Roberto Ugolini – Fragrances from a Florentine Shoemaker's Workshop
Behind the Roberto Ugolini fragrances is Herbert Stricker, a perfume connoisseur and long-time client of the Florentine bespoke shoemaker Roberto Ugolini. He drew inspiration from the workshop on Via dei Michelozzi: the first fragrances appeared in 2019, with hand-punched leather labels and horn caps – like a good pair of shoes. At SNUD in Vienna-Josefstadt you can smell and test the fragrances and take a sample home with you.
What makes Roberto Ugolini special to us?
What we love about Roberto Ugolini is that feeling of Italy – Florentine gardens, lemons, leather and a little dolce vita in every bottle. We also like the idea behind it – a fragrance line inspired by the shoemaker's workshop in Florence, with leather labels, horn caps and names like Oxford or Derby. And every scent starts out familiar and then has a small twist in store: Oxford wakes up with grapefruit and pepper, Limonaia surprises with mint and artemisia.
Who are Roberto Ugolini's fragrances for?
For everyone looking for Italy in a bottle who loves classic elegance with a small twist. If you like it fresh and citrusy, start with Limonaia, Marzocco or Azzurro; if you are after woody and spicy, with Oxford, Derby or Blue Suede Shoes; and if you like it intense, with the extraits 4 Rosso, Patina or Casentino.
A workshop by Santo Spirito
Roberto Ugolini's workshop is on Via dei Michelozzi, right by the church of Santo Spirito. His great-grandfather, grandfather and father were all shoemakers, and since 1995 Roberto Ugolini has made only bespoke shoes there, entirely by hand. The fragrances are composed by perfumers such as Maurizio Cerizza, Cristian Calabrò and Chris Maurice.
Chris Maurice is behind Oxford, Giardino di Boboli and the Patina extrait; the duo Cristian Calabrò and Maurizio Cerizza behind High Heel White, Marzocco, Derby, 4 Rosso and 17 Rosso. Blue Suede Shoes was composed by Chris Maurice together with Blanca Dalmau.
Florence in every name
The fragrances carry the workshop in their names: Oxford, Derby, Blue Suede Shoes and High Heel White are named after shoes, 17 Rosso after the workshop's street number, Via dei Michelozzi 17 R. Marzocco is the lion from the Florentine coat of arms, Giardino di Boboli the great Renaissance garden across the Arno, and the bottles pick up typical colours of the city.
The range is wide: Marzocco is sweet, citrusy and fresh, Derby spicy, woody and earthy, 4 Rosso smoky, spicy and woody.
