Maurizio Cerizza is considered one of Italy’s most respected perfumers, with a career spanning over three decades and more than 100 fragrance creations. His connection to perfumery began early, growing up within his family’s company EMA (Aromatic Essences and Materials), founded in Milan in 1946. His father, a chemical engineer, managed a distillation facility in Imperia, working with natural ingredients such as jasmine, rose, iris, and ylang-ylang—an environment that deeply shaped Cerizza’s early understanding of raw materials.

He later refined his skills at the prestigious Roure Bertrand Dupont school (now part of Givaudan), where he studied under René Ricord, a disciple of the legendary Jean Carles. This classical training emphasized memorizing and classifying scents into olfactory families—an approach that remains fundamental to his creative process today.

Currently a Master Perfumer at Creative Fragrance & Flavours (CFF), Cerizza has collaborated with numerous respected brands, including Roberto Ugolini, The House of Oud, Acqua di Portofino, and Rancé 1795. His first major success came in 1986 with a fragrance for ROCCOBAROCCO, marking the beginning of a prolific and influential career.

Cerizza views perfumery as a form of pure artistry, comparable to painting or composing music. His work is guided by a system of mental associations between raw materials and their sensory impressions. For example, he links sandalwood with milky nuances, davana with fig, and ambrette with pear skin—creating a personal olfactory language that defines his compositions.

Among his notable creations is 17 Rosso, a rich fruity-floral fragrance combining white peach and Damask rose in a highly concentrated form. With 4 Rosso, co-created with Cristian Calabrò, he demonstrates his skill in balancing contrasts, blending smoky saffron with sweet caramel.

For The House of Oud, he created fragrances such as Just Before, a warm gourmand-woody composition featuring palo santo and vanilla, and Ruby Red, which combines fresh and candied ginger with floral notes. These works highlight his ability to craft complex yet harmonious scent structures.

Cerizza’s approach emphasizes intuition and emotional connection over rigid formulas. He believes true creativity requires moving beyond established rules while maintaining balance and harmony. His fragrances are known for their strong presence and lasting power, reflecting his commitment to high-quality materials and craftsmanship.

As a member of the Société Française des Parfumeurs and a lecturer at the Italian Perfumery Institute, Cerizza continues to mentor emerging talent while maintaining his position as a leading figure in contemporary Italian perfumery.