A bouquet of aromatic-woody oriental notes that evoke Malaysia and India where patchouli grows. The
distinct odor of patchouli pervades homes and public places in the regions where it grows; traditional
medicine attributes the power to positively affect the mind. Its origin in perfumery is quite unexpected:
thanks to its anti-moth properties, patchouli leaves were introduced to Europe via the Silk Road. Fabrics
from India began to be imported and to protect them from moths during their travel by boat, the shawls
were wrapped in patchouli leaves. This is how the success of one of the most beloved olfactory raw
materials began and that will become iconic in the 1960s and 1970s
The Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella can trace its roots back to the Florence of 1221. In that year, Dominican friars founded the convent of Santa Maria Novella, and began to cultivate - among other things - a garden. From that same garden, many centuries of experience in pharmacopeia and natural preparations began to develop. And in later years that experience would expand to include the worlds of cosmetics, fragrances and wellness products.
Inside the convent complex of the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence is the historic shop of the Officina which has been the heart and soul of its activities for centuries.
For 800 years, this has been the place where antique preparations, perfumes and cosmetics are created and distributed, making the shop in Via della Scala the oldest pharmacy in the world. "La Scala" is the flagship museum of the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella.
The sacristy frescoed at the end of the fourteenth century by a pupi