Some of the most precious ingredients in perfumery come from the sun-drenched south of Italy. Join perfumer Nicola Pozzani at an event for the British Italian Society that traces the story of Italian citrus, from the groves of Calabria to the fragrance that changed European perfumery forever…

Writes Nicola: ‘We begin with Calabrian bergamot, the Italian ingredient par excellence, and discover how this extraordinary fruit became one of Italy’s greatest gifts to perfumery. You will then meet Giovanni Maria Farina, founder of Farina 1709 and creator of the Original Eau de Cologne, the source of the earliest documented use of bergamot in perfumery. Eau de Cologne won a devoted following in Britain, from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana.

From there we will explore how citrus became a beloved genre up to the present day. The evening concludes with a sensory voyage across Italy. Enjoy a taste of Calabria with Farina 1709 Bergamote Admirable Extrait de Cologne, inspired by Calabrian pâtisserie and Mandarine Bonheur Extrait de Cologne, built around a unique triptych of green, yellow and red Sicilian mandarins. An evening for perfume lovers, history enthusiasts and anyone curious about the stories behind scents.’

Member price £20

Guest price £25 – book here

An ‘old friend’ of On The Scent, Nicola Pozzani is an Italian award-winning fragrance creator and educator based in London. Trained by French Master Perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena at the Università dell’Immagine of Milan, he specialises in European heritage perfumery. He has worked with brands including Acqua di Parma and The Merchant of Venice, and currently creates for the world’s oldest family perfumers: the House of Farina in Cologne, inventors of the Original Eau de Cologne, and Royal Perfumers Floris London, where he created for Queen Elizabeth II. Nicola guest lectures on fragrance for UCL’s Slade School of Fine Arts and ISIPCA University of Versailles-University of Padua, amongst others. He is an Associate Member of the British Society of Perfumers and Fragrance Foundation UK.

Read Nicola’s ‘A Day In The Perfumer’s Life, here