We have a deep passion for local talent—those creators who manage to capture the elusive spirit of our land and turn it into something tangible.
This first episode is dedicated to a true “hidden gem” found in the heart of Catania: the olfactory world of Antonio Alessandria.
His boutique, Boudoir 36, is a mysterious, Baroque sanctuary where scents are treated like sacred relics.
His masterpiece, Fàra, is perhaps the most honest love letter ever written to this city.
In Sicilian dialect, fàra is the heavy, suffocating heat of mid-July, when the black lava stone of the streets breathes back the sun’s fire. To be “affarato” is to be breathless, seeking refuge from a heat that feels almost physical.
This fragrance is the liquid memory of a walk through that scorched center, ending at a traditional chiosco for a life-saving drink.
Fàra smells of relief: it is the scent of seltz, lemon, and salt splashing onto warm, sun-kissed skin.
The composition is brilliant. An icy blast of peppermint and citrus hits you first, like a block of ice in a glass, followed by a carnal heart of salt and cumin that evokes the salty scent of the body in the heat. A dry base of incense and cedarwood lingers, reminding you of the arid land and the silent churches nearby.
It is magnetic, sophisticated, and raw—capturing the visceral heartbeat of a Catanese summer.
If you find yourself wandering through the vibrant energy of Via Santa Filomena, follow the scent to his boutique. Stepping into Antonio’s world is a sensory detour you won’t easily forget!