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February 2024 by Melanie Kantor
I am a huge fragrance enthusiast and enjoyed my visit to Santa Maria Novella more than any other fragrance shop I visited in LA! The shop is aesthetically pleasing, I couldn’t stop taking pictures. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful- Amelia was delightful to shop with, as was the gentleman who helped us on our second visit- I just sadly didn’t catch his name! I bought one bottle my first visit and then had to return for a second fragrance before leaving town. The staff was generous with samples, as well! I look forward to shopping here again on my next visit to LA!
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January 2024 by loody l.
Bought my first bottle in Korea and I loved it. Glad there's one in LA so I can get my SMNs! Lovely store with beautiful perfume display. Hoping to visit the original location in Italy soon!
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January 2024 by Margo R.
This is my number one spot to find an elegant and most unusual gift. The store on Melrose place is closest but, I've also visited the Mothership in Firenze, Italia. My entire place is filled with so many of the items from this store and yet is very clean and natural smelling. Not overpowering like the artificial room sprays and commercial potpourri. This is the real thing. Treat yourself to their orange linen spray or incense paper or the original mother of all organic potpourri. An unforgettable trip to a tiny boutique that may have you coming back again and again.
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December 2023 by Matt B.
Caesar and staff are so thoughtful and helpful with great knowledge of this centuries old brand. I will continue shopping here until I can't. the best fragrance collection and so many choices
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December 2023 by Nico Nassiri
Such a cute store, Amelia was so so sweet and gave us a tour, she was so beyond knowledgeable about all the products. Really a great store, highly recommend!
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October 2023 by Christine L.
Only place to get your Santa Maria Novella on the West Coast! Cute store and very helpful staff person and I also got some samples. Just had to get the new Bizarrio perfume and some wax tablets and floral water. Hope they bring a store to Houston! 5 star products and 5 star service! Highly recommended!
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September 2023 by Delight Dinopoulos
How out of touch are we that this company has been around since 1612 and we just found it today? Amazing concotions from ancient Italy that almost make you feel you can get back there if you inhale deep enough! Mariedhel was so knowledgeable and graciously gave us the grand tour and taught us about the history of Santa Maria Novella. We fell in love with this place! For sure one of LA's hidden gems!
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August 2023 by Natalie M.
Amazing scents for every taste, with rich history. The worker was so nice to me, and she helped me pick the one perfume I was obsessed with, even though I was pretty picky. So thanks to her! Also they had such a huge variety, everyone will definitely find something for their taste. Smells like heaven.
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May 2023 by Pen D.
Excellent experience with Mirabelle and Caesar (sorry if I butchered your names :( The whole atmosphere has changed for the better, back from when they used to have Lorenzo Villoresi as well. I'm so glad I gave them another try, bought Two 1.7 bottles that are hard to find. Thank you both, amazing!
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April 2023 by Kendall Lyons
Thank you Cesar for being great. Excellent customer service. Recommend 10/10!!!
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March 2023 by Avery A.
I have been frequenting SMN (at this location) for many years. It was once run by a mother and daughter team, who were lovely to me. One day they vanished, and an attitudinal young woman ran the store. She changed the store energy from ethereal chic to obnoxious Legally Blonde. So I'd pull up to stock up on potpourri or gifts for friends, and if I saw her, I'd keep driving. If it was someone else, I'd duck in and duck out to avoid her unpleasantness. Then the pandemic. Then today! I parked, strolled in hoping for the best, and handsome Cesar greeted me with smiles and compliments. Where was obnoxious Legally Blonde? Who cares! Cesar was sweet, cool, super knowledgeable about all the incredible products, and was genuinely interested in me having a great SMN experience. Thank You Cesar, and thank you SMN. Aaaaand we're back!
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March 2023 by k g.
LOVE this beautiful place. The smells are intoxicating. Also the woman helping me pick out perfume was darling and informative. I know she must have to repeat herself a million times but I couldn't tell because she made the experience special.
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November 2022 by David H.
I always liked this store, but generally people who work at this store ... not sure if they are invested in this brand. Generally customer service is ok. Before they will wrap your purchase now u der new management they just put it in the bag. Also seems like they have less inventory ...
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August 2022 by Paul S.
I have shopped at Santa Maria Novella for many years. It has always been my go-to place for birthday presents for friends. Today, I went in with a friend to grab some soaps. We were the only two people in the shop. There were two female sales associates working who had absolutely dead expressions on their faces. Dead. No greeting. Nothing. Add to that the fact that the store was so quiet that it was actually unnerving to be in there. We tried to make small talk and everything fell flat. The most uncomfortable feeling. If I hadn't had such a time constraint, I would have walked out without making a purchase. But, I purchased some soaps and then I'm told that there's a fee for a bag? What? Since when? I passed on the bag. I love the store, love the products but management please take note -- you have terrible employees -- or, at the very least, the two working today are duds. I'll spend my money at Diptyque or Le Labo or a dozen other places before I shop at Santa Maria Novella again. So sad what has happened. Here's the bottom-line, business owners -- one or two bad employees can ruin things very quickly.
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June 2022 by Andrew W.
Depending on which founding date one uses, Santa Maria Novella is either four hundred or eight hundred years old. Suffice it to say, the company has been around a long time. While some brands like to brag about having Beyoncé or some Kardashian as a fan, Santa Maria Novella came to fame when they snagged Catherine de' Medici as a client right before she became queen of France. The brand's packaging looks antique, and its products smell antique ― in the best possible way. There's a classic, timeless quality to the delicate fragrances offered at Santa Maria Novella. With the exception of their new Iris Eau de Parfum ― iris root being a fragrance ingredient particularly identified with the brand's home city of Florence ― the fragrances are all eau de cologne concentration, meaning very much on the light side. Santa Maria Novella is actually the oldest pharmacy in the world; their perfumes were initially created for medicinal purposes to ward off disease. They have skin care, home fragrance, and even fancy toothpaste. (Supposedly the Italian boutiques sell foods and liqueurs originally formulated by the monks, but not here.) The young lady who helped me (Luisa from Miami, who had only been there a few days) was wonderfully patient with me as I laboriously went through nearly every scent, and even though I haven't even had the chance to wear my new purchase yet, I'm already looking forward to my next visit.
