Quick answers
History
Notre-Dame 15.4.2019 is the second perfume of the Délire de Voyage collection. It is devoted to the fire of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, which took place on April 15, 2019. But the house's invitation is not to stop at that date, and rather to unlock the true Essence of the place. Filippo Sorcinelli, known as the tailor of the popes, had the privilege of accessing places off-limits to tourism and grasping unexpected images, smells and values.
Three main moments structure the extrait de parfum: the triggering event, the water poured on the stones to put out the fire, and the Essence that remains. What is that essence? One is immediately led to believe it amounts only to the strong smell of incense. Nothing more incomplete, the house warns: the smell of Notre-Dame is not incense.
Today, it is that moment of smoke that marks history; it is also water overflowing from the stones and descending along the sides of the organ. It is a glimpse of the vaults that let the light in from the naked sky, the scent of uninterrupted life, of the unimpaired Soul, the Cross made of spouting gold, the Truth that advances.
The perfume is also a gesture of support: the proceeds from sales go to the Maîtrise, the ensemble of singers and musicians who guard the cathedral's Sacred Music heritage. The bottle cap is a monolith of burnt wood, evoking the tragic moment of the fire, on which the perfume's name is fixed. At the opening, four falling “wings,” painted and signed by Filippo Sorcinelli's own hand, form four small paintings brought back to a single work.
Fragrance notes
Filippo Sorcinelli is an organist; he does not conceive his perfumes as a pyramid of volatility but as a score. Notre-Dame 15.4.2019 is therefore stated in three movements, subject, counter-subject and tail.
The subject lays a deep mossy woody matter: patchouli, vetiver and mosses evoke wet stone, precious woods, tonka bean and sandalwood bring nobility and warmth. The floral counter-subject, lily of the valley, geranium and ambrette, softens without brightening. The long tail of citrus, aromatics, iris and incense opens the light, the glimpse of the vaults and the breath of a life that continues.
Scent profile
Notre-Dame 15.4.2019 is a grave, deep mossy woody, in keeping with its subject. Patchouli, vetiver and mosses set a stone dampness, the smell of water poured on the flagstones. Precious woods and sandalwood lay a nobility, while tonka bean and amber bring a consoling warmth.
The floral counter-subject tempers the gravity. Lily of the valley and geranium lay a clear, green veil, ambrette a soft vegetal musk; together they evoke the intact life, the unimpaired soul the house speaks of. Nothing truly brightens, but something breathes, between the wet stone and the light.
The long tail brings all the perfume's brightness. Neroli, basil, coriander and ginger bring an aromatic, spiced freshness, citrus a clear acidity, iris a powdery veil, while incense and galbanum recall the smoke and the bitter green. Longevity is that of an extrait, long and enveloping; the sillage, woody and incensed, leaves a trace of essence, that of a place that remains.
“One is led to believe the essence of Notre-Dame amounts to incense. Nothing more incomplete: it is also water overflowing from the stones, the glimpse of the vaults, the scent of an uninterrupted life.”Filippo Sorcinelli, on Notre-Dame 15.4.2019
Key characteristics
When and where to wear
Notre-Dame 15.4.2019 is a woody for cool seasons and grave times. Its mossy, damp matter blooms in autumn and winter, in the evening more than the day. Its long aromatic tail also lets it hold the shoulder seasons; in high summer, the patchouli and incense are best dosed with measure.
How to wear it
Seasonal fit
| Season | Fit | Critical notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | ★★★☆ | On days that stay cool, the aromatic tail breathes. |
| Summer | ★★☆☆ | Dense; dose the patchouli and incense. |
| Autumn | ★★★★ | Its prime season, the mossy matter settles in. |
| Winter | ★★★★ | The woody depth reaches full measure. |
Context fit
| Setting | Fit | Usage recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Recollection | ★★★★ | Its vocation, a perfume of essence and memory. |
| Indoors | ★★★★ | Enveloping without intruding, at home. |
| Cultural outing | ★★★★ | Concert, museum, a held woody. |
| Evening | ★★★★ | A woody gravity, never showy. |
| Cool day | ★★★☆ | Wearable by day, more at home in the evening. |
Similar perfumes
The mossy woody incense has its neighbors; you approach it through the house's other Notre-Dame pieces or the great niche incensed woods.
| Perfume | House · year | Why it is close |
|---|---|---|
| Notre-Dame Notte di Natale | Filippo Sorcinelli · 2024 | The sacristy of Notre-Dame on Christmas night, in the MEMENTO collection; another olfactory reading of the same cathedral, woody and spiced. |
| Epicentro | Filippo Sorcinelli · 2019 | The first chapter of the Délire de Voyage collection, devoted to the Marche earthquake; a balsamic woody of gravity, a cousin of Notre-Dame 15.4.2019. |
| ORGAN #6 · Stained-glass windows | Filippo Sorcinelli · 2026 | The blue stained-glass windows of Notre-Dame in the extrait de musique collection; a third crossing of the cathedral by the house. |
Frequently asked questions
See also
Sources
- Official Filippo Sorcinelli document, Notre-Dame 15.4.2019 sheet (Italian and English editions)
- Filippo Sorcinelli Fragrances 2026 press kit (Délire de Voyage collection)
- Filippo Sorcinelli, official Notre-Dame 15.4.2019 page