Spezie de Medici Spezierie Palazzo Vecchio Eau de Parfum

After four hours of sniffing perfumes with three other fragrance-obsessed friends, I find myself in the Schlossparfümerie in Stuttgart, slightly tired, my nose overwhelmed by the - once again far too many - scents I’ve tried, and I’m waiting to get back outside for some fresh air. Bored, I wander to the back corner of the perfumery and discover ten different "I Parfumi di Firenze." The cardboard boxes are amusing, featuring old paintings with a view of Florence and the Palazzo Vecchio on one side, and on the other, many artisans, a real hustle and bustle like in a "Wimmelbild." The names of the perfumes appear to be handwritten on the boxes and also on the bottles. I feel a wave of nostalgia, and in my mind, I see myself exploring handpicked essences in an ancient pharmacy in Tuscany with Dottor di Massimo.
With no spot left on my skin to try, I decide to spray a quick puff onto a tissue. One bottle after another, I quickly test them, no longer expecting to find anything.
And then it happens: I sniff, breathe in the scent deeply, fresh orange peels mixed with cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla. A hint of pepper and lemon ensures it doesn’t become too sweet. A liquid Christmas potpourri in a perfume bottle greets me. I must have this gem! Immediately! What’s it called? "Spezie de Medici." This is how Christmas should smell for me. I wonder if the de Medicis wore this scent during "Buon Natale"? I can be tempted by perfumes that smell like roasted almonds, cotton candy, caramel, or vanilla pudding, just like at the Christmas markets. But just like these spices of the Medicis, this is how I want to smell during the pre-Christmas season.
The others don’t understand my spontaneous enthusiasm at all, surprised at how quickly two scents can pass over the counter after hours of "I-can’t-find-anything" whining. Their noses are probably even more fatigued than mine after this Friday fragrance marathon.

By the way, for next summer, I had to quickly purchase "Costa Mediterranea" as well.