Italian heritage brand Santa Maria Novella has launched four new citrus-inspired fragrances.
Italian heritage brand Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella has launched a brand new range of citrus-inspired fragrances just in time for summer. The I Giardini Medicei (Medici Gardens) collection – which was created by CEO and the brand’s nose, Gian Luca Perris – includes four new scents, inspired by unique flower and plant varieties found in these heritage gardens.
The perfumer is deeply linked with the great Medici family, whose famous patronage of art, architecture and music elevated Florence as the cultural epicentre of the Renaissance. The oldest fragrance of Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica (Acqua di Santa Maria Novella) is an homage to the scented water that Catherine de Medici brought to Paris in 1533 – spreading these essences throughout Europe.
Beyond art, the Medici family were also widely regarded for their impressive citrus gardens. Instead of being used for culinary or domestic purposes, lemons, oranges and bergamots were celebrated purely for their aesthetic potential. They were viewed by many as an allegory of perpetual life, as citrus fruit are continually producing new leaves, flowers or fruits. The I Giardini Medicei takes its inspiration from the citrus fruit family, which is the perfect scent for summer months.
Gelsomino
Centred around the Gelsomino del Granduca, a type of jasmine which was brought from Goa in 1688 as a gift for Cosimo III De’ Medici, Gelsomino blends together a heavenly bouquet of jasmine, bergamot, tangerine and pink pepper, with middle notes of geranium and ylang ylang and bottom notes of cedar wood and musk.
Bizzarria
First introduced in 1644, and later rediscovered in 1980, the Bizzarria fragrance is a unique blend of bitter orange, etrog and lemon. Honouring one of the Medici family’s greatest botanical curiosities, this perfume pays homage to the citrus from the peculiar Bizzarria citurs tree, with an aromatic blend of timur pepper, neroli, orange blossom absolute, davana and ginger, with added notes of cedar wood and musk.
Magnolia
The magnolia tree first arrived in Florence in the 18th century where it graced the facade of Villa Medici di Castello. Capturing its olfactory magnificence, Magnolia Eau de Parfum blends magnolia grandiflora with white rose, geranium and sambac jasmine, with an intoxicating base of amber and musk.
L’Iris
Celebrated as a potent symbol of protection, as well as the botanical embodiment of the city of Florence, the iris flower is steeped in cultural history. Honouring this flower, the L’Iris Eau de Parfum blends top notes of galbanum, timur pepper and neroli with geranium, magnolia champaca and sambac jasmine.
I Giardini Medicei Eau de Parfum collection will be available online and in store from June 2023 exclusively in the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella venues.
