Maurizio Cerizza: Master of Italian Perfumery Excellence

Maurizio Cerizza stands as one of Italy's most respected perfumers, with a career spanning over three decades and more than 100 fragrances to his name. Born into the world of essential oils, Cerizza's journey began in childhood through his family's company EMA (Aromatic Essences and Materials), established in Milan in 1946. His father Aurelio, a chemical engineer, opened a branch in Imperia dedicated to distilling natural materials like jasmine, rose, orris, and ylang-ylang, providing young Maurizio with an early immersion into the art of perfumery.

His formal training at the prestigious Roure Bertrand Dupont school (now part of Givaudan) under René Ricord, who was an assistant to legendary Jean Carles, shaped his methodical approach to fragrance creation. This education emphasized memorizing fragrances and classifying them into 15 olfactory families, a technique that remains central to Cerizza's creative process today.

Currently serving as Master Perfumer at Creative Fragrance & Flavours (CFF), Cerizza has collaborated with numerous prestigious brands including Roberto Ugolini, The House of Oud, Acqua di Portofino, and Rancé 1795. His breakthrough came in 1986 with his first successful fragrance for ROCCOBAROCCO, marking the beginning of a prolific career that would establish him as a cornerstone of Italian perfumery.

Cerizza views perfumery as pure artistry, comparing his work to that of a painter using colors or a musician composing with notes. His creative philosophy centers on establishing continuous mental associations between essential oils and their evocative qualities. He associates sandalwood with milk nuances, Artemisia Davana with fig, and ambrette absolute with pear peel, creating a personal olfactory vocabulary that informs his compositions.

Among his notable creations, 17 Rosso showcases his mastery of complex fruit-floral compositions, featuring white peach and Damask rose with an impressive 30% concentration. 4 Rosso, co-created with Cristian Calabrò, demonstrates his ability to balance smoky saffron with sweet caramel at an extraordinary 35% concentration. His work with The House of Oud includes Just Before, a gourmand-woody blend featuring Palo Santo and vanilla, and Ruby Red, which masterfully combines fresh and candied ginger with floral elements.

Cerizza's approach emphasizes emotional connection and instinct over rigid formulas. He believes creativity requires moving beyond established rules to explore new horizons, always striving for balance and harmony. His fragrances consistently demonstrate moderate to strong sillage with impressive longevity, reflecting his commitment to quality and his deep understanding of raw materials. As a member of the Société Française des Parfumeurs and educator at the Italian Perfumery Institute, Cerizza continues to influence the next generation of perfumers while maintaining his position as one of Italy's most celebrated fragrance artists.