Over 300 years ago, the Chinotto plant was brought  to Savona from China by a Savonese sailor. The unique  climate created by the proximity of  the mountains  to the sea made Savona the perfect environment for the  Chinotto plant to thrive, and this charming Italian town  became its new home. The bitter citrus of the plant  came to  be  highly regarded among navigators, who believed it was an amulet that protected them from  diseases and danger on  the high seas.

Centuries of Chinotto cultivation made Savona famous  as the “Town of Chinotto”. The Chinotto plant’s flowers  are abundant and delicately scented, and the leaves and  fruit peel contain oils often used in fine perfumery and  cosmetics. The citrus is quite bitter when freshly picked,  but can be transformed into delicious candied delicacies  and drinks when properly  processed.

Marco Abaton, a perfumer from Savona, uses the iconic  Chinotto to  honor his  hometown with the  creation of two fragrances that enhance the olfactory notes of this  celebrated fruit. As  the Savonese sailor brought  the Chinotto to Italy, Marco Abaton now shares his creations  with the world through his unique Chinotto perfumes.