"Using only natural raw materials of the highest quality and continuing to follow the ancient procedures originated by the Founding Fathers, Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella focuses exclusively on the herbalists art, basing all its preparations on traditional herbs and oils of natural origin. The vast majority of the medicinal herbs used in its products are grown locally on the hills around Florence. Furthermore, none of its products are tested on animals.” ... basta (enough) ... if you're interested in reading more about this amazing and beautiful profumo-farmaceutica, see http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/Pharmacy-Santa-Maria-Novella.html
what makes this "pharmacy/perfumery" so special today, besides the extremely high quality and the fact that all products are totally natural, is the sheer beauty to be found when you step inside the rather plain glass doors at Via della Scala 33. walking through those glass doors is to step into a world still mired in centuries past. the first thing you notice when entering is the heavenly scent. since they made their first perfume for Catherine de Medici in 1533, this place has become world famous for their perfumery.
http://www.santamarianovellausa.com/
http://www.nstperfume.com/perfume-houses-s/santa-maria-novella/