By Our Editorial Staff
Some objects decorate a home. Others fill it with fragrance. Then there are those that do both, adding something even more precious: the pleasure of knowing they were crafted by the hands of an artisan.
Stepping into Cera una volta, in the heart of Montefalco, means treating yourself to a break from the hectic pace of everyday life. It’s one of those places where you walk in out of curiosity and end up staying a few extra minutes, captivated by the colours, scents, and surprising precision of the creations on display. Flowers, fruits, shells, animals, seasonal decorations, and home decor pieces seem to be carved from solid material. Only upon closer inspection do you realise they’re made entirely of wax.
Bringing them to life is Gaia Costagliola, an artisan with a spontaneous smile and infectious enthusiasm, who guides every visitor on a journey through scents, shapes, and stories. She explains with ease how each creation comes to be, how the materials are chosen, and which scents best capture a season or a special occasion. It’s not just a sale—it’s an exchange of ideas, emotions, and experiences.
The choice of raw materials says a lot about the philosophy behind this workshop. Gaia primarily uses extra-white olive wax, a natural vegetable wax that, compared to others, offers greater hardness and allows for extremely fine details and objects that are more durable over time. She combines this with carefully selected pigments and essences, creating compositions that surprise with their realism and the balance of their fragrances.
Each season has its own character. In summer, fresh notes of coconut, citrus, and fruit emerge; as the air grows cooler, the atmosphere shifts with the scents of cinnamon, green apple, vanilla, and chocolate. These fragrances do not overwhelm a space but accompany it discreetly, transforming a candle or a home fragrance diffuser into a small detail that makes the home feel more welcoming.
But what truly makes Cera una volta special is the workshop, which is intentionally open to the showroom. A door that doesn’t separate, but invites. From there, you can catch a glimpse of molds, colors, tools, and hands at work. It’s a simple and authentic way to share the most fascinating aspect of craftsmanship: seeing an object take shape right before your eyes. In an era when almost everything is produced far from the buyer, Gaia has chosen to showcase the creative process, allowing customers to peek in, ask questions, and witness the birth of every new creation.
Sustainability isn’t just a slogan to flaunt, but a way of approaching work and life. The choice of plant-based waxes, a commitment to the environment, and a deep love for animals are all part of a cohesive vision, in which every detail contributes to creating a product that respects nature and is built to last.
Her creations also find their place in life’s most important moments. Weddings, baptisms, First Communions, and other ceremonies become opportunities to create personalised party favours and decorations—small objects that don’t end up tucked away in a drawer, but continue to live on in homes as decorative accents and delicate room fragrances. A keepsake that preserves the value of the event and, every time its fragrance is detected, brings back a cherished memory.
By Gaia’s side is her daughter Miriam, who shares the same passion and supports her both in the shop and with social media outreach. It is the most beautiful sign of an enthusiasm that is naturally passed on, transforming an artisanal project into a family story.
Cera una volta’s creations are, at their core, a gentle invitation to slow down. To choose objects that tell a story—crafted one at a time, shaped with patience, and meant to find a place in homes not merely as decorative pieces, but as small, everyday companions that bring beauty, fragrance, and harmony.
Because even something that will one day wear out can leave a memory that lasts much longer.
Info: Cera una volta, Via Melanzio, 1 / Montefalco (Pg) / Tel. 348 5839391
