Perhaps my favourite part of wearing a perfume is the power it holds to transport you to a time and place. And my favourite place to visit is Italy. From Tuscany to Lake Como, every Italian region I’ve visited lingers in my mind, with memories evoked by scent. And for me, no other fragrance house captures these Italian scentscapes better than Acqua di Parma.
Founded in 1916 in the historic heart of Parma, this iconic Italian brand has become a quiet but powerful force in the world of luxury fragrance and is beloved by beauty editors and fashion insiders alike. What sets the brand apart is its deep-rooted connection to Italy’s diverse landscapes and Italian citrus notes. You’ll find that many of the predominantly citrus fragrances nod to the essence of a different Italian region—from the sun-drenched citrus groves of Capri in Arancia di Capri, to the herbaceous Tuscan hills in Buongiorno. It’s not just perfume, it’s a passport to Italy’s most treasured destinations. Truly, these are some of my favourite summer perfumes, ever.
While I might not be visiting Italy this year, I know I can easily travel there by wearing one of Acqua di Parma’s scents. The only problem is landing on just one to wear. From iconic classics to new launches, I’ve been testing some of the best Acqua di Parma perfumes, and I’ve shared my thoughts below.
Best Acqua Di Parma Pefurmes
- Acqua di Parma Arancia Di Capri (£147)
- Acqua di Parma Fico d’Amalfi (£147)
- Acqua di Parma Buongiorno (£143)
- Acqua di Parma Colonia (£153)
- Acqua di Parma Colonia II Profumo (£143)
- Acqua di Parma Essenza di Colonia (£108)
- Acqua di Parma Peonia Nobile (£180
1. Acqua di Parma Arancia Di Capri
Acqua di Parma
Arancia Di Capri Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Italian sweet orange, Italian mandarin, Italian lemon, petit grain, cardamom, caramel, musk
Wow, I’m not surprised that this is one of Acqua di Parma’s bestsellers. While I’ve not yet visited Capri, it only takes one spritz of this scent and I’m there. It smells exactly like the first bite into a sweet, juicy orange slice. It’s mouthwatering. Both sparkling and fresh, it transports you straight to a breezy Italian coastline, think a sparkling blue ocean framed by orange trees. I’ve totally fallen for it, and I’m not even that big on citrus scents. In fact, the first time I sprayed this, my boyfriend (who rarely notices new perfumes that I bring into my rotation) instantly asked what it was, and now we share the scent. If you’re a lover of citrus perfumes, you’ll adore it too.
2. Acqua di Parma Fico Di Amalfi
Acqua Di Parma
Fico Di Amalfi Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Italian lemon, Italian bergamot, grapefruit, fig nectar, pink pepper, jasmine petals, fig wood, cedarwood, benzoin
Another in Acqua di Parma’s Blue Mediterraneo collection (which is inspired by Italy’s pictureesque coasts) is Fico di Amalfi. It was the very first Acqua di Parma scent I fell in love with, and I still think it’s one of the best, especially if you love fig perfumes. It’s fresh and sparkling, but the sun-ripened fig fruit and fig wood give it a deliciously creamy and woody greenness. It’s fruity, but remains breezy and refreshing so it won’t ever become cloying in the heat. It’s a lazy afternoon with a gentle breeze and dappled sunshine in a bottle. To me, it’s the perfect summer perfume if you want to feel like you’re on the Amalfi Coast.
3. Acqua di Parma Buongiorno
Acqua di Parma
Buongiorno Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Lemon, spearmint, rosemary, basil, petitgrain , lavandin, mandarin leaves, cedarwood leaves, amber, white musks
One of Acqua di Parma’s latest scents, Buongiorno, is inspired by the arrival of spring in the rolling hills of Tuscany. And it is a stunning aromatic perfume. Buongiorno — Italian for “good morning” — has quickly become my new go-to. Picture yourself emerging from a sun-drenched villa nestled in the sun-drenched Tuscan hills, the air thick with the scent of rosemary from the herb garden as the first light of day stretches across the landscape. It’s green, refreshing and a little soapy— like a breath of fresh air after a serene spa retreat, with the soft whisper of lemon trees swaying nearby.
4. Acqua di Parma Colonia
Acqua Di Parma
Colonia Eau de Cologne
Key notes: Lemon, sweet orange, Calabrian bergamot, lavender, rose, verbena, rosemary, vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli
Perhaps Acqua di Parma’s most iconic scent is Colonia, the first of the brand’s fragrances, which was originally created in 1916 and is rumoured to be one of Audrey Hepburn’s favourite perfumes. And the original citrussy, aromatic scent remains a classic today. It was originally created as an antidote to the heavier perfumes from France and Germany at the time and drew upon Italy’s sunny citrus notes, offering something much lighter and more refreshing cologne compared to its European counterparts’ eau de parfums. It feels like a timeless, grown-up citrus, worn by someone who wears sharp tailoring and is elegantly put together at all times. Like many of Acqua di Parma’s iconic scents, as it’s a cologne, it’s designed to be a light splash of fragrance, so you may want to top up throughout the day.
5. Acqua di Parma Colonia Il Profumo
Acqua Di Parma
Colonia Il Profumo Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Italian bergamot, grapefruit, blood orange, petitgrain, rosemary, ylang ylang, orange leaves, vetiver, patchouli
Riffing on the classic Colonia scent, Colonia II Profumo was created as a modern reinterpretation of the original in an eau de parfum. It’s more long-lasting, but is just as magical as the original Colonia, only amplified. The addition of ylang ylang and patchouli further enhances the bright, sunshiny citrus that makes this scent so special. After the sparkling citrus dries down, you’re left with a warm, radiant woody base that lingers on the skin for hours. It’s pure Italian sunshine in a bottle.
6. Acqua di Parma Essenza Di Colonia
Acqua Di Parma
Essenza Di Colonia Eau de Cologne
Key notes: Lemon, orange, bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit, neroli, petitgrain, rosemary, lily of the valley, rose, jasmine accord, cloves, vetiver, patchouli, white musk, amber
Another classic from Acqua di Parma is Essenza di Colonia. It sits alongside the original Colonia scent in the collection, but this interpretation is bolder, woodsy and a touch soapy. To me, it smells like a traditional, hand-made bar of soap that you might pick up in a traditional Italian pharmacy, infused with citrus and petals. But has a grounding smoothness that lingers on the skin. I would say it leans more traditionally masculine, but is a beautiful scent that anyone can wear.
In fact, beauty director Shannon Lawlor considers this one of her favourite perfumes ever made. “There are two perfumes in the world that I would be totally lost without, and one of them is Essenza. It has the same iconic citrus burst as the original Colonia (another favourite of mine, by the way), but the juicy top is swaddled in shavings of solid shaving soap and earthy, bitter vetiver. I’ve never felt down when I’m wearing Essenza. It’s power in a bottle,” she says.
7. Acqua di Parma Peonia Nobile
Acqua Di Parma
Peonia Nobile Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Black pepper, raspberry, peony, Egyptian geranium, freesia, Turkish rose, amber, patchouli, musk
While many of Acqua di Parma’s scents focus on citrus, the trio of scents in the Le Nobili collection celebrates florals. In this case, Peonia Nobile centres around peony, and it is devastatingly pretty. Think of wearing a silk gown and wandering through an Italian summer garden, filled with peonies and roses unfurling their soft petals in the late afternoon sun. Once the sun sets, the amber, patchouli and musk create an alluring trail wherever you walk. It’s one of the most expensive-smelling floral perfumes I’ve tried.
Shop Acqua Di Parma Discovery Sets
Acqua di Parma
Selection Set
If you want to try some of Acqua di Parma’s most iconic scents, then this discovery set allows you to experiment with ten 1.5ml vials.
Acqua Di Parma
Colonia Discovery Set
These 12ml vials of Colonia, Colonia Essenza and Colonia C.L.U.B. are perfect for travel.
Acqua di Parma
Blu Mediterraneo Discovery Set
Containing three 12ml miniature bottles from the Blu Mediterraneo collection, this set is perfect for exploring the scents inspired by Italy’s coastal destinations.
Acqua Di Parma
Le Nobili Discovery Set
For fans of florals, this trio of Le Nobili scents allows you to explore the brand’s take on peony, rose and magnolia.
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