Saturday, January 9, 2010

What I got for Christmas



Santa Maria Novella showroom in Florence, Italy

Gift box of Santa Maria Novella soaps

My wife and I honeymooned in Northern Italy, and while visiting Florence- being in the know about natural fragrances- she made a beeline for the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella.
Established in 1221 by Dominican friars, Santa Maria Novella was officially founded as a private enterprise in 1612, making it one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe. They are known for meticulously handcrafted products made from only natural ingredients.
Their Melograno (pomegranate) soap is a Florentine classic. The scent is old-fashioned and like nothing I'd ever smelled before. Evocative of old rooms, antique furniture, and leather-bound books, it is forever etched in my animal brain as the smell of Tuscany.
Sapone per Uomo is another favorite- sandlewood, subtle, musky, old.
All Santa Maria Novella soaps are triple milled, hand molded one at a time on 19th century equipment, aged for 60 days, and hand wrapped.

...because life is too short to shower with crappy soap.

Available in the U.S. from Lafco New York



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