Story | Leslie Yip
With Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day approaching, why not scent your home to channel happiness, prosperity and romance.
Did you know that the way you scent your home could affect its feng shui?
According to ancient Chinese principles, aromas and scents can have a powerful effect on the flow of chi, or energy, in your home or office. Positive scents not only raise the chi, but also can relate directly to specific emotions.
Dr. Vranjes Firenze’s Rosso Nobile diffuser is available in five sizes: 250ml | $125; 500ml | $185; 1,250ml | $395; 2,500ml | $795; 5,000ml | $1,575,
Dr. Paolo Vranjes is also fascinated by the power of scent. Inspired by his artistic Italian home city of Florence and the beautiful landscapes of the Tuscany region, he recalls, “I was captivated by this world made of precious transparent bottles, containing rare and exciting aromas. I really wanted to know all their secrets.”
This curiosity led to studies in chemistry, pharmacology and cosmetology. He founded the Antica Officina del Farmacista in 1983, where he and his wife Anna Maria created personal products for pharmacies and spas. In 1986, the duo began to produce decorative scented accessories based on the principles of aromatherapy and aromachology. And then in 2001, they created a scent that propelled their brand into a globally recognized name.
It is called Rosso Nobile, the “noble red”, and it features notes of grapes, berries, violet, orange, magnolia and birchwood. It was inspired by a conversation Vranjes had with his friend Francis, a filmmaker with a passion for studying wine. After Francis said it was impossible to recreate the rich scent of red wine in a fragrance, Vranjes spent the next three years intent on proving him wrong.
Dr. Vranjes Firenze’s Rosso Nobile decanter with grape vine sticks, 750 ml | $425
“After creating Rosso Nobile, I delivered it to Francis in an elegant crystal decanter,” Vranjes says. “He quickly agreed that I had captured the countless nuances of a fine, full-bodied Tuscan red wine. For over 20 years, Rosso Nobile has been my most beloved creation worldwide.”
The dreamy scent is available as a fragrance diffuser housed in a handmade glass bottle created by a Tuscan craftsmen, the shape of which is inspired by Brunelleschi’s Dome of Cathedral Florence. It is also available as a candle and a parfum diffuser for use in a car.
Vranjes has also created a beautiful rose scent. His Petali di Rose combines three roses—May rose, Bulgarian and Turkish—with notes of jasmine and ylang ylang. The floral scent is like a light caress, bringing tranquility and peace. It is a romantic choice for relaxation and comfort in the bedroom.
He offers the following tips on using diffusers. First, it should be placed in the centre of the room so that when people walk by, the air moves and the fragrance circulates. Secondly, you may need to position two diffusers at opposite ends if you have a larger room. Just make sure that the diffuser is not placed on polished, varnished or painted surfaces, or on electrical appliances, and is away from heat sources.
