A Reputation was created over three years of exploring the bewitching tales surrounding 14th century Florentine noble Catherine de’ Medici.

De’ Medici became Queen of France and had a long political reign shrouded in mystery and no small amount of terror. She still moves through the glittering halls of the Louvre like a spectre, her presence felt in the faintest traces of bergamot and dark jasmine. It was said that her perfumes, crafted by her master alchemist, could mask not only the scent of poison but its taste. The gloves she wore and occasionally gave as gifts, delicate creations of soft Italian leather, were rumoured to be more than mere adornments. Whispers claimed they were steeped in deadly tinctures—arsenic, belladonna, and other untraceable poisons. Her enemies all eventually fell silent, one by one, succumbing to mysterious illnesses that left no mark. Some blamed the gloves; others spoke of powders hidden in the petals of her roses. Her influence extended beyond her courtly machinations. De' Medici championed the arts and transformed fashion, bringing Italian refinement to the French court. She introduced intricate perfumes, commissioning apothecaries to create scents that symbolized power and sophistication. These fragrances were not just luxuries—they were weapons of allure, tools in the intricate dance of politics.