Vetiver comes from the roots of a tropical grass, and its essential oil is prized for a complex profile that can smell earthy, smoky, woody, nutty, grassy, dry and even slightly boozy. But beyond its smell, vetiver can also act like a vertical backbone in a perfume: linking bright top notes to deeper woody bases, drying out sweetness, and adding a grown-up, woody structure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grjung53fpg

For this warm Sunday on Long Island I went with something a little different today — Acqua della Regina from Santa Maria Novella. One of the things I have come to love about fragrance is that sometimes I’m not simply wearing a scent…I’m wearing a little bit of history. I tend to really enjoy Heritage houses and their stories. And this one has quite a story. Santa Maria Novella traces its roots in Florence all the way back to 1221, when Dominican friars began cultivating herbs and preparing remedies. Acqua della Regina came later, in 1533, when it was created for Caterina de’ Medici and taken with her to France for her marriage to the future King Henri II. That is nearly 500 years of history in the fragrance I put on this morning. 😎 The fragrance itself feels remarkably appropriate for a warm summer Sunday. It starts with a beautiful combination of Italian citrus, neroli and petitgrain, but there is also lavender, rosemary and clove underneath that gives it a fresh herbal and slightly spicy character. What I like most is that it doesn’t smell “modern” in the usual sense—and I mean that as a compliment. There is something wonderfully clean, elegant and restrained about it. The citrus isn’t particularly sweet. It feels greener, brighter and more natural, with the herbs and spices giving it just enough character as it develops. It’s one of those fragrances that reminds me why I enjoy Heritage houses so much. I certainly appreciate new fragrances and new ideas, but there is something pretty special about enjoying a composition whose story reaches all the way back to Renaissance Florence. A quiet Sunday, beautiful weather, nowhere I need to rush… Acqua della Regina feels just about perfect today. 😎🇮🇹