Our history
The inspiration behind founder Erica Cancellu’s vision comes from her love for her homeland and her family estate, Casanoa, where an extraordinary extra virgin olive oil is produced.
The Casanoa estate is located between Arzachena and Palau, in an unspoilt stretch of land between the sea and the mountains, at the foot of Monte Canu. This is a place of exceptional beauty, where precious Mediterranean plants such as helichrysum, myrtle, mastic and strawberry tree grow wild.
The atmospheres and emotions captured in COSMERALDA fragrances originate here, from a passionate exploration of the natural scents of a land nourished by the aromatic essences of the Mediterranean maquis.
These elements come together and blend to create a bouquet of unique olfactory accords and exclusive fragrances that are authentic and wild, just like our island.
“The scent of Sardinia, both along the coast and in its mountainous interior, is something truly unique, impossible to find anywhere else in the world.”
In these sun-drenched valleys, caressed by the Mistral wind blowing through the Strait of Bonifacio, Casanoa olive oil is also produced. This precious oil is the key ingredient in COSMERALDA’s collection of creams and shower gels. Naturally rich in vitamins A and E, it works in synergy with myrtle, helichrysum and mastic to create a collection of products with extraordinary properties, 100% natural and 100% Made in Sardinia.
“Every time I left my homeland, my heart remained there. I wished I could take those fragrances with me, as they gave me a feeling of well-being that I could never find anywhere else in the world… Whenever I returned, the moment I stepped off the plane, I would breathe in that scent deeply. A fragrance that changes with the seasons, the scent of home, a unique fragrance that only Sardinia can offer.”
The founder spent several years in Milan and abroad, working in marketing for major companies in the fashion industry before returning to take care of the family business.
“Through fragrances, I wanted to recreate that feeling of well-being you experience when you arrive in Sardinia, something I missed so much when I was away. I would love for everyone to be able to carry a little piece of Sardinia with them.”
Her passion for her homeland, together with her encounter with a French Master Perfumer trained in Grasse, who works exclusively with natural essential oils, led to the creation of the COSMERALDA brand. The collection includes 100% natural candles, hand-poured using ancient techniques passed down through the centuries; home fragrance diffusers made with the finest natural raw materials; and moisturising creams and shower gels enriched with precious olive oil from the family estate and herbs typical of Sardinia’s wild flora.
“To develop our first collection, we revisited the places that have always stirred emotions in me that words cannot describe. For the Master Perfumer, it was essential to experience these scents firsthand, to truly feel these emotions, so that he could translate them into fragrances.”
The first fragrance collection, launched in spring 2018, represents the four souls of Sardinia: ENTU embodies the sea, PETRA the land, HORO tradition and HAMMENTOS flavours.
From a very young age, the founder grew up in close contact with nature, spending much of her childhood in Oliena, her parents’ hometown. There, she would curiously observe her grandmothers using herbs from Sardinia’s native flora to treat minor seasonal ailments, such as the flu, as well as burns, eczema and other conditions, while sharing stories about the extraordinary properties of these plants.
In Oliena, a small village in the heart of Barbagia, central Sardinia, time seems to have stood still. Traditions are passed down from mother to daughter; traditional sweets, pasta and bread are still handmade by the village elders, using only the wholesome ingredients that our precious land provides.
“Quando accendo la candela HAMMENTOS, mi sembra di risentire quel profumo, ricorrente durante la mia infanzia, delle nonne che preparavano i dolcetti sardi, a base di mandorle e miele”
It is precisely from Oliena that the inspiration for HAMMENTOS originates. Meaning “memories” in Sardinian, this fragrance recreates the aroma of traditional Sardinian sweets.
“That is why I chose to call this fragrance HAMMENTOS, which means ‘memories’ in Sardinian. Nothing has the power to awaken memories and evoke emotions connected to them quite like a fragrance.”
Then there is the sea, another important memory in the founder’s life.
“When we were children, we spent a lot of time at our family home, just 100 metres from the beach. That scent always gave me an immediate feeling of well-being, and even today it instantly brings back wonderful memories of my childhood.”
ENTU, meaning “wind” in Sardinian, embodies that emotion, that fragrance carried by the sea breeze… A revitalising escape from everyday life, along a windswept beach.
Then there is the land, bringing back more memories of Oliena and Nuoro, particularly Monte Ortobene.
“PETRA, which means ‘rock’ in Sardinian, represents our wild and unspoilt land, that earthy, musky and sharp scent you breathe in while walking through our mountains.”
Finally, there is tradition, the heart of every civilisation.
“HORO, which means ‘heart’ in the dialect of Oliena, represents the essence of our culture. I wanted this fragrance to have a strong personality, just like our traditions, shaped by rituals and customs passed down from generation to generation and forever engraved in our memories.”
“I love telling a story through my fragrances, but not one driven by commercial trends. I would like Sardinia to be known abroad not only for its beaches, but also for its rich historical, cultural, artisanal, artistic and food and wine heritage.”
It was with this spirit that COSMERALDA’s second collection, the MEMORIA COLLECTION, was born.
Through this collection, the founder wishes to pay tribute to the remarkable cultural and artistic flourishing that took place in her hometown, Nuoro, during the Belle Époque, earning the city the nickname “the Athens of Sardinia”.
The first fragrance is dedicated to Grazia Deledda, the Nuoro-born writer who became the first Italian woman to receive the Nobel Prize.
“I have always admired the work of this extraordinary writer, who left us an invaluable gift. It is as though she had carved a portrait of Sardinian society into stone, capturing all its distinctive characteristics, customs, rituals and beliefs. Thanks to her, this heritage can be passed down forever. Otherwise, it might have been forgotten, because she wrote about everyday life and society, aspects of history that are neither taught in schools nor told in history books.”
The development of this fragrance required an enormous amount of time and dedication.
“I tried to imagine a fragrance that could represent this extraordinary artist. I wanted it to convey a feminine and elegant side, but at the same time something slightly masculine, because she was a woman with an exceptionally strong personality. She challenged the conventions of her time, living in a deeply conservative society full of prejudice, where women were expected to remain within the domestic sphere. Yet, through her determination and perseverance, she managed to assert herself and make her voice heard.”
The fragrance dedicated to Grazia Deledda is the first in the collection, with more fragrances to follow.
“COSMERALDA collections are currently sold only in France and Italy, but we will soon expand into other countries. I love the idea that, through our products, people who have never visited Sardinia can discover something about our culture, our history, our traditions and the artists of our past. That is why every product has a story to tell, a story that is proudly and unmistakably Sardinian.”
