WHY IT'S WORTH IT
Fornasetti
When one mentions Italian design, Fornasetti is among the brightest stars—synonymous with quality, luxury and tradition, where craftsmanship meets artistic whimsy. It simply doesn’t get more exclusive than this.
- Fornasetti combines Italian luxury, artistic playfulness and timeless design in objects that are both scent experiences and collectible art.
- Each candle is a masterpiece of craftsmanship – hand-painted porcelain infused with hypnotic fragrances developed with renowned perfumers.
- Owning a Fornasetti piece is an investment in art, culture and Milanese elegance that grows more beautiful over time.
At times, Fornasetti’s prices may seem strikingly high, but this is a brand that embodies refined quality through and through. Take the scented candles, for example—one might ask why spend thousands on a candle? But these are not ordinary candles. They are decorative objects that elevate your space. Even after the wax has burned away, the container becomes a design piece with lasting cultural and aesthetic value. Owning Fornasetti is an act of investing in something truly special. This is the kind of luxury you owe yourself.
There’s always a classic Art Deco touch in Fornasetti’s visual language—but without becoming rigid or dated. A wink of playfulness adds a bold and rebellious spirit to each piece, just like Piero Fornasetti himself. Despite the strong classical influence, his style is modern and innovative, making each item feel at home in any setting or interior.
The mind behind Fornasetti
Interior architect, sculptor, engraver, and visual artist Piero Fornasetti—born in Milan in 1913 and educated at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts—laid the foundation for a design house that has, for over 70 years, created more than 11,000 unique objects. From furniture and ceramics to textiles, plates, and candles—each piece reflects his love of craftsmanship and unmistakable sense of humor.
Fornasetti drew inspiration from Roman and Greek architecture and frequently used stylized symbols like the sun and moon. His signature color palette leans heavily on black and white as a refined graphic base, often accentuated with touches of gold.
He is perhaps best known for the countless objects adorned with the face of opera singer and muse Lina Cavalieri, immortalized on everything from candles and diffusers to plates and ceramics. Other recurring motifs include his beloved sardines and monkeys—both whimsical and charming.
Though Piero Fornasetti passed away in 1988, the family business continues under his son Barnaba, who keeps producing beloved decorative objects with the same strength, quality and style—true to his father’s legacy.
the THREE FRAGRANCES
A recent launch from the Fornasetti brand is three extrait de parfums presented in extravagant decorative bottles inspired by Lina Cavalieri. All three scents – Immaginazione, Frutto Proibito, and Giardino Segreto – also form the foundation for the brand’s range of interior fragrances and scented candles.
Immaginazione is a musky, woody, and slightly smoky aromatic fragrance with notes of lavender, thyme, juniper, and patchouli – evoking the ambiance of an old hotel lobby in Milan, a sophisticated aroma defined by refinement, tradition, and nostalgia.
Frutto Proibito is a fruity floral composition where citrus and ylang-ylang combine with a seductive bouquet of tuberose and jasmine, creating a bright, vibrant atmosphere that uplifts the senses and radiates freshness.
Giardino Segreto is a fragrance with green, fruity notes offering a blend of flowers, herbs, and fruits from a dark undergrowth, where lush greenery and the garden itself take center stage.
HOME FRAGRANCES
AS LUXURIOUS DECOR OBJECTS
At Gents, we are particularly proud to offer the beautiful and highly exclusive scented candles developed by Barnaba Fornasetti in collaboration with renowned perfumers, where evocative, hypnotic fragrances are housed in decorative vessels made of handcrafted porcelain. The motifs are hand-painted, then transferred using a lithographic technique and finished with a hand-applied glaze. The candles come in the scents Immaginazione, Frutto Proibito, and Giardino Segreto, each available in different designs.
It’s important to remember that these candles are also exceptional pieces of craftsmanship and design – once the candle has burned out (it’s recommended to keep it lit for only an hour or two, allowing the scent to linger in the room afterward), you’ll have an elegant decorative object to use as a container or to simply adorn your home.
Older Fornasetti pieces can today command high prices at quality auctions – furniture such as cabinets and dressers can cost hundreds of thousands of kronor, while rarer decorative objects may reach up to 50,000. Fornasetti is therefore a brand that expresses style and exceptional craftsmanship – a true pleasure to enjoy. And who wouldn’t want a piece of Milan at home?