– Rivoli Perfumery 2013 –
Magnolia, St. Petersburg
CCCP –Catherine’s Cabinets of Curiosity & Perfume–
The first creative niche perfumery of Russia. Actually it’s all quite easy, as we are situated in St. Petersburg, “Catherine’s town”, I will walk in her footsteps.
Catherine the Great had a reputation as a patron of the arts, literature, and education, as well as being a visionary and enlightened thinker.
The Hermitage Museum, which now occupies the whole Winter Palace, began as Catherine’s personal collection.
Already in her own days she displayed her collection, not only in the purpose to share its beauty but also to pass knowledge and inspiration to those who visited.
The palace in itself provided an excellent framework and backdrop for this splendor, but what actually also drew my eye, were the smaller cabinets in which she would display the smaller treasures and objects.
For those less fortunate in those days, that didn’t visit royal premises, a new phenomena flourished: Cabinets of Curiosities, Wunderkammer in German.
Their delightful purpose was double; they were educational as well as wondrous.
I would like to pretend that Catherine is still reigning, and if she would be buying fragrances, she naturally would be interested in buying those most progressive and interesting creations. RIVOLI would be the place to go, it would be the official court’s supplier.
And as niche perfumery is a new culture in Russia – from abroad – we bring in as a precious curiosity, I designed the shop as a Cabinet of Curiosity.
Its first purpose is to surprise and seduce, secondly to teach the unknown.
