Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Perfume created for Pope Benedict XVI

The scent has been created by an Italian perfumer who has previously worked with Sting, Madonna and King Juan Carlos of Spain. 

While celebrities often choose decidedly racy names for their perfumes – 'Midnight Fantasy' by Britney Spears and the distinctly unholy 'Diavolo' for Antonio Banderas, the name of Pope Benedict XVI's cologne is likely to be more demure, judging by precedent.

Silvana Casoli, the Italian 'nose' who recently created the scent, previously came up with two other colognes called 'Water of Hope' and 'Water of Faith', but they were for the use of the Roman Catholic Church in general whereas this one will be worn only by the Pope.

Unlike celebrity perfumes adorned with pictures of breathless Hollywood starlets, this one will not be available to buy.

The cologne is meant to reflect the German pontiff's love of the forests and animals in his native Bavaria, as well as peace and tranquillity. It is infused with lemon tree blossom and the smell of Spring grass.
Ms Casoli, from Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, said it was hard to come up with a scent that faithfully reflected the Pope's personality and theological outlook, and she nearly pulled out of the project.

"Then I realised that an essence like this had to have at its core something pure and clean, recalling the idea of peace," she told Il Messagero newspaper.

"I thought of the smells the Pope would smell when praying at the Grotto of Lourdes," she said.