An Exclusive Interview with Luca Maffei on “LINK” by CZAR Fragrances
Italian perfumer Luca Maffei is celebrated for blending refined craftsmanship with bold creativity. Born and raised in Milan in a family connected to the fragrance world, Luca developed an early intuition for scent. His true path began when he started memorizing raw materials, leading him to study at Givaudan’s Perfumery School in Grasse under Françoise Marin, who instilled in him the values of curiosity, creativity, and persistence.
At just 26, Luca composed Cuoio Nobile for Pineider (2007), earning critical acclaim and later becoming a finalist at Milan’s Accademia del Profumo in 2012. In 2011, he and his father founded Atelier Fragranze Milano (AFM), a niche fragrance house built on artistic freedom and Italian elegance. AFM maintains a creative partnership with French perfumer Antoine Lie, exchanging ideas between Milan and Paris.
In collaboration with CZAR Fragrances, Luca developed LINK, a project launched in December 2024 and culminating in its October 2025 debut at the Kuwait Fall Perfume Expo. In July 2025, the CZAR team visited AFM’s Milan headquarters to refine the creation. Luca’s visit to Kuwait coincided with Italian Design Week, hosted by the Italian Embassy, where CZAR was a sponsor.
During his stay, Luca attended events alongside Ambassador Lorenzo Morini, visited the CZAR Fragrances booth, met with media and industry guests, and explored Kuwait’s landmarks and culture. The experience strengthened the partnership between AFM and CZAR, represented by Dr. Talal AlBannai, Abdulwahab AlRefai, Abdulwahab AlSenan, Ahmed AlHeid, and Yousef AlHeid. Together, they share a vision of perfume as a bridge between East and West, turning art, culture, and emotion into scent. With LINK, this philosophy takes form proving that fragrance can unite worlds through creativity and collaboration.
Luca, please introduce yourself, where you are from, how you entered perfumery, and a bit about your career path.
Hello everyone, I’m Luca Maffei, an Italian perfumer based in Milan, and founder of Atelier Fragranze Milano. I grew up in a fragrance family, my father led one of the world’s major fragrance companies, so scent surrounded me from childhood. I did not plan to be a perfumer, it happened naturally, the first day I smelled raw materials I could memorize and recognize them with ease, that pushed me to study perfumery in France. In 2011, I returned to Milan and opened Atelier Fragranze Milano to compose my own creations.
Outside the lab, what do you enjoy, any favorite sports or players?
I train almost daily, CrossFit, paddle, and the gym. I love football and support Inter Milan, and I follow tennis, Jannik Sinner is doing an amazing job representing Italy. I also enjoy international cuisine, food can be great inspiration for new accords.
What inspired LINK, how did the idea spark?
I wanted a real connection between Italy’s eau de cologne heritage and Kuwait’s rich fragrance tradition. Southern Italy gives the best citrus and bergamot, while Arabian perfumery offers warmth and depth. LINK is a bridge, when you smell it you feel embraced by both cultures.
How has the collaboration between CZAR Fragrances and AFM been for you?
I am very proud, it is my first project with a Kuwaiti brand. CZAR allowed me to bring my style to your country, and our shared focus on craft and quality makes me confident this will be a long story.
What do you see, CZAR and the future between international brands?
CZAR is an amazing brand. There is deep attention to detail, packaging, labeling, glass quality, and of course the fragrance itself. For LINK I selected the finest naturals and key modern molecules to build something rich and precise. With this level of quality and vision, I am sure CZAR can be a significant player in the global niche market, a strong partner for future international collaborations.
How do you see the perfume industry in the Gulf and Middle East?
The Middle East is one of the most important regions for perfumery, especially niche. The future is a strong relationship between European craftsmanship and Gulf taste, together they create truly unique fragrances.
Tell us about the olfactive composition of LINK.
• Top notes: Italian Bergamot, Ginger, Cardamom, Timur Pepper
• Heart notes: Petitgrain, Clary Sage, Jasmine, Italian Chamomile
• Base notes: Vetiver Java, Oakmoss, Galbanum, Cedarwood
It starts bright and spicy, moves to a green floral heart, and settles into an elegant woody mossy base, fresh yet powerful.
Why should people try LINK, how does it perform, and is it unisex?
Traditional colognes are fresh but short lived, I wanted freshness that lasts. By pairing citrus and spice with ambery power and modern musks and ambroxan LINK keeps its brightness with real persistence. It is fully unisex, on a blotter it lasts over 24 hours, on skin around 10 to 12 hours.
As CEO of AFM and a creator, how do you balance management and creativity?
Mornings are for creation when my nose and mind are fresh, usually after early sport, afternoons are for business and management. That balance keeps the company moving while
A lighter question, what cars do you love?
I love sports cars, Ferrari and Lamborghini are icons, and I am also a big fan of German cars such as Audi and Porsche, driving brings the same mix of precision and emotion I enjoy in composing.
You will visit Kuwait for the launch this October, how do you feel?
Very excited. Every trip gives a perfumer new perspectives, I am sure Kuwait will inspire ideas for future creations with CZAR Fragrances.
Final message from Luca:
“LINK is not just a perfume, it is a connection between people and cultures, between freshness and depth, between Italy and Kuwait.”
@czar.kw
@atelierfragranzemilano
@lucamaffei
@embassyofitalyinkuwait
