V Canto 2015 Extrait

U ££ Acquired

Mea Culpa

by Paolo Terenzi

Share
Card A shareable image of this fragrance - its verdict, notes and profile. Save or copy it to post anywhere.

V Canto Mea Culpa is an Extrait de Parfum launched in 2015, created by Paolo Terenzi. Mea Culpa opens with Pebbles and Incense, settles into a heart of Powdery, Cedar, Patchouli, and Birch, and dries down to a base of Musk, Vanilla, and Benzoin. V Canto's Mea Culpa carries an Acquired verdict, a musk-led wear.

Mea Culpa is a polarizing, beast-mode patchouli bomb - you'll either love its gothic, earthy intensity or find it overwhelmingly stinky. Definitely not a blind buy unless you're a devout patchouli fan.
What our verdicts mean →
  • Bold
  • Mysterious
  • Sophisticated
  • Elegant
  • Warm
£114.49 at MyBeauty.Boutique 100ml Check price on → Check prices ↓
Mea Culpa Extrait bottle

Scent Profile

Composition

Timeline

Showing: Overall Blend
Topas listed
Incense54%
Pebbles46%
Heartas listed
Patchouli36%
Powdery23%
Birch21%
Cedar20%
Baseas listed
Benzoin41%
Vanilla31%
Musk28%

Top, heart and base are the brand's own listing, not a timing claim - the industry classifies a note by its character as much as by how fast it fades. Each curve here is modelled from that material's own volatility, so groups can overlap when a house lists long-lasting materials in its heart.

ScentArt

ScentArt Explorer What is ScentArt?

Performance & Mood

Performance

Longevity
Long (6-10h)
Projection
Strong
Intensity
Strong

Mood

Mood Energising
Calming
Character Playful
Serious
Sentiment Uplifting
Brooding

When To Wear

Best Seasons

Best For:
Fall Winter
Also Works:
Spring

A cold-weather scent - best worn in winter and autumn.

Best Occasions

Best For:
Date Formal

Given its enormous sillage and eternal longevity, Mea Culpa is too much for an office setting. It shines on dates and formal occasions, particularly in cooler weather, where its powerful presence and sophisticated character can be appreciated without overwhelming close quarters.

Declarable allergens

We derive these from the materials behind this fragrance's notes, not from the bottle. Each one is likely, not confirmed. The list is partial - the box can name others.

Declarable under EU Annex III

  • Synthetic musk Hexamethylindanopyran from Musk
  • Vanillin from Vanilla

The large name is the everyday one. The small name is the INCI form on the box, so you can compare the two. Reactions differ between people. A patch-test panel is not a ranking of risk. How we derive this

About

Mea Culpa opens with a complex dance of earthy patchouli, deep woody tones, and sweet, creamy vanilla. The mineral and incense top notes introduce a unique, almost metallic coolness that quickly intertwines with a rich, smoky amber heart. As it evolves, the fragrance settles into a powdery, balsamic drydown, with hints of musk and benzoin providing a comforting, resinous warmth. It's a journey from dark, damp earth to a sophisticated, powdery sweetness.

Similar

Compare & Pair

Layer

Wear two at once. See what layers well with Mea Culpa Extrait - the blends worth trying, and how each one scores.

Complement

Round out the rotation. See what complements Mea Culpa Extrait - fragrances that pair with it, worn side by side.

Where to buy

Prices for the United Kingdom · · checked 25 September

ScentVerdict earns a commission from purchases - this doesn't affect our verdicts.

Drawn from community reviews and editor-reviewed before publishing on . See our methodology and disclosure policy.