A new haven for the senses, the historic beauty brand is expanding its presence in the UK, welcoming visitors old and new. Dearly loved for centuries by both Londoners and international beauty fans, 4 Burlington Gardens joins its existing locations in Piccadilly and Walton Street and corners in Liberty London and Harrods.
Renowned for its curated selection of artisan perfumes, the Italian fragrance store’s Florentine heritage is encapsulated in its “ancient preparations” of the utmost elegance. It seeks to reinterpret Renaissance taste for natural sciences and perfumery art and is steeped in a rich history.
Founded in the thirteenth century, Santa Maria Novella’s journey has been intertwined with the lives of royals, nobility, and admirers who have formed the luxury tapestry of its legacy today. Inextricably linked to Leonardo da Vinci, the new London store is just a stone’s throw away from the Royal Academy of Arts, where it is a partner of the exhibition Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c. 1504, currently on display.
In 1504, Leonardo was preparing “The Battle of Anghiari”, a grand work, while staying at the convent of Santa Maria Novella. Though he unfortunately never completed the piece, it was here that Leonardo studied botany and perfumery and created glass tools, “alambicchi”, for perfume distillation. Home to the friars whose remedies and aromatic waters inspired prestigious perfumer Renato Bianco, Via della Scala 16 in Florence still houses da Vinci’s studies and designs today. Dearly appreciated in Florence for centuries, some of its most iconic artisan fragrances include Acqua di Rose and Acqua della Regina, the latter created in 1544 for Catherine de’ Medici, who brought the portentous liquid to France, subsequently popularising the use of perfume in the whole of Europe.
Visitors shopping in Mayfair can immerse themselves in the authentic craftsmanship that continues to inspire contemporary luxury. “It is a privilege to treasure and pass on a brand with such an extraordinary history,” says Giovanna Paoloni, CEO of Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. “With our support of this exhibition and the opening of the new Burlington Gardens store, we want to strengthen our presence in London and continue the Renaissance tradition of promoting the arts, a legacy that Santa Maria Novella continues to celebrate through the centuries today.”
Distributed in 30 countries with more than 400 points of sale worldwide, this new shop in Burlington Gardens is part of Santa Maria Novella’s commitment to sharing Florentine cultural heritage beyond Italy’s borders.
