Nasomatto Baraonda

Alessandro Gualtieri works on his own terms at Nasomatto, releasing small 30ml extraits without a traditional note pyramid. Baraonda, from 2016, is the one many people call his best. It is a whisky fragrance: a realistic malty spirit over woods, rose and his signature musk. Instead of top, heart and base notes, the house gives a single set of six, and the scent moves like a drink warming in the glass. Aromatica carries the Nasomatto Baraonda decant in Bangladesh in 3ml and 5ml, a sensible way into an expensive extrait.

Fragrance Notes

Top: Not published in tiers by the house

Heart: Not published in tiers by the house

Base: Not published in tiers by the house

Nasomatto lists notes as one set: whiskey, woody notes, ambrette, ambroxan, rose and musk. Full note breakdown on Fragrantica.

The Scent

It opens liquorous and malty, like the first breath off a glass of whisky. Reviewers describe it as one of the most realistic whisky notes in perfumery. There is a honeyed sweetness to it from the start, and some pick up a faint minty lift in the first minutes.

As it settles, rose and woods come forward, and the whisky starts to feel like an oak barrel rather than a drink. The rose is honeyed and soft, sitting inside the booze instead of on top of it. Ambrette adds a musky, slightly fruity warmth. This middle stage is where most admirers fall for it, as the spirit and the flower blend into one smooth shape.

The drydown is woods, ambroxan and musk, Gualtieri's recognisable skin-like finish. It is slightly sweet, boozy and woody, and quieter than the opening. A few reviewers feel the base is the weakest part and wish it held more of the early whisky. Others describe the end as a warm woody skin scent with a lingering trace of the spirit.

Because the notes are not split into tiers, the best way to read Baraonda is as one accord that shifts over time: spirit first, then rose and oak, then musk and wood. It is dense and rich, and its character is strong from the first spray, which is typical of the house.

When to Wear

Baraonda is a cool-weather, evening scent. Its whisky and wood feel right on winter nights, at dinners, and on quiet nights out. It is not an office scent, since the boozy opening reads clearly as spirit. In Dhaka's warmer months, save it for air-conditioned evenings. More picks are in the Boozy collection.

Who Is It For

It suits people who enjoy boozy, woody fragrances and want a respected niche example of the whisky theme. It works for any gender. Fans of Gualtieri's other work will recognise the musk. At extrait prices, it is exactly the kind of bottle to sample before buying.

For a designer scent with a whisky note, compare Givenchy Gentleman Réserve Privée. Gualtieri also composes for Orto Parisi, where the same raw, musky style runs through the line. Browse the Orto Parisi collection, or explore more rare picks in Exclusives.

Available as an authentic decant in Bangladesh at Aromatica in 3ml and 5ml.