Monday 2 March 2015

SANTA MARIA NOVELLA- Body and Home


Beautiful fragrance for the body and home can lift your spirits and enhance your well-being. One of oldest artisan makers still makes wonderful perfumes favoured by the rich and famous and stylish, worldwide.

Officinal Profumo – Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is one of the world's oldest pharmacies. It was founded in Florence in 1221 by the Dominican Friars; they started making herbal remedies and potions to use in the monastery. Soon their reputation became world renowned and sponsored by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the pharmacy opened to the public in 1612.

Many of Santa Maria Novella’s wonderful products have become a part of history. The first “Eau de Cologne” was created in the 1500’s for Catherine de Medici. This was called “Water of the Queen” and featured citrus and bergamot scented water. Its popularity in France lasted into the 18th century.

Giovanni Feminis, took it with him to Cologne and began to make it there, renaming it Acqua di Cologne or Eau de Cologne as a tribute to the city where it was produced. Today the same formula is still used and is called Santa Maria Novella. It is the signature fragrance and the most sought after of all of their scents.

Many of the oldest products from Santa Maria Novella are still popular. The Almond Paste is an excellent rich cream made from almond butter. The Rose Water can be used on the face for washing and removing make-up. The Pot-Pourri is still hand-made and left to ferment in large terracotta jars. The Milky Soaps, scented with their own fragrances are made with whole milk to protect and soften skin. Scents use: Honeysuckle, Rose, Iris, Patchouli, Jasmine, Violet and Lily of the Valley.

The Pharmacy is run by Eugenio Alfandery, who has kept the tradition and legacy of the brand whilst updating the old methods and procedures. All new products keep to the Santa Maria Novella philosophy of quality and precision, mixing old world formulations and expertise with modern mastery of current technology. Local ingredients are used whenever possible and the products are never tested on animals. Each batch is hand-made in Florence and supervised according to age old recipes and artisanal methods.

 For details view www.santamarianovellausa.com  
 

Sara x