Release Year: 2010 Not a Perfume is not simply a fragrance and not even «not a perfume» as the name implies. Upon contact with its owner's skin, it emphasizes their own scent by transforming and perfecting it. It is purity and freshness, lightness and weightlessness, uniqueness and individualization, tenderness and passion in one bottle. It unfolds differently on each person, depending on inner state, weather and time of day. “If I were to identify one single aspect that unifies all my creations, that would unquestionably be the ingredient I always prefer over the others. I use it to bring a certain refinement to my fragrances, since only this unique, unlike anything else ingredient brings a woody-musk tone to the composition. This time I created a fragrance with only one ingredient. I invite you to discover it on your skin since that’s the only way to apprehend all its secrets” – Romeo Gigli.
In Not a Perfume there is no distinction between top and base notes. There is only one single component – Ambroxan. This synthetic molecule was synthesized by Firmenich’s professional noses back in 1950. It was created as a replacement for grey ambergris which was too expensive back then. Ambroxan is still present in different compositions, playing roles of its own. However, on this occasion, it plays the leading and only role. In terms of performance, Ambroxan is identical to natural ambergris — the famous aphrodisiac.
Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume is an enveloping and unpredictable scent with obvious sexual undertones. Ambroxan replicates the contours of natural ambergris and has hints of musk, styrax and labdanum. It is described as a transparent mist, a powdery cloud and a warm breeze. It has many forms yet always recognizable. Not a Perfume is when you don't want your perfume to yell but to whisper tenderly.