SUBLIME SCENTS OF FLORENCE

Nose your way through Florence’s streets and squares on this perfumed sensory journey. Your private assistant will meet you at your accommodation and lead you on an unforgettable trail into the heart of the city’s “essence”. You will breathe in the fragrances of Italy’s perfume capital and uncover the secrets behind the age-old art of perfume making.

Inhale a rich bouquet of aromas as you wander through a wing of the convent of Santa Maria Novella, housing one of the world’s oldest apothecaries. Here, Dominican friars once composed medications, balms and unguents for the monks’ infirmary with the medicinal herbs that were grown in the monastic gardens. The perfumery first opened its doors to the public in 1612 and has been delighting its clients with lotions and potions ever since. Raw materials of the highest quality are still worked and assembled following the founding fathers’ ancient recipes. Feast your eyes on a marvellous array of products including Eau de Colognes, infusions, soaps, shower gels, scented oils and moisturisers all beautifully displayed on the shelves. Watch out for the Acqua della Regina, a perfume originally created for Queen of France Caterina de’ Medici in the 16th century.

You will then enjoy an exclusive private visit to a perfume atelier and gain behind the scenes insight into the activities of a highly-esteemed, internationally-renowned Florentine perfumer. Following a sojourn in the Middle East, which sparked his passion for spices and essences, this maestro profumiere began cultivating aromatic plants and dabbling with scented oils. These experimentations were eventually to lead to the opening of a successful boutique in 1990. After a welcome drink, a member of staff will give you an introduction to the world of perfume making, artistic parfumerie and the atelier’s celebrated creations which are designed to evoke imaginary, mythical worlds, exotic landscapes and dreamy atmospheres. A guided “tasting” of perfumes and aromatic substances will follow. A reawakening of the senses – Renaissance – indeed!

After some free time for lunch reach a perfume boutique located just a few steps away from the Basilica of Santa Croce. Here, a master profumiere will open the shutters of his treasure chest and share his secrets with you. More than 1,500 rare extracts and valuable raw materials are carefully preserved on the shelves of the boutique’s precious olfactory library. Learn about the variety of fragrances – from floral and fruity, to citrus-like and exotic – and how their different combinations generate an extraordinary array of scented elixirs. Under the master’s guidance, select the essences for a personalised scent, calling on your own senses to concoct a unique signature perfume. A 100 ml bottle of perfume created during the workshop, along with its exclusive formula and your newly acquired olfactory awareness, are among the cherished souvenirs you will take back home.