Light and Shadow: “Intenso di Nero” by Carthusia

With “Intenso di Nero” the Italian fragrance house Carthusia presents a new, dark unisex composition featuring oud, leather, cocoa, fruits, and warm vanilla notes.

A journey into the depths of matter, between light and shadow.
“Intenso di Nero” explores the darker and more intense side of the “Collezione Intenso.” The composition plays with contrasts between light and darkness, bringing together fruits, spices, woods, and gourmand notes centered around oud.

Carthusia

The opening notes of “Intenso di Nero” is defined by raspberry and black currant, accompanied by fresh lemon, spicy saffron, and bittersweet cocoa. At its heart, a floral bouquet of rose absolute, jasmine, and lily of the valley unfolds, nestled in warm amber and leather. Finally, oud, patchouli, cedarwood, and sandalwood define the woody character of the base. Myrrh and benzoin add balsamic nuances, while tonka bean, vanilla, and white musk provide a creamy-sweet finish.

The Inspiration: The Color Black

The creator behind this fragrance is the Italian perfumer Giuseppe Imprezzabile, better known as Meo Fusciuni. According to “Intenso di Sandalo”, which was released in May 2026, “Intenso di Nero” is already his second work for Carthusia.

The name “Nero”—Italian for “black”—forms the concept behind the new fragrance. Meo Fusciuni wanted to contrast the depth and darkness of the color with bright, warm, and soft facets. He drew inspiration from various art forms: His influences include Giuseppe Sanmartino’s famous “Cristo velato,” Alberto Burri’s tactile material works, and David Darling’s cello piece “Dark Wood.” What all these works have in common is that they explore darkness, texture, silence, and inner reflection.

“Intenso di Nero” is part of the “Collezione Intenso” collection, which the label will launch in early 2025 with the fragrances “Intenso di Basilico”, “Intenso di Ginestra”, and “Intenso di Mirto”. With this new creation, the Italian fragrance house now showcases a darker and more intense side of the collection. 

The new fragrance is available in a 50-ml bottle.