Fragrance Belles-Lettres Magazine

     Fragrance Belles-Lettres loves to celebrate anniversaries of accomplished perfumers and the perfumes that they create. How about celebrating the accomplishment of a 18th century perfumery who will be celebrating an upcoming anniversary of 400 years in business! Yes, I said 400 years.

I have the unique opportunity to write about Italian niche perfumery, Santa Maria Novella perfumery. Due to this tremendous occasions, the house of SMN have created not one but two outstanding perfumes to mark the 400th anniversary and they are Ottone Eau de Cologne and Porcellana Eau de Cologne.

 According to SMN, the names of the fragrances reflects the Officina's return to countries where it was known in the 18th century. Ottone refers to northern Europe, Germany and Russia and Porcellana refers to the Far East. A place of elegance that the Medici family found to be quite fascinating.

 With that in mind, Porcellana Eau de Cologne is to give a more romantic, feminine and delicate tone. While Ottone Eau de Cologne gives more chances of being free and open minded, not yet reading to make a decision.

  The house of SMN have nothing to be indecisive about, they have given 400 years of wonderful works of art and tradition to last a lifetime. It all started by Dominican friars of Florence in the 13th century and how they would be so proud that there dedication to using fine fragrances from their very own garden would create a perfume empire that has been shared by nobles worldwide.
   Ottone and Porcellana Eau de Cologne are the staples for a new era for the house of SMN and it marks territory that cannot be matched.

   Ottone surrounds itself with notes that reminded me of what might have been in the friar's garden during the 13th century with high end rose aroma, steeped in bergamot, petitgrain and oregano. It gives a dusting of clove and spicy cinnamon to give it an edge and lands with a splash of pepper and sandalwood for extra coating and intense flavors of cedar and incense to lay its base.

  Porcellana is less intense and light on the subject with the sweet smell of jasmine. The white flowers carries its own tune with the star anise surrounding it as backup, cardamom sings alto, galbanum is second soprano and cedar strikes a cord with the base and the iris recites a poem.

  Ottone and Porcellana are two contrasting fragrances but that is the beauty of the house of SMN. NO two fragrances are remotely alike. All of the fragrances by SMN are individuals and they are allowed to be enjoyed.