A dive into a universe of scents, colors, and shapes. A unique immersive experience that stimulates all the senses. The Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is a must-visit in Florence, and the reasons go far beyond the products you’ll find there.

To start, let’s talk a bit about history. It all began in 1221 when Dominican friars founded the Santa Maria Novella convent and started tending, among other things, to the garden. From this garden, a centuries-old tradition in pharmacopoeia and natural preparations began to develop.

In 1542, the first secular direction of the conventual pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella started its operations, and from then on, the place was opened to the public. Seventy years later, in 1612, the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica was inaugurated with its current name, open to the public and relatively autonomous from the convent.

But it wasn’t until a century later, in 1774, that the Officina’s products gained worldwide fame, thanks to Friar Cosimo Bucelli, an aromatist and “ointment maker” since 1743, an experimenter keen on combining medicinal properties with pleasantness.

Author of the collection of cosmetic and pharmaceutical recipes entitled “Secrets of the Royal Foundry”, Bucelli renovated the spaces of the Antica Spezieria and expanded the production’s reach.

A perfumed museum 

Cosmetics, fragrances, and wellness products are major attractions at the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, but the place offers much more. We’ve shared a bit of its history, and now let’s highlight the architecture, which is simply stunning!

Starting with the old chapel of Saint Nicholas, which underwent a deep renovation designed by Friar Tommaso Valori, eventually becoming the Grand Sales Hall we know today. The work began in 1847 when the growing fame of the Pharmacy required the creation of an adequate salon to welcome clients. All the work was carried out under the initiative of Friar Damiano Beni, one of the most important directors of the pharmacy. The gothic vaulted ceilings, painted by Paolino Sarti, depict the four continents, symbolizing the Pharmacy’s fame and its products around the world.

The wooden furniture follows the 14th-century style, such as the long counter, which has held two bronze candlesticks with female figures since then. Two wooden statues, also still present today, allude to healthy living, directly connected to the effectiveness of the Officina’s products.

Enthralling spaces

In addition to the Grand Sales Hall, three other spaces stand out in the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella:

Sala Verde (Green Room) 

Built between 1335 and 1337, from 1542 onward, the year the first ledger of income and expenses was recorded, marking the start of the Pharmacy’s commercial activities, this room housed the pharmaceutical workshop with its ovens, burners, and distillation equipment.

In the 18th century, the Sala Verde became a reception area for important guests, who were served the pharmacy’s specialties such as Alkermes, China, and especially chocolate, a highly fashionable drink at the time. Pharmacies were meeting places, a sort of parlor where people would gather after the day’s work to chat.

The room is furnished with pieces in the Directoire style from the 18th century. On the right wall, the effigy of Saint Peter of Verona (Saint Peter Martyr), painted by Matteo Rosselli, dominates. On the opposite wall is the Dominican coat of arms of Santa Maria Novella, framed in a rich carved and gilded frame, beneath which is the marble bust of Friar Tommaso Valori, one of the directors.

Above are portraits of all the Officina’s directors since 1612, the year of its official founding.

Antica Spezieria (Old Pharmacy)

So named because until 1848, it was the place reserved for selling and displaying the Officina’s products. It was here that the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella was founded, accessible through the beautiful portal designed by Matteo Nigetti.

The Antica Spezieria room is adorned with rich stucco decoration on the 18th-century vaulted ceiling, featuring fantastic animals, sphinxes, dragons, royal eagles, masks, garlands of fruits, and roses, all motifs typical of the 18th-century repertoire.

The Sacristy 

The sacristy of the Chapel of Saint Nicholas, since 1612, the year the Officina adopted its current name and became the Royal Foundry, was converted into a storage room. Here, the watery products of herb and rose distillation, called “waters,” were stored. Hence, it was also known as the “Water Room”. These distillates were kept in glass ampoules or copper containers, ready to be quickly sold to customers who brought their jugs for filling, a custom that lasted until the late 19th century. For longer storage, glass flasks covered in straw were used to prevent breakage.

A fresh and citrus bouquet

In more than 800 years of history, the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella has been responsible for creating numerous products of undeniable quality and unparalleled fragrances. There are options for all tastes and needs, so we suggest you set aside some time to explore and find what pleases you most.

If you’re unsure among so many choices, we recommend the Officina’s oldest fragrance: Acqua della Regina. When a young Catherine de’ Medici left Florence in 1533 to marry the future king of France, she brought along, among pages, guards, and ladies, a perfumer. His name was Renato Bianco, who became René le Florentin in Paris, and it was through him that the ancient wisdom of Florentine perfumers spread throughout the world. It is said that Acqua di Santa Maria Novella, or Acqua della Regina, was created as a tribute to this moment. It is a fresh and citrusy bouquet, full of history and tradition.