Carthusia

On the one hand, legend tells us that in 1380, upon receiving an unexpected visit from Queen Joanna I of Anjou, the Father Prior of the Carthusian Monastery of St. Giacomo hastily created a bouquet of the most beautiful flowers on the island. After three days, he noticed that their water had acquired a fragrance unknown to him, so he went for the answer to the Father Alchemist, who traced the origin of this scent back to the wild carnation of Capri, the “Garofilum Silvestre Caprese”. This water became known as the first perfume of Capri…

On the other hand, history relates that in 1681, the monastery’s monks began distilling the local flowers and herbs, to yield precious essential oils and fragrance blends, much like we know today.

In 1948, the Prior of the same monastery discovered the ancient perfume formulas, and with permission from the Pope, revealed them to a chemist from Torino, who created what is now known as the smallest fragrance laboratory in the world, and called it “Carthusia”.

The tradition is now continued, and the limited production methods used by the Carthusian monks are still in practice today. Centuries-old knowledge flawlessly combines with natural, locally-sourced, highest-quality ingredients, some hand-picked on Capri’s Mount Solaro. And just as in the past, production is still carried out by hand, in small batches, to guarantee the most exquisite care of traditional craftsmanship.