Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

Need some baroque frippery to go with your jar of skin cream? This extraordinary shop, which is spread out over a series of palatial rooms, feels more like a museum than a commercial outfit with its medieval frescoes and elaborately carved glass-front cabinets. It began its life as the apothecary of the Santa Maria Novella, when monks concocted cures in its herb garden. In 1612 it opened its doors to the public, and it still offers Renaissance remedies, such as acqua di Santa Maria Novella to cure hysterics, acqua di Melissa to aid digestion and even smelling salts. All of its products remain top-notch, though today they include modern necessities such as eye cream and room spray.