Bottled memories: Grief, scent and healing in Florence

In crafting a perfume in honour of her late mother, Jacqui Deevoy embarks on a journey into memory, artistry, and emotional alchemy that transforms stagnant grief into something beautiful

Florence at dusk

On a threatening-to-rain August morning in Florence, I arrive in this cradle of the Renaissance at Profumoir Firenze, a bespoke perfumery in the historic district of San Niccolò.

In a pensive mood, I am silently celebrating my mother’s 85th birthday, a milestone she didn’t actually live to see.