Lorenzo Villoresi Teti: the sea nymph that might bite back

I love a marine brief that doesn’t smell like a hotel lobby. Lorenzo Villoresi just launched Teti, and on paper it is exactly my kind of trouble: the sea, mythology, and an Italian nose who rarely panders.

What it is

• Teti is the latest in Villoresi’s Mare Nostrum collection, a line devoted to Mediterranean air, light, and water.
• The muse is Thetis, the ancient sea nymph who could shift form. That image alone sets expectations for texture and movement rather than a flat aquatic.

Why it matters

• Villoresi has a track record of building atmosphere without shouting. If you know Teint de Neige’s powder or Piper Nigrum’s spice, you know he prefers nuance over noise.
• Marine perfumery is having a second life. The best new ones dodge the 90s calone blast and go for mineral, herbal, and salty skin effects. Teti arrives at a good moment for people who want sea, not shampoo.

What I expect on skin I haven’t worn Teti yet, and I’ll update once I get it on blotter and wrist. But if it follows the Mare Nostrum spirit, I’m bracing for:

• Citrus lift that feels sunlit rather than sugary.
• Saline sparkle, a cool mineral ripple, maybe even that ambergris-like skin salt effect that makes you lean in.
• Mediterranean greens like myrtle, lentisk, or thyme, the scrubby hillside notes that keep a sea theme honest.
• A drydown that trades plastic pool toys for driftwood, pale resins, and soft warmth.

Who will likely love it

• Fans of niche marine scents who are done with neon blue.
• Anyone who craves coastal air mixed with herbs and stone, not seaweed soup.
• Lovers of Villoresi’s restrained hand who want something bright yet civilized, suitable for office and terrace alike.

How I’ll test it Two wears, minimum. First, three sprays on clean skin in the morning to see how the salt sits with coffee and emails. Second, an evening wear with a white shirt to check sillage in cooler air. If it blooms into warm skin salt over time, we might be flirting with signature-scent territory.

Final thought Teti could be the rare sea fragrance that actually feels like the Mediterranean at shoulder height, not a novelty fog. If Villoresi’s lyricism holds, expect clarity, salinity, and just enough mythic bite to keep it interesting. I’ll report back once I’ve had a proper swim.