For the 60th anniversary of the Arno flood, the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella dedicates a limited-edition eau de parfum to the volunteers who saved Florence’s works of art, and presents its archives in an exhibition open until 22 November.
On the night of 3 to 4 November 1966, the Arno overflowed and submerged a large part of Florence’s historic centre. Monuments, works of art and emblematic places were damaged, including the Officina itself. Volunteers from all over Italy and abroad, nicknamed the “Mud Angels” (Angeli del Fango), then helped to save the works, books and documents threatened by the waters.
To mark these 60 years and the 20 years of the Angeli di Firenze eau de Cologne, the House presents Angeli di Firenze Eau de Parfum Limited Edition, which pays tribute to the solidarity of these volunteers. It is available exclusively in a selection of Santa Maria Novella boutiques, at a price of 315 euros, and is not sold online.
A floral, aquatic and green fragrance
The composition opens with bergamot, lemon and a hyacinth accord. The heart brings together jasmine, ylang-ylang, melon and rose; vanilla, musk and cashmere wood form the base. Mineral nuances evoke wet stone and bring to mind the monuments and marble surfaces that regain their lustre once the waters have receded.
The box combines art paper, raw canvas and wooden frames, in reference to the works and documents restored after the disaster. Its illustration shows the Angels bathed in light, surrounded by clouds inspired by the swirls of the Arno.
An archive exhibition in Florence
In parallel, the House presents the exhibition “Frammenti non dimenticati. Firenze, 1966”, from 16 October to 22 November 2026, at 16 via della Scala, in Florence. Photographs, archive documents and objects from its historical collections bear witness there to the damage caused by the flood and to the restoration efforts that followed.
Among the pieces is Saint Sebastian by Francesco Botticini, a panel painting from 1475-1480, severely damaged by the flood and held by the Uffizi Galleries. It is shown to the public before its restoration, which will be carried out by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure.
This Florentine perfume House, tied to its city since 1221, was itself among the places affected in 1966. The fragrance, the box and the exhibition thus carry an episode it lived through, with a painting still awaiting restoration as the centrepiece.
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