110 years on, Acqua di Parma still defines Italian sophistication
Acqua di Parma celebrates over a century of basking in the sun by reframing its signature scent
‘I do believe that Italy really purifies and ennobles all who visit her. She is the school as well as the playground of the world,’ wrote Italophile E.M. Forster in his 1905 novel Where Angels Fear to Tread. He was referring, of course, to the very features that have defined Italian culture for millennia: the glorifying beauty of its art and nature; the effortlessly elegant style (or ‘sprezzatura’), mixed with an exacting seriousness about doing things right (drinking cappuccinos before noon, no cheese with seafood); the vivacity of its people; and the unparalleled quality of everything they make, from cashmere sweaters to olive oil.
For 110 years, Acqua di Parma has dedicated itself to bottling this unique Italian arte di vivere, creating fragrances as refined as the film stars – Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, to name a few – who chose them as their signature scents. The brand traces its heritage back to Baron Carlo Magnani, who wanted a fresh alternative to the opulent, heavy perfumes that were popular around the turn of the 20th century. His answer was Colonia, a fragrance meant to bottle the feeling of basking in an Italian sun that combined the ‘frutti d’oro’ of Italy (lemon, orange and bergamot) with a bright citrus heart tempered by fresh lavender, rosemary, verbena and warm vetiver, sandal and patchouli.
Now, the premier name in Italian fragrance is celebrating its anniversary with a reinterpretation of Colonia, created by perfumer Alexis Dadier. Colonia II Profumo Millesimato retains the signature aspects of its forebear, but is enhanced by the addition of a special 2024 harvest of Madagascan ylang-ylang, a uniquely complex and rich variety of the plant known for its creamy, slightly banana-esque smell.
Article continues below‘For this anniversary edition, I wanted to honour Colonia II Profumo by highlighting a rare discovery: the 2024 Ylang-Ylang White harvest,’ says Dadier. ‘Its extraordinary radiance and natural solarity inspired me to revisit the icon in a way that feels even more luminous and precious. By incorporating this unique quality, the fragrance glorifies Colonia Profumo, elevating its character while remaining faithful to its timeless spirit.’ The result is a distinctly Acqua di Parma blend of refreshing, clean notes and warm skin-like qualities; enriched by the addition of a note probably unlike anything you have smelled before. It is, in short, another icon, created by the icon.
Good to know
In the 1920s, Colonia was often introduced to men in clothing shops, where it became popular to adorn pocket squares with a spritz of the fragrance. Although originally designed as a men’s cologne, Colonia became known as a unisex fragrance in the 1950s and it remains so today.
