Francesca Bianchi The Black Knight Extrait 30ml

£80.00

Made by Francesca Bianchi (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Perfumer: Francesca Bianchi

Renaissance captain Giovanni Dalle Bande Nere, together with his loyalty, spartan life-style, and moral commitment inspired this creation. Imagine the smell of a military camp: the sweetness of wild shrubs, the smoke of campfire, the smell of leather horse tacks. A powdery rose – symbolising his secret mistress – rounds up an intense core of vetiver, the great protagonist of this perfume.

Notes: Artemisia, Caraway, Honey, Bulgarian Rose, Narcissus, Iris Butter, Beeswax, Cederwood, Vetiver, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Leather

 

 

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The Black Knight is a gothic, intense, sophisticated perfume inspired by the historical character Giovanni Dalle Bande Nere (John of the Black Bands), an Italian condottiero (mercenary captain) of the Renaissance who belonged to the glorious Medici family. I was charmed by this character for his stoic commitment to his cause, his loyalty, and his Spartan way of life – despite his noble origins.

The perfume tries to depict the atmosphere of a military camp, starting with the smell of wild shrubs, then the smoke of camp fire and the odour of horse tacks. The evolution then delves deeper into the soul of this stern character, revealing the presence of a secret mistress, with a powdery rose rounding up the deep core made of vetiver. I didn’t add any typical animalistic note as the intensity of Vetiver, together with the smokiness of leather, already carried it through. I wanted to combine both the uncompromising and the human aspects of this fascinating character in a dark, medieval, meditative scent.

Alcohol Denat., Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Aqua, D-Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Linalool, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Hydroxycitronellal, Isoeugenol, Eugenol, Citral, Amyl Cinnamal, Farnesol, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Benzyl Salicylate.

MEET THE MAKER

Francesca Bianchi

Francesca Bianchi is a self-taught perfumer whose creative path began not in a laboratory but in the world of art. With a background in Art History and early work in art-book publishing, she developed a sensibility rooted in culture, emotion, and aesthetic nuance. A lifelong fascination with scent eventually drew her toward perfumery, and what began as a personal curiosity grew into a vocation. Her artistic training still permeates everything she creates: each fragrance feels less like a product and more like an expressive medium, a way of translating moods, memories, and intimate sensations into olfactory form.

Her creative process is slow, deliberate, and deeply personal. Every perfume starts as an idea — sometimes a state of mind, sometimes an emotional vignette — that she gradually shapes through countless trials. Some formulas come together in months, others take years. Bianchi composes the original perfume concentrate in her Amsterdam laboratory, where she works alone, refining accords until they fully capture her intent. Once the formula is ready, production unfolds across Europe: the concentrate is sent to a small atelier in Grasse for mixing with alcohol, and the fragrance is matured, filtered, bottled, and packaged in Milan. This craft-driven, hands-on process mirrors her philosophy: authenticity over speed, artistry over mass production.

Philosophically, Bianchi treats perfume as an emotional language. She is less concerned with trends or conventional “wearability” than with creating fragrances that provoke feeling. Many of her compositions explore intimacy, vulnerability, sensuality, and nostalgia. She uses both natural materials, which lend complexity and depth, and synthetics, which offer effects nature cannot provide. For her, the choice is never ideological — only expressive. The result is a signature style that is rich, immersive, often animalic, and unmistakably human.

Since launching her house in 2016, Francesca Bianchi has earned a devoted following among niche fragrance lovers. Her perfumes are known for their intensity and evocative storytelling, appealing to those who see scent as an art form rather than an accessory. Early creations such as The Dark Side, Angel’s Dust, and Sex and the Sea helped define her aesthetic: bold yet nuanced, intimate yet expansive. Collectors often describe her work as atmospheric and emotionally charged — the kind of perfume that wears like a narrative rather than a simple blend of notes.

Despite the sensuality and drama of her fragrances, Bianchi maintains a thoughtful approach to ethics and sustainability. She avoids using animal-derived materials such as natural musk or civet, preferring synthetic alternatives that offer similar effects without ethical compromise. She partners with raw-material suppliers who prioritise responsible harvesting and safe working conditions, and she designs her packaging to minimize waste, using recyclable materials and avoiding unnecessary plastic. This balance of luxury and responsibility is central to her vision: a perfume can be indulgent without being careless.

Today, Francesca Bianchi stands as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary niche perfumery. Her work resonates because it feels honest — rooted in personal expression rather than market formulas. For those drawn to fragrance as a form of art, her perfumes offer depth, complexity, and emotional truth. They are not merely scents to wear, but experiences to inhabit, each one revealing something intimate about the maker and, perhaps, the wearer too.


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