For the very first time, we publish one of our journal articles both in German and English – to ensure that also our non-German speaking international customers and readers can enjoy this enlightening summer interview with Romano Ricci!

You´d almost think this man simply must have a sense of beauty and luxury by birth: His great-grandmother was Nina Ricci, the Grande Dame of Parisian haute couture. His grandfather was Robert Ricci who dedicated his legendary perfume classic L’Air du Temps to whole generations of women. So how could Romano Ricci not have become the founder and creator of Juliette Has a Gun, but… let’s just say, a Formula One racing driver? One of those speed junkies who usually are surrounded by only one single kind of scent – top note: gasoline. Heart note: engine oil. Base note: tyre rubber! Masterly rounded off with a sensual hint of glowing hot asphalt …

Well, that´s not that unrealistic at all, and indeed, it could also have happened, as it soon turned out in our interview with a very affable and winsome Romano Ricci…

Essenza Nobile: I once read that you originally wanted to become a Formula One driver. And that you even had first successes as a racing driver. When and why did you stop and break up this career then and changed the profession?

Romano Ricci: I was quite young, and as always at this age, you irresistibly follow the exact opposite of what you are expected to do. Racing is a passion, I thought my dream would be to become a racing driver.  But at the age of 22, I came back to perfumery because it was into my genes and I realized that it was my way to express myself.

Essenza Nobile: Imagine you had not changed over to perfumery – would there perhaps Romano Ricci stand on the winner´s podium instead of Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton, and Jenson Button today?

Romano Ricci: Actually we raced against each other when we were in the lower categories (Formula Renault, F3). But I have to admit that, even if we were quite close in performance, they had some extra talent that makes the difference, and allowed them to build a carreer in F1.

Essenza Nobile: This dream of your youth, of being a racing driver: do you have buried and abandoned it completely? Or are you sometimes still dreaming of being surrounded by gasoline and engine oil instead of scent of roses?

Romano Ricci: I still practice care racing once or twice a year, but, it is now clear it is only for pleasure.

Essenza Nobile: “Scent of roses” was, by the way, a good keyword for my next question: So far, Juliette has a Gun was strongly associated with this rose theme. Now, with Calamity J. , you launched a fragrance that surprisingly has nothing at all to do with roses. Do you have deliberately turned away from the rose as the centre of the Juliette has a Gun´s scent universe? Or, will the rose rather celebrate a brilliant comeback with your next fragrance creation?

Romano Ricci: I have always liked to contravene rules or trends and as a creator of a niche brand, I am free. When I started working on Juliette’s perfumes few years ago, rose essence was considered to be oldfashioned, that is why I wanted to change the image of this noble raw material and re-interpretate it in a modern way. Then, suddenly, rose essence became trendy! Since the role of niche brands is certainly not to follow mainstream trends but to anticipate them, I had to work on other raw materials as noble and interesting as rose essence.

Essenza Nobile: What does the rose mean to you?

Romano Ricci: A wild ingredient, since you can interprete in very different manners: It can be fresh, heavy, spicy, fruity, classic, modern, sweet… like the different facets of women!

"I have always liked to contravene rules or trends - and as a creator of a niche brand, I am free..."

Essenza Nobile: With Calamity J., you´ve presented the “first masculine fragrance for women only”. How did you get this idea that the time is ripe now for a women’s fragrance with “masculine” undertones?

Romano Ricci: When I realized how much women were attracted to men’s identities, accessories. It’s an interesting fact actually. Like if they were challenging men… like if they were trying to say ”we are stronger than you”. Actually, I think they are…

Essenza Nobile: Your family is very well-known for its great tradition in couture and fragrances. Your great-grandmother was Nina Ricci, the famous designer and founder of the eponymous French fashion house. Your grandfather, Robert Ricci, created the legendary perfume L’Air du Temps. Your parents seem to have interrupted the tradition of your family for some time – with you, it´s now continuing again. Do you think there´s something like a specific “Ricci couture and fragrance” gene which has just skipped one generation? Or, how did it happen that you continue and resume the work of your grandfather now?

Romano Ricci: I strongly believe perfumery is in my genes and I use it as a way to express my feelings. I was very close to my grandfather who transmitted me his passion, and today I really appreciate my chance. I don’t know why this gene skipped one generation, it is like having twins, it also skips one generation!

Essenza Nobile: You have mentioned elsewhere that you believe that your grandfather would not really have agreed with what you´re doing with Juliette has a Gun nowadays, because he had a different, far more “innocent” image of women than the “girl power” – and “rock & elegance” concept that Juliette has a Gun is playing with. So, could it be that Juliette has a Gun is not only a continuation of the family tradition – but, in a way, also a break with it, or even something like your own, personal emancipation from it?

Romano Ricci: Definitely, it is my own project, my own vision and interpretation of the modern woman. Of course at my grandfather’s time it would have been impossible to talk about the “woman with a Gun” and he would be probably choked to hear that kind of concept – but you have to live in your time! Today, women revendicate it and are proud of it ! My role is to understand that.

Essenza Nobile: Your latest fragrance creation – Calamity J. - is named after Calamity Jane, a legendary gunfighter lady from the “Wild West”. These armed women – always ready to defend themselves: do you regard them as especially sexy, erotic, attractive… or even romantic?

Romano Ricci: Sexy, erotic, attractive of course! But in a more natural way. I don’t see her very sophisticated, she seduces differently, with other skills than appearance.

Essenza Nobile: The “modern Juliette”, who strikes back and doesn´t acquiesce in anything no more, is the icon of Juliette has a Gun. So, would you say that Juliette has a Gun is, in a certain sense, a feminist perfume – a perfume “with a message”? Or, in other words: are you something like a male “scent feminist”, well-camouflaged as a perfume dandy?

Romano Ricci: Of course, the whole brand carries a message! It is not a ”feminist” message, it is another way to honor women, a perfume that would make them feel stonger and proud of their femininity.

"I strongly believe perfumery is in my genes and I use it as a way to express my feelings"...

Essenza Nobile: What does actually come first: the inspiration for the fragrance – or the image of the woman who will wear it? Is the scent originally composed and ”tailor-made” for a certain type of woman – or do you create a fragrance first and dedicate it afterwards to a certain type of character?

Romano Ricci: I first think about a type of women and then imagine what kind of perfume would perfectly match. What I would like her to smell is the main quest. What I do is very personal.

Essenza Nobile: In your opinion, what kind of personality is the typical wearer of Juliette has a Gun fragrances? And: who or what is she not?

Romano Ricci: I always create to describe a certain personality, to help her feel comfortable with what she really is. However, it deviates very often from the original intention. That’s the way it is. The essential is that the typical wearer of Juliette recognizes herself in the fragrance.

Essenza Nobile: Romano Ricci, it was really a great pleasure. We thank you very much for taking the time for us and this interview, and now, we´re just looking forward eagerly to the fifth fragrance by Juliette has a Gun!

Romano Ricci: Thank you very much for your interesting interview. If only it was always the case…

This interview was conducted by Erik Vogel in 2010. To read the translated German version, just click here.