Sammarco Perfumes - From Law Books to Perfume Bottles

Hello, Fragrant Friend 👋,

Did you know? NASA captured the smell of outer space and bottled it as a fragrance — imagine burnt steak, raspberries and gunpowder (Eau de Space).

🗓️ Contents of this Issue

1. Story: From Law Books to Perfume Bottles
2. Quiz: How well do you know vetiver?
3. Raw Materials: Vetiver

Story: Giovanni Sammarco 📚

An interview with Giovanni Sammarco, an Italian-born jurist-turned-perfumer. He discovered fragrance while working on his doctoral thesis in civil law and realised perfumery could be a true alternative to a legal career.

Vitrum — inspired by a journalist passionate about vetiver: exceptional vetiver oil blended with rose and black pepper for a smoky yet gentle scent (bergamot, rose; pepper, frankincense; vetiver). Bond-T — inspired by a tour through an Italian chocolatier’s factory in Pisa: cocoa absolute, osmanthus absolute and patchouli. His development is a two-phase process; a scent feels complete once he finds the perfect name. His love of books and ancient languages subtly influences his work, and an eighth scent is almost ready.

Raw Materials: Vetiver 🌿

Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is a resilient perennial bunchgrass with a warm, woody fragrance with hints of grapefruit. Originally from southern India, now predominantly cultivated in Haiti (Les Cayes, ~80% of world production). ~100 tonnes of oil are produced worldwide; Haitian vetiver is ~$350/kg and is Haiti’s largest export. Regional varieties range from South Indian and Javanese to the luxurious Bourbon (Réunion) vetiver. Extracted via ~10-hour steam distillation; also helps prevent soil erosion.