This morning, I woke to the sad news of the passing of the founder and creative director of Masque Milano and Milano Fragranze, Alessandro Brun. It’s a tragic loss for the perfume world but even sadder for his family and friends. I didn’t ever interact with Alessandro Brun in any way, but from what I could glean from his interviews, he was very passionate about perfumery and Milan, his city of birth. This passion radiated brightest from the 16 perfumes in Masque Milano’s “Opera” collection.
Thanks in no small part to the creative vision of Alessandro Brun, it’s an excellent collection with many striking pieces of work. The likes of Romanza and Times Square are challenging and original compositions. Montecristo is one of my favourite animalic tobacco perfumes. L’Attesa and Love Kills are fabulous florals showcasing iris and rose, respectively. Even seemingly less challenging fare, such as Lost Alice and the honey-infused mimosa of Ray-Flection, have enough twists and turns to keep even the most ardent fragheads interested for hours.
But there were more strings to Alessandro Brun’s bow than perfume. He was also a professor at the Politecnico di Milan, and if you search his name on YouTube, you’ll find he had a channel showcasing his shredding skills on the guitar. His most important role was as husband and father, though.
Today, as my scent of the day, I wore Sleight of Fern, the fougere scent with chypre-like qualities. In true Masque Milano style, it features enough originality to keep me engrossed for the entire wear.
My condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace, Signore Brun.
Note: All Sleight of Fern pictures are my own.