Cacao PodOpens with
VanillaHeart
Sugar CaneDries down to
Paolo TerenziThe nose · 121 fragrances · also made Arrakis (2019)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Tiziana Terenzi · Sold as unisex
Al Contrario
The coziness of an evening at home, where the scent of warm spices and sweet cocoa fills the air.
Full bottle: Luxury tier, typically $250+. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Al ContrarioLuxury · $250+
44%Similar accords, often for lessVanilla Vibes · Juliette Has A GunPremium tier, $100–250 · shares 4 of its 7 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
TopOpening
HeartThe Soul
BaseFoundation
The story behind the bottle.
Paolo Terenzi's Al Contrario by Tiziana Terenzi, launched in 2015, is a Woody Aromatic fragrance that plays with contrasts and warmth. The composition opens with the rich, earthy tones of cacao pod and malt, before diving into a heart of orchid and tonka bean that brings a sweet yet powdery depth. Ebony wood and sandalwood form a warm, spicy base that anchors the scent with a subtle nuttiness from hazelnut and benzoin.
One to two sprays are enough — the cacao pod and malt notes open up quickly but fade within a couple of hours. The woody base notes bloom over time, so it's best to let this fragrance develop on your skin rather than applying more. It pairs well with casual, cozy evenings.
Fig. 01 — Al Contrario, Tiziana Terenzi
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Paolo Terenzi
Three generations of scented craftPaolo Terenzi was born into a family that had worked in artistic goods for three generations — his grandfather an artisan candlemaker, his father Evelino introducing scented candles to the business in 1968.
Designer Tiziana Terenzi
More from the house · Italy
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $250+ price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalAl ContrarioTiziana Terenzi · Luxury · $250+Juliette Has A Gun · 2019Vanilla VibesShares 4 of its 7 notes$100–250★ 3.63 (7,192)46%Match
Montblanc · 2025Signature ElixirShares 4 of its 8 notes$40–100★ 4.16 (398)46%Match
Giorgio Armani · 2015Sable OrShares 4 of its 7 notes$100–250★ 4.37 (127)43%Match
M. Micallef · 2012Vanille OrientShares Vanilla, Orchid and Sandalwood$100–250★ 4.25 (182)
With Issey Miyake L Eau Bleue d Issey Eau Fraiche
Adds aromatic, fresh spicy and green; shares two accords.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 42%, disliked or hated by 11%.