S4 Ep.4 - The Perfume Legacy of Venice. A chat with Joan Giacomin

What does Venice smell like?
In this episode of Venice Talks, Monica sits down with Joan Giacomin, Brand Ambassador for The Merchant of Venice, for a journey into the fragrant history of Venice. Together they explore how the city became a crossroads for rare ingredients, refined beauty, and perfume culture, and how scent offers a unique way to understand Venice beyond what we see.
This conversation moves through history, trade, daily life, and memory, showing how perfume was woven into the story of the Serenissima and how that legacy still lives on today.
Show key notes
- Meet Joan Giacomin of The Merchant of Venice
- Venice and its historic role in the world of perfume
- The trade routes, spices, and precious raw materials that passed through the city
- Rare ingredients, trade, and the global reach of the Serenissima
- Fragrance in Venetian beauty, ritual, and daily life
- The scents that best capture historic Venice
- The Merchant of Venice and perfume heritage today
- Why scent is such a powerful storyteller
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🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.
✨ Credits:
Hosted by Monica Cesarato
Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media
Guest: Joan Giacomin Brand Ambassador for The Merchant of Venice
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