Three artworks by three different artists prompt three perfumes (or “aromatic illustrations”) in the new Jacomo Art Collection. Jacomo, the company, opened for business in New York in the late 1960s; it was founded by James Kaplan, art collector, and Gérard Courtin, French pianist. According to Jacomo PR, the company name was derived from “‘Ja’ for James, ‘co’ for Courtin, and ‘mo’ — to give the name a musical touch.”

All three Art Collection fragrances are well done, but I like Art Collection #02 best (it was influenced by the work of Cecilia Carlstedt). Art Collection #02 is described by Jacomo as “sensual, bohemian and a little bit wild.” It was inspired by an “enigmatic muse depicted in Cecilia Carlstedt’s work — a mysterious girl who could have escaped Carlstedt’s New York studio, leaving a trail of gum, leather and modeling clay scents in her wake.” (Let’s hope Carlstedt is not really imprisoning her muses.) Art Collection #02 includes fragrance notes of bergamot, amaryllis, tonka bean, vanilla, suede accord, amber, and patchouli.

Art Collection #02 starts with a powdery, yet slightly “aquatic” (how can that be?) “gum” accord — a mix of ‘rubber cement’/old-fashioned Play-Doh aromas, tonka bean, and a diffuse leather note…

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