The lovely pharmacy I posted about recently has stiff competition in a country where the herbalist’s art is alive and well.  Judging from the products overflowing from every actual pharmacy in the town as well as the many naturalistic products shops, the Italians place a high value on nature when composing their bath and beauty elixirs.

The Farmacia SS. Annunziata traces its beginnings to the 16th century, thus a relative newcomer compared to the Officina dells Santa Maria Novella.  But, the history of the SS. Annunciata is also quite venerable.  By the 16th century we can identify the first manager of the pharmacy, one Domenico di Vincenzo Brunetti, and since his time the pharmacy has maintained its special tradition of preparing medicines and herbal products for the bath and body.

The Farmacia is located in Florence at both #30 (black) and #80 (red) on the well-worn Via dei Servi which branches directly off the Duomo grounds.  The pharmacy’s unusual number identifiers speak to the arcane Florentine system of giving businesses a red address number and residences a black number address.  It is easy to get confused, but that is just what a trip to Italy is all about in a sense.

The pharmacy’s building dates to 1400, the street on which it is situated was paved in 1421. Florence was then one of the richest and most powerful cities in all of Europe. The pharmacy’s original name was The Domenico di Vincenzo Brunetti Apothecary, dating to 1561.  Domenico himself was a member of the important Florentine guild, the Arte dei Medici e Speziali, and he opened his chemist’s shop where he could sell the many medicinal herbs and concoctions he mixed.  In 1935, the pharmacy was renamed Farmacia della SS. Annunziata.

Today the pharmacy is both owned and managed by the Azzerlini family. The family takes pains to assure us that even though modern methods are used today to prepare their products, the same recipes and care are taken with each formulation.

That’s good to know because ever since 1561, this venerable pharmacy has always had a particular tradition in formulating products for the hygiene and beauty of the skin. Back in the day, products were made by hand with palette knives and mortar and pestles.

The educational leaflet that accompanies purchases from the Farmacia SS. Annunziata says the following: “The pharmacy uses only the highest quality ingredients available on the global market and preparation is done with precision using advanced, high-tech machinery. The finished product is always fresh and in accordance with all current technical and legislative standards and the psycho-physical needs of the client, as well as the needs of the skin according to the climate and/or seasonal changes, are always carefully considered in the making of both new and old products. None of the old traditions have been lost. None of the benefits of modern technology have been neglected.”

Farmacia SS Annunziata is in fact one of the oldest of all Italian apothecaries, and it is thought that it may have existed in particular for the Benedictine monastery in 15th-century Florence. Today, the mode of production is modernized, but always with an eye for the respect of the tradition and style of the house.

Farmacia SS. Annuziata currently boasts 23 perfumes, all created between 2010 and 2012.  It is clear the Farmacia has endeavored to make itself relevant and profitable in today’s Florentine tourist marketplace.

I was at the pharmacy yesterday, spoke to one of the owners, and purchased some finely scented bubble bath made with marigold essence.  I’ll let you know how I like it!