Behind the brand
Meet Dr. Cynthia Magro — dermatopathologist, perfumer, collector
Every Collesta formula begins at home: a Fifth Avenue apothecary where art, history, and fragrance exist in quiet dialogue. Here, surrounded by the paintings, antiquities, and animal companions that shape the house's imagination, Cynthia composes each scent and skincare recipe by hand — small-batch, botanical, and unhurried. Step inside.
The Apothecary
Collesta Aromatherapy Atelier
The Millet et Millet desk serves as the center of Cynthia's perfumery workspace. Essential oil blends are housed in antique perfume flacons that once contained fragrances such as Musc de Coty, Fougère Royale, L'Origan, Chypre de Coty, Nuit de Noël, Jicky, Mitsouko, Quelques Fleurs, and Joy. Antique crystal bottles, cobalt vessels, and cut-glass flacons form a working archive of fragrance history. A Tiffany-style dragonfly lamp from the early 1930s illuminates the desk. Small skulls introduce a memento mori theme, while Gothic Revival griffins, a Renaissance carved lion, a Grand Tour Hermes, and cobalt blue Sèvres perfume bottles reflect Cynthia's interests in collecting, history, symbolism, and perfume.
The Origin
The Perfumer's Desk
At the center of the Collesta universe sits Cynthia at her historic Millet et Fils desk, clothed in her signature black ensemble accented by a Cartier panther necklace, Marina B earrings, and a vintage circa 1960 leopard belt. Surrounding her are the carefully Collesta essential oil concoctions housed in early twentieth-century Baccarat crystal flacons representing the great French perfume houses of Guerlain, Caron, and Houbigant. She is extracting the valuable Chypre Gold of the Sea oil mixture stored in an original Coty Chypre flacon. A Sevre vase adorned with puttis and hippocampus, a bronze grand tour statue of Hermes and cobalt perfume bottles surmounting a Belle Epoque Japanesque ink well add to the display. Behind her are protraits by Thomas Hudson and Anthony Van Dyck.
The Craft
The Alchemist's Desk
Cynthia is seated at her Belle Époque French desk reviewing her personal formula book, a collection of fragrance compositions, notes, and ongoing experiments. The desk is surrounded by objects that reflect her interests in art, history, collecting, and perfume. A Regency chair upholstered in Scalamandré Leopardo fabric sits beside Chinese export porcelain mounted in French bronze, Baccarat crystal, Vienna bronzes, 18th-century Foo dogs, and Egyptian Revival objects. Above the desk hangs a portrait derived from Thomas Gainsborough's famous likeness of Mrs. Sarah Siddons, acquired from a Long Island estate, along with a painting inspired by the work of Guido Reni. Together, these elements create a space dedicated to study, collecting, and creative work.
The Home
The Crimson Salon
Cynthia stands within the crimson salon of Collesta, wearing a monochromatic black silhouette accented by a vintage leopard belt and jewelry from Marina B and Cartier. Surrounding her are recurring animal motifs central to the Collesta aesthetic: a leopard-covered daybed, leopard pillows, zebra rug, and Gothic Revival griffin-based pietra dura table. The room includes an Imari-inspired Royal Worcester vase, a Minton Parian-style figure, a Grand Tour Egyptian pharaoh head, antique perfume flacons, and a Tiffany Poppy lamp. Salon-style walls display paintings, mirrors, reverse paintings on glass of warships, a Chinese courtesan painting, and Charlene, the Collesta black panther. Together, these elements reflect Cynthia’s interests in art, history, collecting, fashion, and design.
The Rituals
Marine Mythology & the Régence Bath
The artistic mythology of Collesta continues in the bathroom transforming an intimate domestic space into a theatrical sancutary of antiquity, marine fantasy and old world refinement. Atop an eighteenth-century commode rests an extraordinary antique sea inspired Majolica centerpiece. Sea dragons, dolphins, coral forms, and shell-like flourishes. The vessel evokes the fantastical marine grotesques beloved during the Belle Époque and Victorian eras. It is filled with gathered shells alongside the “Gold of the Sea” Collesta soap It is flanked by early nineteenth century Empire bonze candelabras. Above is an eighteenth century Regence mirror. Within its reflective surve is .a bhostly image of a pastel portrait peering behind a rock crystal chandelier.
The Quiet Hours
The Daybed Room
Cynthia is seated upon an 18th-century Italian daybed upholstered in luminous sage silk and framed by vintage ocelot accents and an 18th century Aubusson tapestry pillow. She is dressed in her signature black silhouette accented with leopard motifs found in the vintage belt(circa 1960) and leopard tights. Before her rests an 18th-century pietra dura table adorned with classical Grecian motifs and supported by a bronze griffin base, Royal Worcester porcelain, Minton Parian ware, and an alligator specimen. Funerary antiquties surmount the Directoire secretaire;reverse glass paintings depcting naval scense and chinese courtly figures contribute to the historical diagloue. Nearby is Charlene the black panther of the Collesta bestiary and an homage to Cartier's Jeanne Toussaint.
The Collection
The Dragon Table
Upon the French late 19th century dragon table rests an extraordinary collection of objects. Two Belle Époque Aesthetic Movement treasures represented by an American copper incense burner with pierced heart motifs juxtaposed to a French agate container mounted in bronze ormolu with seahorse handles. Nearby sits the Tiffany orientalist bronze box. An 18th century Tibetan gilt bronze lion with its heraldic presence echoes that seen in the nearby Lily and the Lion. The elegant ivory bronze sculpture by Paul Philippe contributes to the refined sensuality and theatrical feminity of the Belle Epoque and early Art Deco eras. Bacarrat Art Deco perfume flacons the scent icons of modern perfumery: Caron Infini, Mitsouko, L'Heure bleu, Emeraude, Taba Blod, L'Origan and Nuit de Noel.
At home with Cynthia
CEO & Founder · Collesta