ANGELS OF FLORENCE
6/17/15

Lime. Bergamot. Jasmine. Lilac. Gardenia. Rose. Ylang-Ylang. Geranium. Cyclamen. Orange Blossom. Peaches. Prune. Melon. Cinnamon. Violet Leaf. Blackcurrant Buds. Sandalwood. Vanilla. White Musk. Gray Amber.

I know what they say. Angels of Florence is not a favorite in the niche world. It breaks no rules, will not set hearts-a-flutter, and probably is not the most unique formula ever concocted by Santa Maria Novella; a historic and much respected perfume house. But it is special to me and I will tell you why. SMN was my introduction to the world of niche perfume. Before that time, I had been swayed by glossy ads, kitschy-looking bottles, or a name that I liked, simply because that name sounded pretty or catchy. Someone would buy me a perfume, and I would wear it, because that’s what you do with a gift; right? I still love certain perfume names, but for a different reason. It’s because certain words trigger certain emotions, or joys, or reminiscences, and I feel particularly enamored to try the scent. I hear Nuit de Noel and I have visions of The Nutcracker Suite, Christmas pines, yule logs, my mother’s annual Xmas sherry consumption dancing around my head, and that’s before even smelling it! So I love the name Angels of Florence. I expect femininity, culture, long stretches of history, and bridges over the Arno. I am thinking of one of my favorite books as a teen: ‘A Room With a View.’ I can see Lucy being kissed by George in the midst of the violet field and her extraordinary transfiguration as of that moment. I am working myself into a frenzy of high expectations!

When I first discovered Santa Maria Novella in a boutique in Portland, it was actually another scent, Melegrano, which I was initially enamored with. At the last minute, however, I picked up a bottle of Angels of Florence and it was all over. It is not magic, but it is a very crisp and clean green floral scent. There are actually a lot of flowers and notes involved, but the composition is very restrained and (dare I say) politically correct. There are floral perfumes which are bigger than the bottle; loud and dirty and an affront on the senses, but there are no bugs on Angel’s flowers. This is the suit with no wrinkles, the pristine counter top. Although I would say that since our first introduction, I have had deeper connections with other scents that elbow and shove their way into your heart, body and soul, there is something to be said for the understatement. While not vivid or memorable enough to send people into a tizzy in a good or bad way, there is nothing ‘unlikeable’ about it. There is no venue where this scent would be an unwelcome guest. If you would like to furnish your fragrance wardrobe with an elegant ‘all-rounder’ that you can as easily wear to work as you can to dinner, but that won’t have anyone scurrying under the table for cover, or reaching for a gas mask, it is a good choice. While I think it tips slightly more to the feminine side of the scale, it does not overtly do so, and I understand the classification as a cologne. It is absolutely appealing as a unisex scent.  Unfortunately for me on a personal level, I am now unable to wear it, probably due to overuse and the sheer number of ingredients that now make me feel like I am swimming when I put it on, so to coin a Brit phrase, I am “done and dusted.”

Rating: 3 peals of the Duomo bells.