Launched in 2016, Castagna by Tuttotondo, an Italian line of toiletries and fragrances. 

Castgana was inspired by the chestnuts grown around Mount Amiata, a dormant volcano in the province of Siena in Central Tuscany. Oh, I love its smell!

It opens with notes of bright bergamot and powdery, earthy iris that merge into a creamy, smooth heart of sweet, earthy chestnut, warmed by spicy clove and sweetened with vanilla-tinged heliotrope. A note of maple syrup gives it a caramel facet. It smells gently boozy and rich at the same time and is the kind of gourmand fragrance I can’t resist where the sweetness is a supporting player, not a dominating main character. This hovers over a woody base of vetiver, sandalwood and guaiac wood. The vetiver and guaiac wood give it a seductive smokiness. Vanilla and Tonka bean add sweetness, but it’s a warm, spicy sweetness. Musk finishes it off.

For all of this, the drydown is surprisingly delicate and refined. While chestnuts are associated with cooler temperatures, Castgana can be worn anytime. And it’s not so sweet that both men and women can’t wear it. In fact, I like the smell of it on a man where it can have more of a sweet/salty contrast.

Notes: bergamot, iris, clove, heliotrope, maple syrup, chestnut accord, vetiver, vanilla, guaiac wood, sandalwood, tonka bean and musk.