Casanova

The Verdict

Tiziana Terenzi released Casanova in 2014 as part of the brand's luxury extrait de parfum collection, composed by Paolo Terenzi. Inspired by the legendary Venetian seducer Giacomo Casanova and the enchanting atmosphere of Carnival, the fragrance promises intrigue and sensuality. The Black Narcissus blog described it as "peculiarly waxen, powdery; slightly putrid, but still charming" -- a characterization that captures both its appeal and its divisiveness.

Basenotes reviewers highlight the fragrance's standout quality as its balance, with "sweetish woody amber kept in check with bracing spicing and myrrh" and "just a hint of powder giving the experience a refined air." Yet the same community includes voices who find much of it very faint and watered down, questioning whether it delivers on its seductive namesake. Casanova is a fragrance that demands patience and intimacy to fully appreciate.

What It Smells Like

The opening presents jasmine, bergamot, and orchid in a moderately projected floral-powdery introduction. Fragrantica reviewers describe the initial impression as white floral, slightly sweet, and green, with the bergamot providing a soft citrus touch rather than a bright burst. Fig leaf adds a verdant, slightly milky quality.

The heart is where the composition becomes genuinely complex. Guaiac wood, cardamom, vanilla, pink pepper, myrrh, leather, and ambergris create a dense, multi-layered accord. The Black Narcissus found the combination of notes initially disharmonious -- a "weird, antituitive combination" -- but acknowledged that something paradoxically works. Basenotes praised the myrrh and spice for providing structure and preventing the sweetness from becoming cloying.

The base of white musk, ambroxan, cedar, amber, vetiver, tonka bean, and oakmoss creates a powdery, clean, airy finish. Basenotes noted that Casanova opens up considerably in the deep drydown, gaining a fougere-like freshness that adds an unexpected final dimension. The overall trajectory moves from dense opacity to translucent clarity.

When to Wear It

Casanova is an evening fragrance suited to fall and winter. Its powdery-amber character and intimate projection make it ideal for romantic dinners, cultural events, and elegant gatherings where its quiet seduction can work on those in close proximity.

This is not a fragrance for hot weather or daytime casual wear. Its dense, layered character requires cooler temperatures to unfold properly and social contexts where its complexity can be appreciated.

Longevity & Projection

Performance is the most contentious aspect of Casanova. The Black Narcissus blog noted that "the stamina of the scent is a little weak" and added that "with a name like this, you could be forgiven for expecting a perfume with a lot more skin-clinging manpower." Some Fragrantica reviewers report pronounced sillage and tremendous longevity, while others describe the projection as faint and the overall presence as watered down. The discrepancy suggests significant skin chemistry variation. The powdery, clean, fresh drydown tends to stay close to the wearer rather than projecting outward.

The Community Says

Community opinion ranges from devotion to dismissal. Positive reviewers on Fragrantica call it an amazing scent worthy of signature status that earns compliments. Basenotes appreciates the refined balance and the way the composition evolves, particularly praising the deep drydown. The Black Narcissus described its appeal as something that "crawls its way into your bedsheets; or at least under your skin," suggesting an addictive quality that defies its technical shortcomings. On the negative side, some find it annoyingly sweet with weird ambergris tartness, while others consider it faint and lacking crowd-pleasing power. Fragrantica, Basenotes, Parfumo, and The Black Narcissus have published detailed assessments.

Who Should Buy This

Casanova rewards patient wearers who appreciate complex, evolving compositions and do not need their fragrance to announce them from across a room. If you enjoy powdery-amber orientals with unexpected twists, the interplay of myrrh and cardamom with floral sweetness, and the idea of a fragrance that seduces through intimacy rather than volume, Casanova has genuine depth to offer.

Those expecting a powerful, beast-mode seduction fragrance to match its name will be disappointed. Casanova seduces quietly, which is either its greatest virtue or its most frustrating limitation.

The Bottom Line

Tiziana Terenzi Casanova is a complex, powdery oriental-woody extrait that channels Venetian intrigue through waxen florals, dense spice, and an evolving amber base. Its weak projection may undermine its seductive ambitions, but for those who appreciate fragrance as intimate experience rather than public performance, Casanova delivers a genuinely intriguing composition worthy of exploration.