragrance and I think it makes one feel confident and expressive.
“For Le Sud I want to take the wearer on a full adventurous journey of the French Mediterranean. Between the sea, landscapes and slow-paced living this perfume is an expression of intentional living and being present in a moment encapsulating that space. It's a fragrance for people that travel for beauty or dream of it.”
TK: What do you see next for “Victoria, the perfumer.
VF: I want to set up a teeny-tiny perfume shop and make bespoke blends. I’d love to have customers come in for tea and conversation and get to know who they are, what they dream about. Hear their stories. Maybe we play some records and talk about favorite films, experiences or travel. I think crafting personalized perfumes for individuals that have a sense of who they are and what they love is exciting.
TK: What is your advice to new perfumers coming up in the ranks or discovering the field?
VF: Know yourself and what you want to share with the world.
TK: What is one bit of advice you would give to your younger Victoria…
VF: Say no more often and walk away faster. Took me a long time to learn that.