As Valentine’s Day approaches, love and the sweet scent of The Merchant of Venice’s latest luxury eau de parfum, Rosa Moceniga, is in the air…
Growing wild in the Venetian countryside, the pink-hued petals of the Moceniga Rose change with the seasons from a warm and vibrant coral-pink to far softer shade with a silky quality. The youthfully appearing flower has a long and well-travelled history, with starts on the plains of Central China.
It was Empress Joséphine Bonaparte who is first recorded as bringing the enchantingly feminine flower to Europe to form part of her expansive rose garden at Chateau Malmaison.
Upon seeing the beguiling bloom in Joséphine’s gardens, the Italian-born Lucia Mocenigo had the flower sent to her family’s grand residence in Alvisopoli (on the mainland of Venice) in 1814: here, the flower flourished for over 200 years.
Many years later in the early 2000’s, writer Andrea di Robilant (the great-great-great-great grandson of Lucia) rediscovered the rose while exploring a park in his family’s former home. Enraptured by flower’s beauty, Andrea was intrigued to learn more about the flower’s history; his findings now fill the pages of his book Chasing the Rose (Sulle Tracce della Rosa Perdeta).
He wrote: “It was silvery pink, very light at the centre and darker on the outside… The scent was strong and reminded me of peaches and raspberries.”
Eager to capture the rose’s fruity fragrance in a wearable form, Andrea turned to luxury perfumer, The Merchant of Venice to create the Rosa Moceniga eau de parfum. Exclusively formulated for Merchant of Venice by one of their master perfumers, the feminine fragrance explores the many layers of the rose’s scent using only natural ingredients.
Upon opening the bottle you’ll first pick up on top notes of fresh Sicilian limes and the fruity scent of the Moceniga Rose, delicately brightened by blackcurrant leaves.
The lush floral bouquet at the heart of the eau de parfum is an elegant and luxurious combination of rose absolute, spring magnolia and a few delicate touches of lotus flowers.
Expertly brought together, these precious materials create a light pink liquid reminiscent of the silky-shade of the rose that is contained within an elegant and similarly coloured bottle made of Murano glass.
The perfume is far from the end of this celebration of this rose; in addition to the perfume, Andrea and The Merchant of Venice have commissioned a short video that traces the history of the Moceniga Rose to its most significant (and visually enchanting) locations and a magnificent rose garden is to be planted at the Villa of Vistorta on the Venetian mainland to ensure the flower can be enjoyed by many generations to come.
Where better to draw inspiration for your V-day gift than the home of Casanova himself, and with a scent coveted by discerning fragrance aficionados, you’re bound to feel the love this February.
Rosa Moceniga (Eau de Parfum) by The Merchant of Venice: £80 for 50ml and £120 for 100ml; sold at Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser.
