Carthusia
Carthusia
Founded 1948 · Capri, Italy
Some stories are almost too beautiful to be true — and yet this one is. It begins not in 1948, but in 1380, on the sun-drenched island of Capri.
The monks of the Carthusian Monastery of St. Giacomo learnt that Queen Joan of Anjou would be paying them a visit. Wanting to honour their royal guest, the father prior went around the island gathering the most beautiful flowers he could find. The flowers were placed in water for three days — and as the monks went to discard them, something extraordinary happened. A beautiful, lingering fragrance rose from the water.
The monks brought their discovery to the monastery’s alchemist, who worked to recreate and preserve the scent. In doing so, he created the first perfume of Capri. The formula was recorded, kept safe within the monastery walls, and quietly forgotten for centuries.
In 1948, those ancient formulas were rediscovered by the Priory of Certosa. With special permission from the Pope, a chemist set about faithfully reproducing them in a small island laboratory — and Carthusia was born.
Today, Carthusia’s fragrances are still made entirely by hand, honouring centuries-old practices and ensuring an extraordinary level of quality. Every ingredient is drawn from Capri’s own environment — its flowers, herbs, and sea air — paying homage to the island that inspired it all. The iconic Carthusia logo, created by painter Mario Laboccetta in the late 1940s, depicts a flower siren surrounded by native Capresi blooms: a symbol of the brand’s unbreakable bond with its island home.
Carthusia is, at its heart, an Italian story of love and tradition — an artisanal niche perfume brand where every bottle carries the warmth, the colour, and the timeless spirit of Capri.