History of a royal fragrance In 1533, Catherine de Medici had to leave Florence to marry the future king of France. Among the guards, pages and ladies who accompanied her, she also asked for a perfumer. It was Renato Bianco, raised by the Dominican friars, who left with her. In Paris, he became Rene the Florentine, and greatly participated in the expansion of the art of perfume in Europe and throughout the world. For her wedding, and thus her coronation as Queen of France, Catherine de Medici requested a special essence for this special day. Acqua della Regina is a tribute to this request. Santa Maria Novella's first fragrance, Acqua della Regina is a citrusy homage to a fresh, lemony royal story. Rosemary, cloves and lavender combine on a musky base with elegance and grace in such a special way that Catherine de Medici offered this fragrance to Henry II of Valois, the future king of France. This history makes it a royal fragrance with a rich history, inspired by 800 years of tradition.