To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tiziana Terenzi’s bestselling Kirkè fragrance, the Italian perfume house has introduced Kirkè Overdose — an exclusive reinterpretation of the classic Kirkè scent.
As a third-generation, family-owned company, Tiziana Terenzi remains one of the few fully independent artistic perfume houses in the world. Master perfumer Paolo Terenzi, the creative “nose” behind the brand, told Fairchild Studio that the family combines decades of artisanal expertise to craft each fragrance entirely in-house.
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“Instead of following trends, we love to capture the moments of real life. Because life is beautiful, but not perfect, we like to preserve those small imperfections that make it human,” said Terenzi. “This allows us to keep a touch of dissonance in what we create.”
The original Kirkè was designed to be a “joyful fragrance,” as Terenzi noted, which led to it becoming one of the brand’s global best-selling artistic creations.
“Joy is something everyone seeks in life and the notes of the original Kirkè were made to awaken that feeling in the wearer. Perfume is a way to connect with yourself, to bring moments of joy closer,” he said.
To build on this legacy, the release of Kirkè Overdose celebrates a decade of elegance, power and transformation. Taking inspiration from the Greek enchantress Circe, the fragrance embodies her mythical characteristics of seduction and power, alongside rebellion and creation.
Tiziana Terenzi, artistic director and designer at Tiziana Terenzi, created the Kirkè Overdose bottle as a tribute to Circe’s story and to Greek art. The design was inspired by the famed terracotta vases housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, decorated with tales of gods, metamorphoses and enchantment.
As for the scent itself, the composition opens with notes of Brazilian passion fruit, Romagna peach, Trentino’s red raspberry and Bulgarian rose. Its heart blends together Alpine muguet, Japanese gardenia, Dolomite’s blackcurrant, Indian jasmine sambac and warm sand. To tie it all together, the base features notes of Sardinian heliotrope, red Indian patchouli, Australian sandalwood, vanilla bourbon, ambergris and musk–creating a “lasting allure.”
“Kirkè Overdose is a gesture of gratitude to the original Kirkè, the perfume that is loved by so many people,” said Terenzi. “To reinterpret a bestseller after ten years means being guided by experience and maturity. We didn’t just want to make it more intense, but to transform it, to evolve it, while preserving the joyful spirit of the original. It’s still radiant and sensual, but now more reflective and refined, in harmony with how my creative style has evolved.”
Kirkè Overdose said that Tiziana Terenzi’s fragrant celebration of beauty — the brand encourages layering and pairing the original Kirkè with its anniversary edition counterpart for a new sensorial experience.
“Perfume lovers today want to express their individuality through fragrance.” explained Terenzi. “The artistic idea behind Kirkè and Kirkè Overdose is that they can be worn together, if you dare. Layer them and explore endless combinations, every day a new emotion, a new story. That’s the true beauty of perfume.”
Looking ahead, Tiziana Terenzi seeks to explore boutique opportunities within the U.S, noting that the Terenzi store experience goes beyond the typical retail concept. The brand curates a space where customers can embody the “dolce vita spirit,” sharing aperitifs and engaging in one-on-one education. The brand is also collaborating with its partner, The PCA Companies, to expand retail distribution and amplify brand awareness in the market.