Casamorati Decants

A nineteenth century Bologna perfumery, brought back and poured at modern strength.

Casamorati revives a house first opened in Bologna in 1888, and keeps the register it was built on: opera house glamour, powdery florals, warm fruit and soft amber in gilded apothecary bottles. It is the softer, more classical side of the Xerjoff world.

Origin Bologna, Italy
Founded 1888
Known for Lira, Mefisto, La Tosca
Here 1 fragrance

Casamorati Lira

From $14.00

Founded: 1888Bologna trademark of 1888, revived by Xerjoff in 2009
Founders: Claudio Casamorati and Sergio Momo
Concept: An 1888 Bologna perfumery, revived by Xerjoff

01

Claudio, Livio and a queen

The Bologna perfume factory bore the name of Claudio Casamorati. On 17 April 1888 his son Livio, by then the owner, registered its mark: two interlaced Cs, used on its Acqua di Felsina. That year the firm won a gold medal at the Grande Esposizione Emiliana, and its soaps and essences found favour with Queen Margherita of Savoy. A financial crisis closed the factory in the mid twentieth century. In 2009 Xerjoff bought the rights and Sergio Momo brought the name back.

02

Art Nouveau, kept intact

Xerjoff kept the original flacon and the double C, and looks to Art Nouveau for everything else. Some scents, Casamorati Mefisto and Casamorati Fiore d'Ulivo among them, stay close to century-old formulas; others, such as Casamorati Dolce Amalfi, are new work. Casamorati Lira, composed by Chris Maurice, revives a late nineteenth century perfume made for a young actress chasing the stage, and takes its name from the lyre: blood orange and lavender over cinnamon, jasmine, caramel and vanilla.

03

From Via Galliera to Moncalieri

By 1892 the firm had offices at Via Galliera 18 and a shop under the Pavaglione arcade, selling essences of lily of the valley, Florentine iris and white heliotrope in boxed bottles, with Casamorati Veloutine sold by the box. A year later its Acqua di China was advertised for the hair. A 1940 trademark covered perfumes, powders, creams, toothpaste and scented soaps. Today the house is run by Xerjoff Group from Moncalieri, on the edge of Turin.