Historical Trademarks of Made in Italy: Carthusia I Profumi di Capri

This month’s column in We the Italians magazine is dedicated to Carthusia I Profumi di Capri, excellence in Italian artistic perfumery and a Historical Trademarks that has been telling the world about the soul, scents and magic of the Island of Capri for almost eighty years. A brand that embodies a profound bond between territory, tradition and artisanal savoir-faire, transforming the olfactory memory of the island into a unique and recognizable experience.

The history of Carthusia is rooted in the legend of the Charterhouse of St. James and Queen Joan of Anjou. The story goes that on the occasion of a visit she never made, the monks gathered the most beautiful flowers on the island to welcome her. The water in which they had been immersed began to release an unprecedented scent, linked to the Garofilium silvestre caprese, giving rise to an intuition destined to become history. In the 1940s, with papal authorization, the prior of the Charterhouse officially began the production of the first perfumes, marking the birth of the brand.

Today Carthusia is cared for by the Ruocco family, Capri entrepreneurs for generations, who have chosen to preserve and enhance its authentic identity. As Silvio Ruocco, the company’s Administrator, tells us, Capri’s symbolic places, such as the Gardens of Augustus, represent the very essence of an emotional and cultural bond with the island, made of memories, emotions and everyday beauty.

Even today, the workshop is located a few steps away from the Gardens of Augustus, in the same place as the brand’s first historic store. Here, among rooms that preserve original elements, it is possible to observe some of the stages of manufacturing, bearing witness to a production process that remains profoundly artisanal.

In fact, each Carthusia fragrance is born from processes performed by hand, in small batches, respecting a tradition that combines care, slowness and quality of raw materials. The essences often come from the Mediterranean nature of the island including rosemary, citrus and wild flowers contributing to create a true “olfactory landscape” of Capri.

The symbol of the brand, the famous floral mermaid designed by Mario Laboccetta, perfectly synthesizes this imagery suspended between myth and nature. A distinctive sign that accompanies a clear and contemporary vision: to tell Capri through fragrances, transforming each creation into a memory to take with you.

To choose Carthusia is to enter an olfactory universe that combines Italian identity, territorial culture and artisanal sensitivity. A bridge between the island and the world, where every scent becomes emotion, memory and story.

“Protecting the cultural and natural heritage of an area of which we are simple custodians, transmitting the love for our land and to future generations the value of our roots,” stresses Virginia Ruocco, Brand and Marketing Manager of the company, is at the heart of the vision that guides Carthusia today and into the future.

A Historical Trademark that continues to represent Italian excellence in the world, interweaving tradition, identity and innovation.

Stay with us to find out about the next star of Historical Trademarks of Made in Italy.

Read the full article on We the Italians