With the gift giving season behind us now, I realize that my favorite gift of all was this carnation scented aqua profumata and latte idratante from Farmacia Antica Münstermann in Florence! I love them so!

I’ve loved the scent of carnation since I was a child. For years, I avidly followed the brands of Roger & Gallet for their carnation-scented soap with its distinctive nutmeg color. I also liked the British brand, Floris, for their spicy scented carnation fragrances. Both companies have sadly discontinued this scent. I imagine the fragrance is probably too old-fashioned for today’s clientele. The old-fashionedness of it is partly why I love it.

Happily, I discovered that Farmacia Antica Münstermann in Florence still confects many classic and simple fragrances. I was fortunate to receive this bottle of scent and lotion and am happily applying both during this rainy, dark season. It lifts my spirits every time!

In Italian, carnation is garofano.

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Walking across the Ponte Vecchio and over to the Palazzo Vecchio. Still pretty quiet here.

Stores and museums are open again! It feels like civilization again! Hallelujah! Will it last? I hope so!

I enjoyed walking around the city on Friday, and here are some things that caught my eye:

Is there a prettier shop in the world than that of Loretta Caponi in Florence? I don’t think so!

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Over at the Palazzo Strozzi the neon signs are still shining!

And things look beautiful back at home in my apartment as well:

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