Santa Maria Novella’s Vaniglia fragrance has a warm, sweet, single oriental note. Vanilla is a species of the orchid family and is native to Central America. The scent of vanilla generates a relaxing sensation, releasing tension and eliciting well-being.

It was attributed with aphrodisiac properties in ancient times. The Aztecs made a beverage with cacao and vanilla ('tlixochill' or black bean) that they drank in large quantities. It was a sort of precursor to modern hot chocolate. Legend tells us that Montezuma offered Hernan Cortes a fragrant drink with an unusual taste: it was a chocolate drink spiced with vanilla. Cortes brought cacao to Spain in 1500, and from there it spread throughout all Europe.

Notes: Vanilla, Spices, Cocoa