Silvio Levi of Italian niche distributor Calé has launched Calé Fragranze d’Autore, a collection of eight new fragrances. Six of the scents (Assolo, Dolce Riso, Ozio, Tepidarium, Preludio d’Oriente and Allegro con Brio) are unisex; there is also one masculine (Mistero) and one feminine (Brezza di Seta):

Silvio Levi is well aware of how incredibly effective a perfume can be at giving an impalpable substance to emotions and how it can sometimes be even more explicit and forceful than words, images and sounds.

Each perfume from Calé Fragranze d’Autore is inspired by short excerpts from stories, flashes of memories and of emotions, to which Silvio Levi wants to give an olfactory form.

The initial set of fragrances was created in collaboration with perfumer Maurizio Cerizza:

Assolo (shown above left) ~ "Against a choir of voices, a single voice draws on the fundamental notes of the background to stand out loud and clear and create a story of its own, which the artist’s creative verve enriches with nuances, originality and unexpected contrasts. This is the solo, or Assolo in Italian, an individuality that draws energy and vigour from the chorus, rising up spontaneously from many masteries to become virtuoso and then blend back into the group, to allow another unique, wonderful creature of harmony to take its place." The floral woody citrus unisex scent includes notes of lime, apple, artemisia, marigold, jasmine, reseda, teak, cedar and musk.

Dolce Riso (shown above right) ~ "Rice is like a backdrop, a rhythm that has been marking the passage of civilisations for thousands of years, constituting an element of union and the sharing of a harmony that goes beyond borders and races. A synonym of life, joy and prosperity, this priceless little plant stars in countless legends." The soft amber unisex fragrance features notes of apple, lime, artemisia, rice, cereals, white pepper, musk, vanilla and tonka bean.

Ozio ~ "In the shade of a pergola, in the countryside, where the view takes in a sweep of green meadows and deep blue skies, a fresh nectar and a good book are the best companions. In this intense quiet, surrounded by luxuriant nature, your senses are pervaded by harmonious sounds, aromatic herbaceous notes, flowery and woody scents." The green floral unisex fragrance features notes of reseda, mastic, iris, peony, mace, white pepper, sandalwood, cedar and musk.

Tepidarium ~ "You want to get away from it all. You can almost feel the pleasant warmth of the sunshine as it caresses your skin and the lazy to and fro of your hammock. An exotic cocktail on the seashore or at the poolside. A moment’s relaxation in the middle of your holiday, before you decide how best to while away the rest of the time you have set aside for a temporary break from your work and your commitments. Moments like these deserve to be savoured to the full, in the utmost peace and quiet." The musky citrus unisex fragrance features grapefruit, lemon, rum, acacia, magnolia, piña colada, vetiver, white musk and green tea.

Preludio d’Oriente ~ "The intriguing tales of the Thousand and One Nights, the allure of the India of the Maharajahs’ gardens, the unparalleled love story told in white marble by the Taj Mahal. An intriguing, seductive and unquestionably magical world, conjured up with discretion by the trio that constitutes this creation’s bottom note, Sandal, Patchouli and Agar, powerful essences that are often used intrusively and to excess, but which in this case achieve such a perfect accord as to seem to be a well-tuned trio of sitar, tabla and violin, Indian instruments whose wonderful delicacy and lightness announce something to come that will surprise us all." Additional notes for the unisex chypre aromatic include bergamot, lemon, mandarin, artemisia, incense and chamois leather.

Allegro con Brio ~ "A fresh, simple, spontaneous scent. All of a sudden, you sense the staccato movements of a beautiful, carefree bird that trills happily from the branches of the tree opposite the kitchen window. Close your eyes for a moment and you will be right back there in that house in the country, where you wake on summer’s mornings when the cock’s solitary crow announces the beginning of the day and sets off the whole farmyard chorus." The unisex floral amber fougere features notes of geranium leaves, clary sage, artemisia, rose, lily of the valley, coriander, cloves, patchouli, tonka bean and musk.

Mistero ~ "A man, but above all that part of him that we would like to discover. Mysterious, but not by choice. The complexity and richness of his personality make it impossible to classify, to place in a category and maybe it’s much better that way." The masculine woody aromatic has notes of rum, rhubarb, mint, pimento, elemi, saffron, basmati rice, oak, agarwood, labdanum and musk.

Brezza di Seta ~ "Sitting at the mirror, she touches up her make-up, clasps on a thin string of little pearls and adds an embracing, velvety perfume. Then she stands up, straightens the folds in her soft dress and moves off sinuously yet discreetly, leaving a faint trace of enticing rosy and talc notes topped by a sparkling green note." The feminine floral woody amber perfume includes notes of blackcurrant, violet leaves, neroli, lavender, water iris, magnolia, rose, patchouli, vetiver, vanilla and tonka bean.

Calé Fragranze d’Autore Assolo, Dolce Riso, Ozio, Tepidarium, Preludio d’Oriente, Allegro con Brio, Mistero & Brezza di Seta are available now at First in Fragrance in Germany, in 50 (65€) or 100 ml (90€) Eau de Toilette. (via press release; more information can be found at cale.it)