Santa Maria Novella

Just in time for Xmas, Potts Point Boutique ECLETTICA (Rockwall Crescent) has taken delivery of a whole lot of sweet smelling, A-grade luxury stuff from Firenze.....

 Lavender, Rosemary, Cinnamon and Orange - that's why it's called the Relax Candle

SANTA MARIA NOVELLA is the stuff of dreams, well that is if you happen to be dreaming of a summer filled with exotic smells from luxury products for your home, face, body, bath.... [yeah, I know, me too....]

  TERRACOTTA POMEGRANATE is firstly fired halfway in the kiln, 

then it's immersed in pomegranate oil essence for one week,

 then fired again, sealing the fragrance inside the pomegranate

Back in the day, Dominican friars established L’Officina Profumo‐Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, which was basically an infirmary inside a monastery where herbs and flowers were used to make medicines and balms. A hospital inside a church ? that's GOT TO guarantee some speedy healing!

Their stuff was so good that word spread about the amazing formulas and in the 16th century, the friars were commissioned to create the Acqua della Regina perfume for Caterina de’Medici who was to become Queen of France.

Santa Maria Novella's Colonia Russa is worn by guys and gals.

Aroma is bitter orange, bergamot, and musk..... need we say more?

Santa Maria Novella is still going today and uses only the purest Florentine ingredients to create beautiful colognes, creams, soaps and scented products all in exquisite vintage packaging. Stocked exclusively by Eclettica,  this stuff flies out the door as soon as it arrives - so BE QUICK! someone in your life is going to be very, very happy on Christmas Day [maybe even you....hints are useful]

smells like pomegranate. each soap is hand pressed, aged for 60 days

 and hand wrapped [lasts 3 times longer than normal soap]

b.t.w. if you're wondering, Santa Maria Novella, the Dominican Basilica of Florence, looks like this :

The Foundation stone was laid in 1279  and the updated version, a new Renaissance facade, designed by Leon Battista Alberti was added in 1456 - don't you just love a good back-story with your bath oil!?

Oh and for the literary types out there, I do believe that the perfumes of Santa Maria Novella were favoured by one Hannibal Lecter.... a man with a fine nose for fragrance, food, wine and other things!!!