Presenza and Assenza, The New Creations From Italian Niche Brand Pollini Profumi

Key Points

• Research suggests Pollini Profumi's new fragrances, Presenza and Assenza, are inspired by duality, with Presenza being bright and citrusy, and Assenza smoky and resinous.
• The evidence leans toward these being niche perfumes, crafted by Michele Pollini, focusing on harmony and balance, available for €145 each on the brand's website.
• There is controversy around niche perfumery's exclusivity, with some seeing it as artisanal and others as inaccessible, but both fragrances aim for emotional, sensory experiences.
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Brand and Perfumer Background

Pollini Profumi, founded by Michele Pollini in 2024, is an Italian niche perfume brand. Michele, a musician and chemist, combines his passions to create fragrances inspired by harmony, like musical compositions. The brand's portfolio includes Labirinto, Marla, and Meraviglioso, with Presenza and Assenza as the latest additions.

Fragrance Details

• Presenza: A radiant, citrusy-floral scent with notes like lime, bergamot, neroli, and jasmine, grounded by a musky-woody base. It's inspired by light and sound, suitable for daytime wear.
• Assenza: A smoky, resinous fragrance with incense, cardamom, and cedarwood, evoking darkness and pause, ideal for evening or cooler seasons.
• Both are Extraits de Parfum, available in 50ml bottles for €145, with a discovery kit for €20 on Pollini Profumi.
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A Comprehensive Analysis of Pollini Profumi's Presenza and Assenza

As of 10:07 AM PDT on Saturday, June 28, 2025, Pollini Profumi, an Italian niche perfume brand founded by musician and perfumer Michele Pollini, has introduced two new creations, Presenza and Assenza, inspired by the concept of duality. This note provides a detailed examination of these fragrances, their inspirations, availability, and the brand's philosophy, drawing from recent descriptions and analyses.

Context and Background

Pollini Profumi was launched in 2024 with its first two fragrances, Labirinto and Marla, gaining appreciation among Italian perfume enthusiasts for their originality and harmonious approach. Michele Pollini, the brand's founder and perfumer, brings a unique perspective, combining his background in chemistry and music to create fragrances that are akin to olfactory symphonies. His philosophy, as stated on the brand's website, is to seek "harmony" using olfactory notes and chords instead of sounds, reflecting his lifelong passion for balance and artistry

The brand's third fragrance, Meraviglioso, was released in fall 2024, and now, in late June 2025, Presenza and Assenza mark the latest additions, embodying the theme of duality—light and darkness, presence and absence. These fragrances are part of Pollini Profumi's commitment to niche perfumery, focusing on small-batch, high-quality creations that offer unique sensory experiences.

Fragrance Profiles and Inspirations

Presenza: The Sound of Light

• Inspiration: Presenza (Italian for "presence") is described as a fragrance that embodies the power of light and sound, evoking bright, Mediterranean atmospheres. It is likened to a symphony beginning with an orchestral crescendo, offering an "energetic and luminous embrace."
• Fragrance Notes:
  • Top Notes: Lime, Bergamot, Orange, Petitgrain, Aldehydes
  • Heart Notes: Neroli, Jasmine, Iris
  • Base Notes: Osmanthus, Patchouli, Sandalwood, White Musk
• Description: The fragrance opens with a vibrant burst of citrus notes—lime, bergamot, and orange—amplified by aldehydes for a sparkling, retro vibe. The heart reveals the creamy, floral warmth of African Neroli and Egyptian Jasmine, while the base grounds the scent with osmanthus, patchouli, sandalwood, and white musk, creating a modern, musky-woody finish. It is designed to bestow a "prolonged feeling of well-being and comfort," characteristic of the brand's Extrait de Parfum concentration.
• Character: Presenza is radiant and multifaceted, with a retro yet contemporary feel, suitable for those who appreciate bright, uplifting scents with a touch of sophistication. Given its citrusy and floral profile, it might be ideal for daytime wear, particularly in spring or summer, when these notes can shine.

Assenza: The Darkness of Pause

• Inspiration: Assenza (Italian for "absence") is a tribute to silence, reflection, and introspection, capturing the essence of pause and darkness. It evokes the tranquility of a starry night, offering an invitation to meditation and deep contemplation, allowing one to find peace beyond daily chaos.
• Fragrance Notes:
  • Top Notes: Incense, Cardamom, Cloves, Smoke
  • Heart Notes: Olibanum (Frankincense), Cedarwood, Ambrarome
  • Base Notes: Cypriol, Benzoin, Ambergris
• Description: Assenza opens with smoky, incense-laden notes, blended with the warmth of cardamom and cloves. The heart deepens with the resinous, mystical scent of olibanum, while cedarwood and ambrarome add a soft, woody warmth. The base notes of cypriol, benzoin, and ambergris create an enveloping, almost meditative atmosphere, recalling a warm, soft, and comfortable darkness.
• Character: This fragrance is smoky, resinous, and warm, with a sense of mystery and calm, ideal for evening wear or cooler seasons, when the smoky and woody notes can create a cozy, introspective atmosphere.

The Duality and Artistic Elements

• Presenza and Assenza are described as an "ode to duality and the harmony of opposites," embodying concepts like sound and pause, light and dark, Yin and Yang. They are designed to provoke sensory experiences that transcend time and space, aligning with Pollini's vision of harmony.
• The fragrance bottles feature illustrations by expressionist artist Gédéon Tatti. The first canvas, “Living Matter,” explores momentum and strength through gesture, conferring uniqueness and irreproducibility. The second, “Unfinished Profile,” analyzes the notion of the indefinite, materializing a shadow interrupted by white threads, adding an artistic layer to the olfactory experience.
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Availability and Purchase

• Both Presenza and Assenza are available as Extraits de Parfum in 50ml bottles, priced at €145 each, on the Pollini Profumi website
• The brand also offers a discovery kit with samples of all five fragrances (Labirinto, Marla, Meraviglioso, Presenza, and Assenza) for €20, providing an excellent option for those who want to explore the brand's range before committing to a full bottle.
• Shipping is currently available to all EU countries and most non-EU countries, with customers advised to check the website for specific shipping details.

Niche Perfumery Context and Controversy

As niche perfumes, Presenza and Assenza are part of a growing trend in artisanal, small-batch perfumery, focusing on unique ingredients and creative freedom. Pollini Profumi's approach, emphasizing harmony and personal artistry, aligns with this movement, appealing to perfume enthusiasts seeking distinctive scents. However, there is controversy around niche perfumery's exclusivity, with some viewing it as an accessible art form and others criticizing its high price points and limited availability as elitist. Reviews from platforms like Fragrantica suggest initial appreciation for the brand's originality, but long-term reception remains to be seen

Wearing Suggestions

While specific wearing guides are limited, given Presenza's bright, citrusy-floral profile, it might be suitable for daytime or professional settings, especially in warmer months. Assenza, with its smoky, resinous character, could be ideal for evening events or cooler seasons, enhancing its introspective, cozy vibe. As Extraits de Parfum, both are highly concentrated, so applying sparingly on pulse points like wrists and neck is recommended to allow the fragrance to develop fully.

Historical Context and Brand Philosophy

Pollini Profumi's journey began with Labirinto and Marla in 2024, followed by Meraviglioso in fall 2024, each reflecting Michele Pollini's personal and artistic evolution. His background as a musician and chemist informs the brand's philosophy, where fragrances are not just scents but emotional narratives, akin to musical compositions. This approach is evident in Presenza and Assenza, which continue to explore themes of balance and duality, reinforcing the brand's niche identity.

Conclusion

As of June 28, 2025, Presenza and Assenza represent Pollini Profumi's latest exploration of duality, offering bright, citrusy-floral and smoky, resinous experiences, respectively. Available for €145 each on the brand's website, they embody Michele Pollini's vision of harmony and artistry, appealing to niche perfume enthusiasts. While controversy around exclusivity persists, these fragrances stand out for their emotional depth and artistic packaging, with the discovery kit providing an accessible entry point for exploration.

Key Citations