Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella’s Rosa fragrance is a bouquet of floral notes evoking the characteristic scent of the queen of perfumery, Rosa centifolia, or May rose. The rose has a long history, dating back to the Sumerians. It is mentioned in the Iliad. In 5th century BC China rose essence was used exclusively by the emperor and the nobility at court. It was used widely in ancient Rome: rose petals were strewed on the roads for holidays and at banquets garlands of roses were worn and rose water was sprinkled on the guests. There is evidence in the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella archives that the Dominican monks of Santa Maria Novella marketed rose water as far back as 1381. In flower symbolism the meaning varies depending on the color. White roses symbolize innocence, red roses passion and yellow roses symbolize unfaithfulness and jealousy.
