The recent evolution in fragrance trends – a rise in both artisanal, indie fragrances and the popularity of unisex scents – has mirrored my own shifting tastes in perfumes in many unexpected ways. Unrepentantly picky as I am with everything beauty and self care related, from lipstick to shoes and concealer, I’d always limited myself to just a few very expensive fragrances steeped in European lore. After years of searching for a minimalist approximation of Poison, the controversial late 80s tuberose-heavy juggernaut, I found myself developing allergic reactions to many carefully curated purchases. As the gender wars began to make their mark on notions of feminine and masculine in beauty, the scents associated with men’s fragrances found their way into my expanding olfactory palette. Notes of leather, oud, and tobacco that I’d relegated to gifts for male paramours called to me with the same intensity as heady florientals like jasmine and neroli.
While most unisex fragrances land closer to the masculine end of the fragrance spectrum, the hunt for one that didn’t just cancel out the sweet seduction of girly perfumes with heavy cedar and sandalwood notes left the pool of interesting possibilities a small one. After years of bespoke layering – a jasmine and rose-based formula topped off with a spritz of a tobacco-rich one from a boyfriend’s stash – I found a true unisex bouquet in Ferragosto.
Named after the Italian public holiday when everyone flocks to the beach or the countryside for R&R with roots as far back as Ancient Rome, Jordan Samuel Scent’s Ferragosto is a celebration of the last days of summer. It marks the moment of recognition that the carefree months of long, sunny days will soon come to an end. Inspired by memories of gazing out over the light-studded Capri coast at night, the evening air still heavy with the scent of figs and apricots, Ferragosto is a fragrance that captures both the waning of seasons and the memories that sustain us until the following year. Evocative of pressing late-blooming roses between the pages of a favorite novel, Ferragosto is designed to preserve the sensual promise of nature’s bounty.
“Late August is when I start to want to bottle everything: garden dinners in Anacapri, ripe fruit, sun-warmed shoulders, and laughter still echoing from lunch.” – Jordan Samuel Pacitti
The top notes of Ferragosto are fruit-forward, like the ambrosial succulence of ripe figs and apricots, punched up with the vibrant herbaceousness of freshly cut grass. Middle and bottom notes of sandalwood settle into a grounded warmth reminiscent of sampling cardamon-spiced syrup from poached pears in a light merino cardigan and espadrilles.
Ferragosto was launched just months after the brand’s first fragrance Cortile Dolce. Like the citrus and jasmine-based unisex scent, Jordan Samuel Pacitti worked with master perfumier and co-founder of Atelier Fragranze Milano Luca Maffei to source and bottle the essence of vacation in the luxurious Italian seaside destination known for stunning views of the Mediterranean.
Born out of a career pivot to combat skin issues from heavy makeup and harsh stage lighting as a professional dancer, Jordan Samuel Skin is a line of cleansers, mist, serums, moisturizers, and treatments that are as simple and elegant as they are effective. Dedicated to thorough cleansing without overstripping, the humectant-rich formulations support the skin barrier while addressing the concerns of normal, dry, and combination skin types.
Read more about Jordan Samuel Pacitti’s career pivot from professional dancer to aesthetician to entrepreneur and marketing skin care to the male consumer in Dancer-Approved Skin Care – Q&A with Jordan Samuel Skin CEO Jordan Samuel Pacitti.
