Cristiano Canali

Italy Born 0 Zoologist Perfumes

Canali describes his style as “minimalistic complexity”, building depth through synergies and contrasts rather than overloading notes. He frequently works with rich naturals and gender-fluid florals such as orange blossom, jasmine, mimosa, tuberose and magnolia, combined with animalic materials like beeswax, castoreum, civet and ambergris for warmth and an organic, lived-in feel. Sandalwood is a signature ingredient, tying back to his pharmacy and Ayurvedic interests. His work in Bee for Zoologist showcases an unusually high use of beeswax, creating a warm, opulent, waxy effect with floral and hay-tobacco nuances.

About

Cristiano Canali is an Italian perfumer who originally studied pharmacy, following in his grandfather’s footsteps, before turning to fragrance. A trip to India, where he met local sandalwood producers, helped spark this shift. He later trained in perfumery at ISIPCA in Versailles and went on to work for IFF, first in Amsterdam and then in Paris. After several years in Paris he joined Argeville in the south of France as a perfumer, collaborating with niche houses such as Zoologist, Masque Milano, Rubini, Azman, Artimíque, Alfa Romeo Perfumes and others. In early 2024 he became an in-house perfumer at MANE, based in Milan. His portfolio includes Bee for Zoologist and Romanza for Masque Milano, as well as Fundamental, Nuvolari, Odenaturae and Hyperion for Rubini. Canali often cites sandalwood as a key material linking his pharmaceutical background with perfumery and is known for his use of rich naturals, gender-fluid florals and animalic notes such as beeswax, castoreum, civet and ambergris.