Pope Francis has had a new perfume named after him, and his “humble personality” has been labeled as the reason for its creation.
Excelsis Fine Fragrances designed and created the fragrance , and the company’s CEO, Frederick Hass, has a long history of creating perfume’s that are influenced by previous popes.
Hass, who founded the company in 2005, has previously been the genius behind “Benedictus” in 2006, which was created in honor of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and he has admitted that his latest creation attempts to evoke the “humble and down to earth” personality of the current papal.
The companies first perfume was also inspired by a previous pope too. The Pope’s Cologne honored the late 18 Century Pontiff, Pope Pius IX.
Hass stated, “I didn’t want to get anything too flashy. So I wanted something subtle and dignified and relatively simple.” To create this smell, he mainly used sandalwood and bergamot.
Excelsis have stated that they created the perfume due to popular demand. Hass commented on people’s responses to the fragrance, stating, “We are hearing words like ‘gentle,’ ‘simple,’ ‘warm,’ ‘pleasing’ — and even ‘heavenly’ — used to describe the new fragrance.
He then added, “These are precisely the terms used by the media and the new Pope’s close associates to describe His Holiness’ own character traits and personal demeanor.”
The companies website describes the scent as follows: “Created by Excelsis to celebrate the Petrine succession of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis, Pontifex Maximus, 266th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.”
Excelsis then continues, “Francis is an engaging, fresh fragrance with a citrusy top note of bergamot and a soft, woody drydown of sandalwood. Smooth and soothing, A grand aftershave.”
You can purchase Francis online through the company’s official website. Would you wear a perfume inspired by a pope?
[Image via Casa Rosada /Wikimedia]
