Awakening sleeping memories through fragrance with Ephemera.
Photography by Ludovica Barone
Exploring hidden corners of memory through fragrance is a fascinating experience.. surprising for some, deeply challenging for others.
Some memories, only seemingly forgotten, remain latently within us, "asleep" until a scent or a sound suddenly brings them back to life. As a guest of a private fragrance creation experience by Ephemera Firenze, I’ve come to understand that scent, along with sound, bypasses logic and goes straight to the brain, triggering unconscious and often unexpected reactions.
Perfume masters have always explored this peculiar feature of the human soul and turned it into a source of Beauty. With this in mind, I wanted to experiment: to create a made-to-measure perfume that not only reflected my personal taste of today [as I've already experienced] but was also built upon notes tied to clear, meaningful memories.
Beneath a sky of frescoes…
in the Golden View Suite overlooking the Arno, we surrendered to this private and precious self-discovery experience; eyes closed, letting our-selves guide us through the creation of a custom fragrance.. now and then glancing toward Ponte Vecchio, which seemed closer than ever. The moment we stepped inside the secret Suite, right above the homonymous fine restaurant - the Golden View - , we were enveloped in an ambiance of exquisite charm.. soft candlelight flickering against frescoed and wood-panelled walls steeped in history, the murmur of the river below, and the sweet sound of a flute dancing with Florence’s bells. In the centre of the room, a wooden table was strewn with small glass bottles of precious oils, rare essences and fresh flowers; a charming fireplace, the canopied bed, custom-made furniture and antiques beautifully decorated the room.
The Alchemy of Memory and Fragrance
In fact, we were welcomed by a professional flutist who played live until the end of the experience. The delicate notes seemed to dance with the fragrances in the air, heightening our awareness, and deepening our emotions, helping us navigate through the intricate and immersive process of self-discovery. Music, just like scent, bypasses logic and reason, speaking directly to something deeper within us. It awakens moments long forgotten, painting vivid landscapes of time and place. After a brief introduction to the complex and fascinating world of perfumery and alchemy, one by one, the essences were introduced:, rich, heady florals, warm woods, bright citruses. Guided by the expert hands of Emanuela and Giulia, we slowly put together our own olfactory portraits, starting with the top notes, passing through the heart and finally reaching the base.
There was something intimate about the process, an almost meditative rhythm as we carefully selected and blended, layering one note over another until we found the balance that resonated with our souls. For me, it was the sweet, nostalgic embrace of gardenia—a scent that instantly transported me to a moment long past, to a person forever cherished. I chose it as the keynote of the fragrance, framing it with other exquisite essences. With each drop, my fragrance took shape, a liquid memoir held in a glass vial, locked by a Carrara marble stopper. Unlike past experiences, this time I let my memory choose the essence, rather than personal taste, with the aim of creating a fragrance that could take me back in time.
Ephemera: The Art of Fragrance as Experience
Ephemera Firenze is a curator of immersive experiences and olfactory branding. Unlike traditional ateliers, Ephemera chooses exclusive, secret, ever-changing locations to host these unique, shared experiences. Their philosophy is rooted in the idea that perfume is a sort of passageway to the unseen. Whether through bespoke fragrance creation, immersive workshops, or olfactory branding, Ephemera transforms scent into a deeply personal art form, one that resonates on an unconscious level and becomes a messanger of a person’s [or a brand’s] story.
Their approach is one of quiet elegance—where expertise meets intuition, and where fragrance is composed not just with the nose, but with the heart. Each creation is therefore unique, shaped by the person wearing it, as an extension of their identity.
Efèmera // Ephemera
[from gr. εφήμεροσ «of a single day»]
The life of the Ephemeral butterfly on Earth lasts only an hour. In this short time, she dances in the air just in search of love and then lays her eggs, leaving them on the edge of the water. She does not need food, however satisfying its mission is. She knows the light of the sun and the moon, she learns to live by giving value, in the simultaneous expectation of ever new emotions. Aware of the remaining time, she flies without reserve, right up to the last grain of the hourglass.
Florencec: steeped in the Art of Perfumery
It is no coincidence that this experience unfolded in Florence, a city with an intimate and centuries-old relationship with fragrance. The art of perfumery has been woven into its history since the Renaissance when noble families commissioned master perfumers to craft signature scents as symbols of status and identity. Even today, walking through its streets, one can catch whispers of the past—of workshops once filled with exotic spices, rare flowers, and artisans blending alchemical potions.
From the Medici’s passion for rare essences to modern perfumers keeping the tradition alive, Florence continues to be a city where scent is a language of its own. Standing by the window, looking out at the Ponte Vecchio bathed in the amber hues of sunset, I realised that our experience that day was a sort of continuation of an ancient ritual.
“Perfume is
the most intense
form of
memory.”
Jean-Paul Guerlain
