Sospiro Contralto EDP

Description

Contralto is Sospiro's clean-but-warm signature, composed by Christian Provenzano and released in 2022.

A sweet-spicy haze of pink pepper, clove and orange blossom opens it, then unfolds into a smoky heart of chestnut, guaiac wood and woody-balsamic juniper, finishing on powdery Peru balsam with creamy vanilla and musky cashmeran. Reviewers describe it as soapy-clean with warm, comforting undertones, and it is frequently compared to Byredo Bal d'Afrique, with the consensus that Contralto is the more complex and the longer-lasting of the two.

Scent Character

• Woody: 26% (guaiac wood, cashmeran)
• Spicy: 25% (clove, pink pepper)
• Sweet: 13% (vanilla, Peru balsam)
• Floral: 12% (orange blossom)
• Fresh: 12% (juniper)
• Smoky & Resinous: 12% (chestnut, guaiac)

Translation: a clean, almost soapy opening that turns smoky and woody-balsamic underneath. Polished rather than sweet, and warmer than it first appears.

Fragrance Pyramid

• Top: Orange Blossom, Clove, Pink Pepper
• Heart: Chestnut, Guaiac Wood, Juniper Berries
• Base: Cashmeran, Peru Balsam, Vanilla

Performance

Longevity: Very good, one of the more consistent points across reviews, and the specific reason wearers pick it over the Byredo it gets compared to.

Sillage: Moderate. Present without dominating a room, which suits its clean character.

Best Occasions & Season

Clean enough for business and daytime and warm enough for evenings. The soapy-woody balance makes it one of the easier niche fragrances to wear across seasons rather than one locked to a single time of year.

Concentration & Provenance

Eau de Parfum, 3.4 oz / 100 ml. Shipped from the United States.

Try Before You Commit

Decants start at $5.99 for 1 mL, with a 5 mL size also poured.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does it compare to Byredo Bal d'Afrique?
They share a clean, slightly powdery character. Reviewers who know both generally place Contralto as the more complex of the two, with noticeably better longevity.

Does it contain oud?
No. The smokiness comes from chestnut and guaiac wood. There is no agarwood in this composition.

Is it feminine?
It is sold and worn as unisex. The clove and guaiac keep it from leaning floral-feminine despite the orange blossom.