Mal Aimé

Yet some of them like to surprise, and it sometimes happens that bolder and unexpected raw materials make their way into new perfumes. Such is the case with Mal-Aimé by Parfum d’Empire. Created by Marc-Antoine Corticchiato, it pays tribute to a weed: inula, very present in Corsica. So, how about uncovering the secret of this fragrance? Off to the maquis!

The whole world of Marc-Antoine Corticchiato in an unusual perfume

To better grasp the world of this perfume, one must delve into the personal history of Marc-Antoine Corticchiato. This renowned creator was born in Morocco. However, he is of Corsican origin and spent many moments of his childhood in the heart of the maquis. It is therefore quite naturally that he draws inspiration from this Mediterranean land to create his perfumes. With the house Parfum d’Empire, he chose to reconnect with the primary meaning of perfume and to give free rein to his creativity. His distinctive feature? Marc-Antoine Corticchiato owns his own perfumery house and is the sole master in his laboratory. He can therefore let his imagination roam and give rise to surprising fragrances. This is how he conceived Mal-Aimé. This perfume is part of the Héritage Corse collection. Through its very particular scent, it immerses us in the creator’s childhood and pays tribute to one of the most surprising ingredients: inula. Does this name mean nothing to you? Yet it is one of the most widespread weeds in Corsica. With this material, Marc-Antoine Corticchiato takes the stance of restoring nobility to a forgotten and neglected plant. Weeds: I think it is an unfair label, he explains, because they are often beneficial and can have health-giving properties, like inula or nettle. I have never had the heart to remove the wild inula plants growing in my garden in the middle of the maquis. Moreover, in this perfume, Marc-Antoine Corticchiato says he pays tribute to one of his dearest friends who passed away too soon: Lucien Acquerone, himself from Corsica. As such, Mal-Aimé is created in collaboration with his two sons: Stéphane and Alexandre Acquerone.

Mal-Aimé, a herbaceous creation rich in nuance

Mal-Aimé comes in the usual cylindrical and understated bottle of Parfum d’Empire. Shared across the entire Héritage Corse collection, it is here presented in a green color, omnipresent in its cap as well as its label and its fragrance. In terms of scent, inula unleashes all its power here. In turn, this weed reveals itself as floral, very close to rose, or more sun-kissed and honeyed. Its herbaceous breath develops over the hours into more woody, salty or musky registers. Added to this is a whole cocktail of other unexpected ingredients, such as thistle, nettle, brambles and roots.