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V Canto Malatesta
V Canto

Malatesta

powdery
violet
iris
leather
woody
animalic
musky
EDP · 2020 · unisex

V Canto is an Italian niche house known for its use of high-quality raw materials and naturalistic compositions. Founded with a commitment to artisanal perfumery, the brand focuses on distinctive, character-driven fragrances that favor substantive ingredients over trend-chasing.

Malatesta opens with citrus brightness, musk, and a powdery floral lift from lily and iris that immediately establishes an elegant, slightly retro character. The heart deepens considerably, bringing forward Tuscan iris and leather alongside violet and jasmine, creating a sophisticated iris-and-leather core that feels both refined and slightly earthy. The base is where the fragrance reveals its complexity, layering patchouli, oud, pepper, and vanilla to build a warm, spiced woody foundation that prevents the composition from becoming too austere.

Overall, Malatesta reads as a composed, slightly austere iris and leather fragrance with enough spice and sweetness in the base to feel sensual rather than strictly cool. It works equally well on men and women and suits those who appreciate classical perfumery with modern depth. Best worn in cooler months or evening, when its woody richness and leather character can fully develop. Discover your scent DNA: The Homesteader, The Sensualist, and The Hedonist.

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$185Best · 100ml
$32830d Avg
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Price Comparison2 retailers · updated daily
Size
Updated 1686m ago
$185.00Save $806 (81% off retail)
at Papique
$140 low$991 retail
near the low, great time to buy
Buy Now →
RetailerStockPrice
Papique✓ PartnerBestIn Stock$185.00−$806Buy
ScentsAngelIn Stock$990.97Buy

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Price History · 100ml
Low
$140
Avg
$328
Now
$185.00
5 days tracked · 2026-05-14 – 2026-06-02
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Main Accordsreported by community
powdery
100%
violet
100%
iris
100%
leather
75%
woody
50%
animalic
50%
musky
50%
earthy
50%
fresh spicy
50%
white floral
50%
Fragrance Notescommunity verified
Top · 0–30 min
Musk
Musk
The base layer of almost every modern fragrance, a soft, warm, skin-like scent that extends longevity and bridges other notes together. Natural musk was once derived from deer (now banned); today's musks are synthetic and range from clean and soapy to dark and animalic. The right musk makes a fragrance smell like 'you.'
Lily
Lily
Grand, creamy, and slightly spicy, Oriental lily (Stargazer, Casablanca) is one of the most powerful natural flowers, with a heady, complex sweetness that fills a room. White lily is softer and more transparent. Both add drama and elegance to floral compositions, though they require careful handling to avoid becoming oppressive.
Orange
Orange
Warm, round, and familiar, sweet orange is the most approachable of the citrus family. In perfumery it reads as sunlit and optimistic, with a gentle warmth that stops short of heaviness. Orange is frequently used to smooth and soften citrus openings, adding a natural sweetness that makes compositions feel immediately welcoming.
Mandarin Orange
Mandarin Orange
Heart · 30 min – 3 hrs
Tuscan Iris
Tuscan Iris
Leather
Leather
One of perfumery's most complex accords, smoky, animalic, and slightly woody, evoking tanned hide, polished saddles, or fine gloves depending on the recipe. Leather adds sophistication and edge simultaneously, and is deeply associated with masculinity in Western perfumery (though the best leather fragrances transcend gender entirely).
Violet
Violet
Sweet, powdery, and faintly green, violet sits between floral and earthy in a way that feels distinctly old-world glamorous. The leaf and the flower smell quite different: the flower is sugary and delicate, while violet leaf is fresh and slightly vegetal. Together they create a note that feels both nostalgic and current.
Lavender
Lavender
One of perfumery's most essential and beloved notes, clean, herbal, and slightly sweet with a calming, familiar quality that works in almost any context. Lavender is simultaneously the most versatile and the most human of ingredients: it appears in barbershop colognes, romantic florals, and sophisticated orientals alike. A note that simply works.
Jasmine
Jasmine
Intoxicating, heady, and slightly animalic, jasmine is one of the few flowers that smells as rich in a bottle as it does climbing a garden wall at dusk. It has an almost fleshy, indolic quality that stops it reading as purely 'clean.' Jasmine is a workhorse in both feminine and masculine perfumery, adding depth and soul.
Base · 3–12 hrs
Pepper
Pepper
The most essential spice note in perfumery, encompassing the dry, woody heat of black pepper and its many relatives. Pepper adds edge, lift, and a masculine vitality to fragrances without sweetness. It is the note that stops a composition from feeling comfortable and safe, adding a confident, assertive character.
Patchouli
Patchouli
Dense, earthy, and darkly sweet, patchouli is the scent of damp soil and dried herbs with an almost chocolatey richness. It polarizes people because in high concentrations it's overwhelming, but as a supporting note it adds depth and longevity that almost nothing else can match. The backbone of countless oriental and chypre fragrances.
Vanilla
Vanilla
Warm, sweet, and universally appealing, vanilla is to fragrance what salt is to cooking. Real vanilla is complex and slightly smoky, though most perfumery vanilla is synthetic and reads as clean, sweet, and creamy. It slows the evaporation of other notes and is the reason certain fragrances feel like a second skin.
Woody Notes
Woody Notes
Agarwood (Oud)
Agarwood (Oud)
Who Wears ThisScent DNA matches
🏡
The HomesteaderBest match83% match
Rooted, warm, and entirely self-sufficient.

Warm skin musks, sandalwood, soft cedar, clean vetiver. Grounding, intimate, unhurried.

🔥
The Sensualist83% match
You fill the room without trying.

Warm, smooth, projecting. Leather, tobacco, dry amber, bold woods.

🍷
The Hedonist82% match
More is more. You've always known this.

Opulent, rich, long-lasting. Vanilla, amber, dense florals, gourmand warmth.

Based on this fragrance's accord profile · Find your Scent DNA →
Community
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Rate this fragrance
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Most Popular with this Scent DNA Type?
🏡
The Homesteader
Rooted, warm, and entirely self-sufficient.
Warm skin musks, sandalwood, soft cedar, clean vetiver. Grounding, intimate, unhurried.
Discover your type →
Scent Profile
powdery100%violet100%iris100%leather75%woody50%
Decants Available
3
listings in stock
1ml$6.99/ml5ml$4.00/ml10ml$4.10/ml

V Canto Malatesta— Prices, Coupons & Buying Guide

Best price today: Malatesta is $185.00. Without a coupon the lowest price is $185.00. Gush tracks 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.

Are grey market retailers authentic?

Yes. Jomashop, FragranceNet, and MaxAroma sell 100% authentic V Canto fragrances through unofficial distribution channels. The fragrance is identical to department store stock. Grey market refers to the supply chain, not product quality. The price difference comes entirely from the distribution channel.

Frequently asked questions

Cheapest price for V Canto Malatesta? +
$185.00 at Papique. Gush compares 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.
Is $185.00 a good price for Malatesta? +
Yes. The current best price is $185.00 and MSRP is $990.97. At $185.00 you save 81% vs retail.
What does V Canto Malatesta smell like? +
V Canto is an Italian niche house known for its use of high-quality raw materials and naturalistic compositions. Founded with a commitment to artisanal perfumery, the brand focuses on distinctive, character-driven fragrances that favor substantive ingredients over trend-chasing. Malatesta opens with citrus brightness, musk, and a powdery floral lift from lily and iris that immediately establishes an elegant, slightly retro character. The heart deepens considerably, bringing forward Tuscan iris and leather alongside violet and jasmine, creating a sophisticated iris-and-leather core that feels both refined and slightly earthy. The base is where the fragrance reveals its complexity, layering patchouli, oud, pepper, and vanilla to build a warm, spiced woody foundation that prevents the composition from becoming too austere. Overall, Malatesta reads as a composed, slightly austere iris and leather fragrance with enough spice and sweetness in the base to feel sensual rather than strictly cool. It works equally well on men and women and suits those who appreciate classical perfumery with modern depth. Best worn in cooler months or evening, when its woody richness and leather character can fully develop. Discover your scent DNA: The Homesteader, The Sensualist, and The Hedonist.
What are the notes in V Canto Malatesta? +
Top: Musk, Lily, Orange, Mandarin Orange. Heart: Tuscan Iris, Leather, Violet, Lavender, Jasmine. Base: Pepper, Patchouli, Vanilla, Woody Notes, Agarwood (Oud).
What other fragrances smell like V Canto Malatesta? +
Based on shared notes, Parfums de Marly Layton (Pepper, Patchouli, Violet, Jasmine), Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb Rose Explosion for women (Patchouli, Vanilla, Jasmine, Mandarin Orange), Armaf Le Femme (Patchouli, Vanilla, Jasmine, Orange), Liquides Imaginaires Liquide Gold (Patchouli, Vanilla, Jasmine, Mandarin Orange), Ard Al Zaafaran Al Ghala (Patchouli, Vanilla, Lavender, Jasmine) may smell similar to Malatesta.
What is a grey market fragrance retailer? +
Grey market retailers sell authentic fragrances sourced through unofficial distribution -- typically excess inventory from authorized distributors. The product is real and identical to retail. FragranceNet (est. 1997), Jomashop, and MaxAroma are well-established with millions of verified reviews.

Gush earns a commission on purchases at no cost to you · Prices update every 2 hours · Coupon success rates based on affiliate feed data · Grey market = authentic, unofficial supply chain