Florentine Perfumery Launches Medici-Inspired Fragrance Line

The culmination of eight hundred years of research and tradition brings forth an extraordinary new Italian perfume collection from Florence’s acclaimed perfumery Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella.

The I Giardini Medicei line unveils four exclusive scents, each showcasing a deep exploration into the roots of a botanical variety: L’Iris, Bizzarria, Gelsomino, and Magnolia. Behind each fragrance lie the rich traditions of both the Medici family and the Officina, whose legacies have long been intertwined.

The tale began in 16th-century Florence, where members of the Medici family were the first to cultivate citrus fruit trees. Widely known for their influence on Florence’s art and cultural scene, the Medicis were also pioneers in the field of botany, carrying out a study of plants and flowers at their Tuscan villas.

“For us, this is a dream come true. Patient research led us to rediscover some of the Medicean botanical species,” says Gian Luca Perris, CEO and head perfumer of the Officina.

Launched in 2022, L’Iris was the Officina’s inaugural eau de parfum, which is now available in an exclusive artfully illustrated box. The refined composition features iris fiorentina concrete, a precious raw material derived from iris flowers cultivated on the Florentine hills.

The unique Bizzarria eau de parfum features the very rare Bizzarria fruit: a hybrid of bitter orange, etrog, and lemon that was cultivated by the Medicis in the 17th century.

A secret variety of jasmine forms the base of the Gelsomino eau de parfum. Known as the Goa Jasmine, the flower was gifted to Cosimo III de’ Medici in 1688 and was forbidden for cultivation except by the Medici’s experts.

Finally, the Magnolia eau de parfum plays with the magnolia grandiflora note, which derives from the eponymous evergreen tree dating back to prehistoric times.

Each perfume from the collection comes packaged in a unique “coffret-book,” showing historical illustrations from the Officina’s archives along with a special double-bottom box that can be used to store jewellery or other items once the bottle is removed.