Santa Maria Novella (Page 2)

First founded in 1221 in Florence by Dominican Friars creating herbal remedies to use in their monastery, Officinia Profumo - Farmaceutica de Santa Maria Novella is one of the world's oldest standing pharmacies. However, it wasn't until 1612 that the pharmacy gained an international status, opening to the public with the sponsorship of the Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Santa Maria Novella specializes in luxury bath and body products, as well as divine colognes still true to their centuries-old formulations. Some of their most sought-after creations include rich hand and foot creams, aromatic potpourri (still fermented in terracotta jars as it was 800 years ago!), and fragrant pomegranate soaps. Not to mention their fragrances, which have a cult following of their own!

The products are still made on-site at their own factory in Florence, Italy, never testing on animals and using local ingredients whenever possible. Carefully handmade according to age-old recipes and artisanal methods, the preparations maintain a spirit of historical elegance.