Santa Maria Novella

About Santa Maria Novella

Santa Maria Novella uses longevity as more than the authority of a date. Knowledge developed by friars who cultivated, distilled, and prepared plants for their community continues through fragrance, body care, and objects for the home. The historic shop itself remains a place where the memory of pharmacy and Florentine civic life can be encountered.

History

Dominican friars arrived in Florence in 1221 and cultivated medicinal plants in the convent garden for ointments and preparations. Documentary evidence of pharmacy activity dates to 1508, while the establishment is traditionally said to have opened to the public in 1612. Its historic premises at Via della Scala 16 remain the center of the house, preserving centuries of formulas, tools, and rooms while production and retail continue.

Philosophy & Signature Style

Plants are not scenery for an antique story. The time required for drying, infusion, distillation, and maturation contributes to the character of the object. Herbal cleanliness, floral softness, and the dry depth of resins and spices move across products for both skin and rooms. Historical formulas are neither discarded nor treated as untouchable relics; they are carried forward through present materials, safety requirements, and habits of use. Continuity is therefore active craft rather than simple nostalgia.

Iconic Fragrances

• *Pot Pourri* — Tuscan leaves, flowers, resins, and spices move between an old interior and a dry open landscape.
• *Acqua della Regina* — Citrus and florals connect Florence with a courtly journey into France.