Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, located in Florence, Italy, is widely recognized as the oldest continuously operating pharmacy and one of the oldest perfume houses in Europe and the world.

Over the centuries, the apothecary gained a reputation for the quality of its medicinal and fragrant creations. In 1612, the workshop officially opened its doors to the public, transforming from a monastic pharmacy into a commercial establishment. Because of this dual history, some historians refer to 1221 as the institution’s true origin, while others use 1612 as the official founding date of the perfume house itself. Even so, the company is consistently regarded as one of the oldest surviving perfumeries in existence.

One of the most famous products associated with Santa Maria Novella is Acqua della Regina (“Water of the Queen”), a fragrance traditionally linked to Catherine de’ Medici. According to historical accounts, the perfume was created in 1533 to accompany her journey from Florence to France when she married the future King Henry II. The scent remains in production today and is often considered one of the world’s oldest continuously produced perfumes.

The original Florence headquarters still operates in the same historic setting and is renowned for its extraordinary interiors. Visitors often describe the space as part museum, part luxury boutique, with Renaissance frescoes, antique wooden cabinets, marble counters, and centuries-old apothecary jars preserved throughout the building. Beyond perfumes, the brand continues to produce soaps, herbal products, candles, liqueurs, and traditional skincare items inspired by centuries of Florentine pharmaceutical and botanical knowledge.

According to the Internet