Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Old School Charm


This company is just TOO cool for me not to love them.

Have you ever heard of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella? I'm guessing not. For those of you who are not in the know ;), Santa Maria Novella is a church in Florence, Italy. Chronologically, it's the first great basilica in Florence, and is the city's principle Dominican church. The church was called the Novella (New) because it was built on the site of the 9th century chapel of Santa Maria delle Vigne. When the site was assigned to the Domican Order in 1221, they decided to build a new church, the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella.
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AND.....Adjacent to Piazza di Santa Maria Novella in Florence is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, established by the Dominican fathers shortly after 1221, the year of their arrival (from Spain) in Florence. In the garden, the fathers began to cultivate the herbs that they need to prepare medications, balms and creams for the monastery's little infirmary.

In 1612 the Grand Duke, Fernando I di Medici, gave the Dominicans permission to open this little store - the pharmacy was opened to the public. The friars, chose to name their pharmacy, "Santa Maria Novella Perfume Pharmaceutical Workshop", mentioning perfume first, showing how much demand there was even their for their perfumes. A century later their herbal secrets had become internationally renowned.

Still following? And why I am talking this much history?!? Well, because now Santa Maria Novella is known for it's perfume. Today their perfume is sought out by consumers worldwide. Santa Maria Novella has been featured in Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair and Lucky....just to name a few. Their perfumes are for men and women.....and have been said to lead strangers to following, and people burying their head in your chest. Currently, there are stores in Florence, Santa Monica, New York, Dallas (who knew Dallas was that happening?!?). These are the only places you can get their products. Too bad the whole world can't smell this good.

Some of their other cool products (other than perfume) are: Iris toothpaste,
Mimosa Helichrysum Cream and they potpourri. Check it out!

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