Meet Raffaella Grisa, the engineer-turned perfumer who merges Italian and Japanese cultures through fragrance. Her brand, WA:IT, is a collection of intentional scents that not only smell divine, but encourage a more conscious approach to everyday moments.
“Scent is a pillar of a holistic approach to beauty,” says Grisa. According to the Harvard Gazette, scent takes a direct route to the limbic system of the brain, which is related to emotion and memory. This allows smells to trigger immediate psychological responses. Grisa thinks of her fragrances as “olfactory supplements,” mindful rituals that have the power to calm, inspire, ground, or rejuvenate.
The name of the brand comes from wa, a Japanese cultural concept meaning harmony, and it, the standard abbreviation for Italy. Grisa herself is from Italy, and the fragrances are also created there. Together, the name makes a suggestion to wait – to slow down and move as intentionally as possible.
Due to her career, Grisa has traveled back and forth between Japan and Italy for many years; she’s grown accustomed to the traditions of a place so far from home, but that has become a kind of second home.
“One day, I found myself in this park in Tokyo,” says Grisa. “Something very deep happened; I felt a connection with the nature surrounding me, and I knew that my previous life was going to change forever.” At almost 50 years old – with a job she loved – she inexplicably felt called to start something new. This was the moment that WA:IT was conceived.
Ironically, Grisa says that she is allergic to many scented products, and has highly sensitive skin. “I didn’t wear any fragrance for almost 20 years,” she says. “I’m sensitive to the synthetic components.” These can be found in most modern fragrances, no matter how luxury or high-quality. 100% of WA:IT’s products are derived from nature, with no synthetics or harmful components, meaning Grisa – and others with similar reactivity – can enjoy them with no qualms.
The appeal of WA:IT as a brand extends beyond personal sensitivities. As a mechanical engineer with a master’s in sustainability, Grisa values environmental responsibility above all else. Every step of the brand’s process – from natural, renewable ingredients, to energy-efficient and low-impact manufacturing processes, to recyclable, biodegradable packaging – is thoughtful and earth-friendly.
WA:IT officially launched in the U.S. in 2024, and its repertoire contains eaux de parfum, incense, and skincare. Each scent profile is meant to evoke specific feelings, and can be layered to achieve whatever the wearer needs in that moment.
Hito is the brand’s hero scent, translating from Japanese to “human being.” It’s designed to evoke tranquility and promote a sense of well-being, with refreshing and uplifting notes of Sicilian citruses, fig, elemi, izumi black tea, and more.
Luce is a tribute to light, a celebration of its power to inspire, heal, and illuminate the path forward. Its notes include bergamot, star anise, Bulgarian rose, and neroli.
Aka is a scent of transformation, sparking the vital energy of a fresh chapter with grapefruit, pink pepper, frankincense, and cinnamon.
Haru evokes rebirth – and the possibilities that come with it. Its gentle sillage contains neroli, jasmine, patchouli, amber, and more.
Finally, the newest arrival is En, a scent of introspection and presence. Inspired by the sacred forests of Japan, its notes include licorice, dill, olibanum, and frankincense.
Grisa encourages her customers to wear WA:IT scents with intention, incorporating them into everyday rituals to ground, soothe, and empower. “I decide what to wear in the morning – not based on notes, but on needs. Sometimes I layer them.” She always keeps rollerballs of the scents (available on the WA:IT website) for touchups throughout the day.
WA:IT is a brand that prioritizes slowing down, merging Japanese mindfulness with Italian craftsmanship. With sustainability at its heart, it is as much about honoring the earth as it is about nurturing the self.
Discover Raffaela Grisa’s collection of scents at waitbotanicamente.com.
