Violet Ocean - Extrait De Parfum - Filippo Sorcinelli

The fear of clowns, also known as coulrophobia, is a relatively common and often misunderstood phobia.
This fear can manifest at varying levels of intensity, from mild discomfort to paralyzing terror, and is believed to have deep roots in the human psyche.

The figure of the clown has historically been associated with fun and entertainment, dating back to medieval jesters and harlequins of commedia dell’arte. However, the clown’s grotesque appearance, with exaggerated makeup that distorts facial features, can create a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. This distortion can make people perceive clowns as unsettling figures, because their appearance does not correspond to common human behavior.

Psychology suggests that the fear of clowns may stem from the difficulty of reading the true emotions behind heavy makeup. We are generally predisposed to read facial expressions to understand another person’s intentions. When this ability is impaired, as in the case of clowns, it can generate anxiety and fear. The often unpredictable behavior of clowns can contribute to a feeling of unease.

Popular culture has amplified the fear of these figures through negative and frightening portrayals. A striking example is the character of Pennywise, the evil clown from Stephen King’s novel "It," who has terrified generations of readers and viewers and inspired the thirteenth fragrance in the UNUM collection.

Coulrophobia, now also developed through scent by Filippo Sorcinelli, is a kind of culmination of a search into the deeper meaning of fear, begun with the fragrance “but not today” in 2018 and continued last year with “né il giorno, ne l’ora”; it can have a significant impact on the daily lives of those afflicted by it. Common situations such as children’s birthday parties or circus events can become sources of stress and anxiety. In extreme cases, simply seeing an image of a clown can trigger a panic reaction.

Ambiguity, in fact, is the lagoon of thought; awkward movements, tainted by art, project our anxieties, narrow the face, and depict wickedness.

But authentic Art intervenes in the wickedness of appearances just as it intervenes in the soul. Only it creates this short circuit, capable of nullifying what leads to negativity in wickedness. Art depicts but does not limit, and does not like to exacerbate negativity. It depicts it because exposing it allows the substance of Beauty to prevail, even in negative situations.
Some people need to be wicked, but only another person can define their limit on the road to solitude.

And only then will the center of wickedness become a social construct.

Top notes: Vetiver, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Amber, Oud
Heart notes: Artemisia, Petitgrain, Clary sage, Patchouli
Base notes: Lemon, Bergamot, Lavender, Strawberry