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Do you want to know which Acqua di Parma is best?
If so, read on because we rolled up our sleeves and spent weeks evaluating and testing all 38 of their fragrances currently available from 4 different collections — all to find out what the best Acqua di Parma men’s cologne is.
In fact, our test subjects put each scent through its paces and scored them using a fixed checklist and our “fragrance scoring system”. 🙂
And finally, we whittled them down to 9 of the very best and ranked them based on their final scores. (Plus, we also included 3 honorable mentions that we think you should be aware of.)
So if you want to know:
- How each scent smells
- How long each scent lasts
- Which one is suited for you
- What season/occasion each scent is geared for
- Lots more
Then let’s dive right in.
(Side note: Of course, we excluded the brand’s female Le Nobili collection; plus, we excluded any limited-edition scents and also their Note di Colonia collection as they are hard to find and appeal to a specific crowd of fragrance connoisseurs.)
In a hurry?
Our Top 3 Picks:
Jump Links
- 9. Colonia Futura
- 8. Bergamotto di Calabria
- 7. Arancia di Capri
- 6. Colonia Club
- 5. Mandorlo di Sicilia
- 4. Colonia
- 3. Colonia Pura
- 2. Colonia Intensa
- 1. Colonia Essenza
- Bonus: 3 Honorable Mentions
- What is Acqua di Parma?
- The ADP Collection Explained
#9 Acqua di Parma Colonia Futura
A Classy Fresh & Citrusy Woody Masculine Scent
Just a quick heads-up:
If you’re familiar with the other scents in the ADP Colonia Collection, please note that Futura takes a different direction from them. What do I mean?
Well, don’t get me wrong, Futura is still citrusy, but it’s also green and herbaceous. And in addition, it has a woody vetiver note.
In fact, let me just tell you how it smells…
Herbal Freshness
Colonia Futura starts off fresh and zesty, with an uplifting burst of juicy citruses (lemon-bergamot-grapefruit). And these citruses are blended with some green herbal notes and a pinch of spicy pepper.
The grapefruit gives the opening a slight bitterness. However, as it starts to settle, the citruses take a step back, and the lavender and clary sage step up. And then the scent becomes less citrusy and more greener and more herbaceous.
And as the scent develops, it gets deeper as vetiver creeps in, which gives the fragrance a green, earthy, woody backbone.
Speaking of… if you love vetiver prominent fragrances, make sure you check out what we believe are the best vetiver colognes on the market. Anyways…
99% Natural Ingredients
Hats off to Acqua di Parma because Colonia Futura smells EXTREMELY natural. Seriously. Which came as no surprise because ADP claim to have used 99% natural ingredients in this.
That’s pretty natural, right? 🙂 Oh, and what’s more…
The brand also claim to have used eco-friendly packaging, as a commitment to their environmental policy. Kudos.
For Mature Classy Gentleman
Now, I would say Futura is more suited for a mature sophisticated well-groomed gentleman (suggest 30-up): For both formal and casual situations.
And trust me, my friend, this is NOT for the young guys; this is classy grown man’s stuff! So don’t be saying I never told you. 🙂
And the good news:
You can wear this all year because the citruses give it the freshness for the warmer days and the vetiver gives it some complexity and depth for those colder days.
To be honest, though, I would say it’s more geared for the spring and summer.
Subtle Scent Bubble
Futura is an Eau de Cologne concentration, and for the first few hours, it projects off your skin about an arm’s length.
Then it becomes more subtle and gentlemanly — sitting close to your skin, so you don’t have to worry about your scent invading anyone else’s space (aka it’s office safe).
And we found, depending on the temperature, Futura to last roughly 5–7+ hours.
Update: Recently, I noticed that Colonia Futura has mysteriously disappeared from ADP’s official website (in all countries except the Japanese site).
Sadly, this could indicate that the brand are discontinuing the scent. Or hopefully, they may be just preparing to re-release it in the recently released new-look Colonia clear-glass bottles with the white-labels.
Either way, Futura is still available on many other sites, so grab it while you still can or before the prices skyrocket (if it is officially discontinued or reformulated, that is).
#8 Acqua di Parma Bergamotto di Calabria
A Mouth-Watering Freshie!
Spoiler alert: Bergamotto di Calabria smells EXACTLY like it sounds, my friend.
Huh? Oh, it’s a bergamot focused fragrance. You see…
Bergamotto di Calabria is Italian and translates to Bergamot of Calabria. And in case you’re wondering… bergamot is a vibrant-smelling citrus fruit (thought to be a hybrid between a lemon & a bitter orange).
Bergamot has a bitter-citrusy, fruity-tart smell with some light spicy facets. And its oil is one of the most commonly used ingredients in fragrances.
Calabria, then? Oh, that’s just a coastal region in southern Italy. Ok so what the heck does Calabria have to do with bergamots?
A lot.
In fact, 80–90% of the world’s bergamot are grown in Calabria. And what’s more… Acqua di Parma have their own special crop there. A premium crop, of course.
Premium Quality
But here’s the thing…
Usually, bergamot only plays a small supporting role in a typical scent. But in contrast, with Bergamotto di Calabria — it’s quite the opposite!
Because in this scent, the bergamot is the star of the show — having other ingredients support it. So if you love that fresh uplifting smell of bergamot, read on…
Captivating Opening
Bergamotto di Calabria has a captivating opening because…
Right off the bat, you’re treated to a HUGE burst of sparkling zingy citruses (bergamot, of course, which is backed-up with citron). And these citruses are blended with a fresh pinch of ginger.
And as it softens, it receives just a kiss of sweetness, which makes it smell almost like a cold fizzy lemonade with some fresh lime squeezed in it. Seriously, it’s…
Mouth-Watering 🍋🤤
Then finally, as it starts to dry-down on your skin, a faint touch of woody, green vetiver comes in to support it, joined with a hint of clean white musk.
By the way, this is an Acqua di Parma best seller in their Blu Mediterraneo collection.
So there we have it.
Bergamotto di Calabria is simple and delivers what it promised. All whilst smelling extremely natural.
Who’s it for?
Anyone. Everyone. This is totally unisex and suitable for all ages (suggest 20-up). And I would say it’s more of a casual spring/summer daytime scent. And a classy one at that!
Anyone. Everyone.
This scent is perfect for refreshing you on those hot humid days. So it’s a great choice for the poolside, the beach, vacations, etc. Or even the office, for that matter. Very flexible.
Now, I should point something out, my friend:
Because this is predominantly a citrus-based scent, so by nature, it won’t be a big performer. I totally get it.
After all, this was specifically designed to be a warm weather fragrance. And let’s be honest, you don’t want to be wearing anything heavy on a hot humid day, right?
Speaking of, make sure you check out our best summer colognes for men to discover other A-list scents that smell amazing and keep you confidently fresh in the high heat. Anyways…
To clarify, my friend, if you’re looking for an attention-grabber, you WILL be disappointed with this as this is light and refreshing. Not gonna lie.
Light & Refreshing
Bergamotto di Calabria is an EDT; it’s light and projects VERY softly (within arm’s length) for up to 1.5 hours (maybe 2 if you’re lucky).
It then dials back and hovers just above your skin… before eventually becoming a nice fresh and clean skin scent. And the bad news…
We found, depending on your skin chemistry, temperature, etc., that it could last anywhere from 2–6+ hours. Frustrating, right?
Of course, though, you could just give your clothes a spray as it lasts longer than it does on your skin.
That said, it smells so fresh, uplifting and natural — I don’t mind reapplying. 🙂 In fact, here’s a tip:
You can usually discover the brand’s large-sized 6 fl oz (180 ml) bottle sizes online for a HUGE discount, so it works out a LOT cheaper per spray! This way, you don’t mind reapplying throughout the day to keep you confidently fresh and clean!
#7 Acqua di Parma Arancia di Capri
Photorealistic Fresh Juicy Orange
Do you love the smell of fresh, juicy oranges? If so, read on because…
Arancia di Capri = Orange of Capri. So no surprise here, my friend: (You guessed it!)
Arancia di Capri is an orange citrusy scent. 🍊More specifically, a bright, refreshing, intensely juicy orange scent with a kiss of sweetness.
(Oh, and in case you don’t know, Capri is an Italian island in the Gulf of Naples, known for their premium citrus fruit trees that produce highly aromatic, sweet juicy oranges.)
Anyway, let’s give it a quick spray…
Mouth-watering Juicy Freshness
As soon as you spray Arancia di Capri, you get an enormous burst of juicy freshness: Italian and mandarin oranges blended with some other uplifting supporting citruses (bergamot & lemon).
Does it smell natural?
Absolutely, yes! Incredibly natural! In fact, it’s almost mouth-watering, so much so that it puts a smile on your face. 🙂
Now, when this vibrant opening settles, a faint green herbal undertone tip-toes in. But here’s the beautiful part…
As it dries-down on your skin, the fresh, juicy orange aroma is joined with a kiss of warm caramel sweetness and clean white musk.
It’s simple, yet so beautiful.
Beautifully Simple
When’s the best time to wear this?
Arancia di Capri screams spring & summer and more suited for casual daytime use. But, of course, you can wear this anytime you want to feel clean and refreshed.
In the office to sitting round the pool. And it shines on hot humid days; great for outdoors, vacations etc. And the good news…
This is unisex; so you can share it, and it’s appropriate for any age (suggest 20-up).
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, my friend…
I’ll be straight with you — Arancia di Capri ‘s performance is NOT the greatest, to say the least! Here’s why:
Arancia di Capri is a warm-weather citrus-based scent, which contains a LOT of high-quality natural ingredients. Because here’s the thing…
Extremely Naturally Smelling
Citruses are highly volatile, so they are, by nature, NOT super-long lasting (understandable). So please keep that in mind, my friend.
Oh, by the way, if you are looking for strong, long-lasting scents, then absolutely check out our best winter fragrances for men because these proven compliment-getters last for hours and HOURS! Anyways…
Arancia di Capri comes in an EDT concentration and projects softly (about arm’s length) for up to 1.5 hours. It then sits VERY close to your skin — giving off light, gentle wafts when you move about. And also note…
Mixed Bag
Lasting power on you will obviously vary depending on your skin chemistry, and the ambient temperature, how much you sweat etc. But here’s what we found:
It was a mixed bag from our test group; sadly, on skin, anywhere from 2–6+ hours. But if you don’t get lucky with longevity, here’s how you can easily solve this problem, my friend…
Just simply spray your clothes and refresh when needed. Sorted. 🙂
Update: Since our first round of testing, the brand has released a newer Arancia Di Capri La Riserva, which is a stronger Eau de Parfum concentration of this scent. But before you get too excited, here’s what you need to know….
Of course, we have now fully tested this new Arancia Di Capri La Riserva side-by-side against the original version. Here’s what we found:
Arancia Di Capri vs Arancia Di Capri La Riserva
Compared to the original version, the new Arancia Di Capri La Riserva is:
- More creamy and complex smelling
- Not as photorealistic or as naturally smelling
- Not as bright, airy, fresh or juicy
- Less orangey and more bitter, greener, and muskier
- An Eau de Parfum concentration (the OG is EDT)
- Stronger, sweeter, and longer lasting and…
- A LOT more expensive!
TL;DR: Our testers, and yours truly, reported that the new La Riserva release smells more complex and is stronger and longer lasting than the original version. HOWEVER…
The original version smells MUCH more natural, bright, and juicy (aka it simply smells the best). Oh, and not forgetting, the original version is also a LOT more affordable, too!
Brutal take: La Riserva lasts longer but sacrifices the smell of the original to do so. Therefore, after fully testing, we still recommend and keep the much-loved original version on this list.
And just like with some other scents on this list, I highly recommend you try to find a heavily discounted large-sized 6 fl oz (180 ml) bottle online so it saves you dramatically per application. 👍
Orange scent lovers, don’t sleep on this!
#6 Acqua di Parma Colonia Club
Fresh, Green & Minty
Colonia Club’s green-colored bottle is pretty much a dead giveaway for what’s inside of it.: A classy clean green fragrance.
In a nutshell, this scent takes the brand’s classic Colonia scent DNA and gives it a modern minty green twist. How does it smell? Let’s find out…
As soon as you spray Colonia Club, you get an uplifting blast of citruses, and these are mixed with neroli and a large helping of fresh mint.
A Minty Twist on The Colonia Scent DNA
And I must say, the mint smells incredibly natural; it’s just like freshly crushed mint leaves. And what’s more, this mint aroma almost gives you a cooling-like sensation on your skin.
Anyway, after a short while…
When the mint tones down, lavender creeps in and morphs with the citruses, and this adds that classic floral clean soapy barbershop feeling — but with a nice minty twist!
It’s fresh. It’s citrusy. It’s green. And it’s minty!
And finally, vetiver steps up and sits in the background to add some green woodiness.
Green Woodiness
Colonia Club is more suited for the mature (suggest: 25-up) sharply dressed crowd. And it performs best in the spring, summer, and fall.
Cold winters? Just spray more. 🙂
It’s GREAT for outdoor casual use. And it’s just as good for the office, too. So you could pair it with a crisp polo shirt. Or even a stylish suit. It’s a complete package.
Nice Scent Bubble
Colonia Club comes in an EDC concentration, and projects nicely for up to 3 hours — creating a nice scent bubble around you (approx. arm’s length).
It then becomes more subtle and sits closer to your skin giving off gentle wafts.
And we noted, depending on the temperature, total lasting power is anywhere from 3–8+ hours.
Colonia Club vs Colonia C.l.u.b. 🤦♂️
Update:
Now just a quick heads-up: Since we first tested and recommended this scent, ADP have, quite confusingly, released a newer scent called “Colonia C.L.U.B.” (note, the periods between each letter) that is currently available in 2 different styled bottles. And here’s the crazy part…
Please be aware, Colonia Club and Colonia C.l.u.b. are NOT the same scents! They smell different! 🤷♂️ In fact, Colonia C.l.u.b. doesn’t even have any mint in it!
Now, apparently the brand are discontinuing the original all-green-bottle version of Colonia Club (without the periods — this is getting confusing 🤦♂️🤣) and replacing it with a similar named scent that doesn’t even smell the same. What the ?!?
Yeah, I know, I know, crazy right? Anyway, the good news…
Even though the original minty one is apparently discontinued, you can still, as of now, easily find it online for a great price — so grab it while you still can! (Just make sure you get the all-green-bottle version without the periods between the letters 🤣).
#5 Acqua di Parma Mandorlo di Sicilia
The Best Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo
First things first:
Don’t let the eye-catching bottle confuse you, my friend. What do I mean by that? Well…
Since the bottle has a gorgeous Mediterranean-blue color, you may be expecting (at least, I was) some sort of fresh-citrusy aquatic blue scent. Far from it, though, because…
Mandorlo di Sicilia is sweet. Deliciously sweet!
Therefore, it’s a BIG departure from all the other options in the brand’s Blu Mediterraneo collection.
Deliciously Sweet
Having said all that, if you understand Italian, you may have already guessed it’s some sort of almond scent. And you’d be right.
Because Mandorlo di Sicilia translates to Almond Trees of Sicily. And in a nutshell (pun intended 🙂):
Mandorlo di Sicilia is a VERY natural-smelling, sweet creamy vanilla and almond scent — with a pinch of citruses to help keep it fresh and airy.
Oh, and it smells delicious!
Almonds & Vanilla
So to clarify, my friend:
If you don’t like sweet scents, and/or you don’t like almonds, then this is (definitely) NOT for you. But if that’s your thing, read on…
Here’s a quick rundown:
Mandorlo di Sicilia starts off with a pinch of zesty orangey citruses, and these are blended with star anise and a dose of sweet nutty-almonds and vanilla. By the way…
Star anise is a spice obtained from an Asian star-shaped fruit, and has a licorice-like smell. But here’s the beautiful part…
This star anise combined with the citruses and vanilla/almond, give the opening a gorgeous fizzy cream-soda like aroma.
Sweet Creamy Root-Beer Float
In fact, a LOT of people in the fragrance community say it reminds them of a fizzy root-beer float. Yep, I kind of get that, too. 🙂
Anyway…
As it starts to dry-down, that fizzy licorice accord slowly fades, and then warm vanilla starts to come more into play. And this is followed with a light hint of fruity florals.
It’s sweet, warm, nutty and creamy.
Yet it still remains light and airy (because of the citruses), and it never becomes overly sweet.
And finally… it dries down into a sweet-creamy nutty woody base. Almond cookie, anyone? 🍪
By the way, if you love vanilla, be sure to check our top vanilla perfumes as most are unisex. Anyway…
Creamy Nutty Vanilla
Mandorlo di Sicilia a unique, simple, playful scent. But it’s not juvenile smelling because it has a sophisticated high-quality about it. A modern, mature sweetness.
And unsurprisingly, it rakes in some NICE compliments. Maybe they just want to eat you. 🙂
And here’s the good news:
This is unisex; it smells great on a man or a woman — so you can share it with your significant other (suggest: 20-up).
So needless to say, if you’re looking for a masculine man’s man cologne, then stay clear of this, my friend.
Playful Aroma
Because this has a sweet playful aroma, I would say it’s more suited for casual use, outdoor events, vacations etc.
Also, because of its sweet deliciousness, it could make for a nice date scent. And what’s more…
It can be used all year. But specifically, it works like a charm in warm weather (just avoid scorching hot days).
Mandorlo di Sicilia comes in EDT concentration and has a decent scent cloud (within arm’s length) for up to a few hours.
It then quickly retreats and sits close to the skin. And depending on the season-temperature/skin chemistry, we found lasting power to be around a delicious 4–8+ hours.
Oh, and before I forget… Please be aware the brand has another closely named scent called Mandarino Di Sicilia. As the scent names are quite similar, make sure you don’t get the 2 scent mixed up. Like I did. 🤦♂️🤣
Bottom line:
If you are bored of all the typical warm-weather fresh citrusy scents, then I urge you to try this.
#4 Acqua di Parma Colonia
The Iconic Original: A Timeless Classic
Ah, the original Colonia, you’ve just gotta love it. Credit where credit is due. It’s the OG. The one that started it all off.
Here’s the quick story:
In case you don’t know, this was the brand’s very first cologne and was created in 1916. That’s not a typo. 🙂 But what you might not know is…
ADP’s Colonia first started its life in the tailor shops in Parma, Italy. Huh?
Well, at first, the scent was originally only used to spray customers handkerchiefs — to keep the wearer smelling clean, fresh, and well-groomed. But here’s the cool part…
Used by Hollywood Stars
It was in these tailor shops where European celebrities and Hollywood stars of the day, discovered and fell in love with the scent.
Apparently, David Niven and Cary Grant used to rock this stuff. Pretty cool, right?
And the rest, as they say, is history.
The Iconic Hatbox
This is why the brand use their iconic hatbox-style packaging, as a nod of respect to their roots in the tailor shops in Parma.
Furthermore, the brand’s golden-yellow coloring represents the traditional Parma-yellow color painted houses which are there.
By the way, all the other Colonias in the brands collection are newer, modern variations of this original timeless classic.
Anyway…
You might be wondering:
What does Acqua di Parma Colonia smell like?
The original Colonia opens up bright, crisp, and clean: with a classic blend of zesty citruses (lemon-orange-bergamot), mixed with a pinch of rosemary and other green herbal notes. The lemon being the most prominent.
And as the citruses slowly soften, the rosemary shines through, and it becomes more herbaceous. And then the lavender and rose creep in and smooth everything out.
Eventually, some faint warm woodiness joins the mix, and it finally dries down to a soft, clean, musky soapy/citrusy floral scent.
It has a classic, “old-school” quality — yet it’s timeless and sophisticated. It’s naturally smelling and elegantly clean.
Picture this, my friend:
A well-groomed, elegant gentleman stepping out of a traditional barbershop. Immaculate, clean, and polished. He would be wearing Colonia. 🙂
And on that note…
Timeless
I would only recommend this for the mature 30-up; this is grown-man’s stuff.
(For you younger dapper guys, I would rather suggest to you its modernized counterpart: Colonia Essenza.)
Now, this is more of an any occasion daytime scent. And can be worn all year. However, its wheelhouse is in the spring and summer — this is when it shines.
Dress it up. Dress it down. And it’s a GREAT one for the office. And…
Don’t forget:
This is an Eau de Cologne. Which is not as potent as an EDT, EDP or Parfum. So if you’re looking for a powerhouse — you will be disappointed. This is refined and elegant.
Refined & Elegant
And for the first few hours, it projects politely (within arm’s reach), then it stays close to your skin.
How long does it last?
Short answer: it depends.
Because here’s the thing… everyone’s skin chemistry is different. And also the temperature plays a BIG factor.
Some of us got 5–8+ hours, while others just got 2–3+ hours — so your mileage will vary, my friend.
With that, here’s a tip that works great:
For longer lasting performance, just simply give your clothes a quick spritz (or even your handkerchief). 🙂
Sorted.
#3 Acqua di Parma Colonia Pura
A Modern Fresh Twist on the Original
Here’s what you need to know:
Pura is a new rework of the brand’s original classic Colonia, which gets a modern fresh uplifting twist. And here’s the beautiful part…
This new version was created by none other than: Francois Demachy (who was previously the in-house perfumer for Dior). Let’s just say…
He knows a thing or two. 🙂
World Renowned Master Perfumer
Anyway, this one is simple, yet elegant. Let’s take a closer look:
Pura opens with a cocktail of bright citruses, and these are blended with some ozonic notes and whispers of spice.
These ozonic notes give it a refreshing, crisp airy/watery quality. And after a short while…
The citruses tone down, and then a green-tinged floral accord shines through — this adds a slight hint of sweetness to the citruses.
Uplifting Feel Good Aroma
And finally, the composition is given a slightly woody, soft clean musky base.
It smells crisp, clean, and fresh — with an uplifting feel good quality.
Oh, and did I mention it smells extremely natural? Yeah…
The quality of the juice is top-notch; no complaints there. Maybe that’s why they named it Pura, which translates to Pure.
Pure, Fresh & Clean
Now, Pura has a touch of a youthful quality to it, so it will appeal to the younger mature sharply-dressed guys as well as older more refined gentleman. (Suggest 20-up.)
And in terms of seasons:
This is perfect for spring and summer daytime use. A warm weather daily go-to that you can dress up or down. Great for the office or just for casual outings.
Pura is an Eau de Cologne (EDC) and projects softly (within arm’s reach) for up to a few hours. It then wears inconspicuously close to your skin.
Reserved Gentleman
So if you’re looking for a professional scent that is not obtrusive, this is a good fit. Does it last long? Here’s what we found…
Depending on the temperature (and wearer’s skin chemistry), lasting power was anywhere from 3–7+ hours.
Bottom line:
We think Pura is a well-crafted modern addition to the brand’s collection.
#2 Acqua di Parma Colonia Intensa
A Freshie With a Woody-Leathery Twist
Here’s the scoop:
This fragrance was a collaboration between 2 of the biggest (and best) perfumers in the industry:
Alberto Morillas & Francois Demachy.
In case you don’t know, award-winning Alberto Morillas was the man who created the iconic Acqua di Gio for Armani (as well as a TON of other blockbusters). And…
Francois Demachy was previously the head perfumer at Christian Dior. ‘Nough said. 🙂
Their goal?
To create a modern, sophisticated, and intense version of the original Colonia. However, they also wanted to retain the classic citrus composition of the original.
Hint of Soft Leather
To do this, they reworked the original and added some spices, woods, and a hint of soft leather (and some other notes, of course). Did they deliver the goods?
It sure smells like it, my friend 🙂
I fact, let me break it down for you…
Colonia Intensa opens with a refreshing burst of citruses (lemon & bergamot), mixed with a spicy dose of ginger and cardamom.
These spices add a nice invigorating bite to the citruses.
And as it settles, green herbal nuances appear with a hint of soapy neroli in the background. (However, this isn’t as soapy as the original Colonia.) And finally…
As it dries down, some woods creep in joined with a touch of soft leather and resins — to give the scent some sophisticated warm depth.
It’s Refreshing. Yet Warm.
It’s citrusy fresh and clean… but with a nice warm spicy-woody leathery backbone.
Very elegant, indeed. 🧐
Now, this is a very classy mature scent — so for age group, I suggest 25 and up. And because it carries a gentlemanly aura, it’s more suited for semi-formal and formal situations.
It’s perfect for the office, business meetings, interviews etc. Or even an evening date, for that matter.
And the beautiful part…
It can be worn in all seasons. However, the sweet spot is in the spring and fall (and cool summer nights).
Because to be honest, if it’s scorching hot and you’re going to be outside, this may not be the best choice.
And depending on how cold your winters get, this might not have enough punch to cut through the cold air.
That said, if you’re using this in a temperature-controlled environment (i.e. in the office), then none of this really matters, right? 🙂
Courteous
Colonia Intensa is an EDC, and when first sprayed, it projects softly for up to 2 hours (around an arm’s length).
Then it quickly recedes and hovers just above the skin (making it great for the workplace).
So to clarify, if you’re looking for an attention-seeker, you will be disappointed with this.
The good news…
Although this sits close to the skin, lasting power was impressive for an EDC concentration. Here’s what we found…
Depending on the temperature, lasting power was around the 5–8+ hour mark. Not too shabby, right?
And, of course, you can always give your clothes a quick spritz for longer lasting performance.
Very, very classy stuff!
#1 Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza
A Modernized Classic
In a nutshell:
Colonia Essenza is a new (and improved) modernized version of the brand’s iconic original version of Colonia. And the best part…
This new version smells richer and more sophisticated. (Plus it’s longer lasting, too!) Let’s take a look:
Colonia Essenza starts off bright, fresh, and clean — with a blast of naturally smelling zesty citruses mixed with some neroli.
The neroli gives it a slightly bitter quality, but give it time, my friend, as this smooths into something special. Stay with me… 🙂
As the citruses tone down, clean white florals shine through joined with pops of spices and a slightly green herbal nuance.
Classy Clean Aroma
The citruses still remain but linger in the background — giving it a clean soapy undertone.
And as it evolves on your skin, some oakmoss, woody vetiver, and musk surface, which add a little darkness to the scent.
And it finally dries down into a refined, clean, elegant gentlemanly scent.
It smells extremely natural. It’s smooth and has an expensive soapy clean quality. Simply put…
This Stuff = Well-Groomed Man
Now, to be perfectly clear, my friend:
This is not for the young crowd (suggest mature 25up). Because trust me, this is the scent of a mature well-groomed gentleman; think:
James Bond. 🙂
It’s classy… Yet still modern.
Oh, and that reminds me of something you should be aware of:
When Essenza was first relased, ADP designed the bottle to look like a tuxedo, using a classy matte-black finish with a white label.
However, the brand has recently updated their Colonia collection bottles to an all new-look transparent-glass bottle design with white-colored labels and black-colored caps.
Does it smell the same?!? Glad you asked!
Thankfully, yes! Because we already did a side-by-side smell and performance test with the new and old bottle, and we can confirm it still smells the same and lasts the same amount of time on skin.
To be honest, the original black-matte bottle used to mislead a lot of people into thinking that Essenza must be a dark, heavy scent. Anyway…
Here’s the cool part for you, my friend:
Since they recently released the new-look transparent bottle design, you can now discover the previous matte-black bottle design online for a NICE discount! And let’s be honest, the black-matte bottle looks way cooler, right? So it’s a win-win for you!
Even better….
Anytime. Anywhere. Anyplace.
You can wear Essenza all year (just adjust your sprays) for just about ANY occasion. Indoors/outdoors… Days or nights — dressed-up or dressed-down.
The office/work, special occasions, dates, daily use, going out on the town, parties — you name it!
Basically, anytime you want to smell clean and classy, Essenza has your back. Furthermore…
Just like a true gentleman, Essenza doesn’t scream out for attention. As this comes in an Eau de Cologne (EDC) concentration and projects politely for the first few hours (around arm’s length).
Respectful
It then dials back and sits confidently and respectfully close to the wearer. But if anyone ventures into your zone — you will get noticed (in a good way).
And the good news…
For being an EDC, the lasting power is good. Because depending on the temperature, we clocked in ballpark 4–8+ hours of scent life. Ain’t complaining.
Bottom line:
If you’re looking for a refined mature gentlemanly scent, that you can use all year for just about any occasion — try this.
Bonus: 3 Honorable Mentions
I can almost hear you thinking…
Where the heck is Fico di Amalfi? 🤔
Amirite?
Don’t worry, we haven’t lost our sense of smell (or minds) because we too think it’s AMAZING.
In fact, we found it to be one of the best Blu Mediterraneo fragrances from the collection. So why’s it not on this list? Good question.
Here’s why:
Simply because Fico di Amalfi already made it onto our top summer list. So I figured I would replace it on this list with another one to give you some more options here. So…
Don’t Sleep on These 3
And on top of that, we also excluded 2 others because they also made it onto other lists.
So you can click below to discover our thoughts on each of them:
- Fico di Amalfi (a juicy fig scent)
- Oud (fresh take on oud)
- Sandalo (fresh citrusy sandalwood)
Spoiler alert: They’re all GREAT. 🙂
What is Acqua di Parma?
ADP are an Italian lifestyle brand, named after the city where they were founded – Parma. Their first fragrance creation dates back to 1916.
Yes, you read that right, they’ve been “in the game” for more than 110 years. Let’s just say…
They’ve gotten pretty good at it. 🙂
Oh, and by the way, I’ve seen a LOT of people getting confused about their different fragrance collections, so here’s a quick primer for you…
The ADP Collection Explained
ADP currently have 6 different collections, with currently over 40 scents between them:
- Colonia
- Blu Mediterraneo
- Signature of the Sun
- Le Nobili
- Note di Colonia
- Buongiorno
Let’s start with the range the brand are most known for:
The Colonia Collection
These are the elegant citrus freshies. In fact, this collection still includes the iconic original Colonia from 1916. Apparently, its formula remains unchanged.
What’s more, all the other options in this collection are modern variations of this timeless classic.
Made in Italy
And they all come presented in clear minimalistic bottles, in the iconic Parma-yellow colored hatbox style packaging. That is…
Except for Essenza and Club. Which come presented in a black bottle and black box, and a green bottle and green box, respectively. Moving on to…
Blu Mediterraneo
These are the ones that come in the gorgeous blue bottles (and blue hatboxes).
Each fragrance is named after somewhere in the Italian Mediterranean and the ingredient that grows there.
Realistic
And the scent will be focused on that ingredient, with other supporting notes. For example:
Cipresso di Toscana translates to Cypress of Tuscany. So the scent is based on cypress.
You get the idea. 🙂
These typically smell extremely natural and realistic. Which brings us to…
Signature of the Sun
This is their premium range. (Note: this was previously called the Ingredient Collection.)
These scents are focused on one precious raw ingredient (such as oud, sandalwood, vanilla, etc.).
Premium
And this ingredient gets blended with the brand’s classic Colonia citrus DNA – to create a unique fresh twist. By the way…
The darker scents come in black glossy bottles. And the brighter scents come in clear bottles.
However, they all come presented in glossy black tubular hatboxes with gold lettering. Nice.
Le Nobili
These are the brands feminine leaning scents, based around floral essences. Focusing on rose, magnolia and peony. But wear what you want, right? 🙂
And finally…
Note di Colonia
This is the brand’s exclusive collection, which was created to celebrate their 100-year anniversary.
Each one is inspired by an Italian opera, that was written by an Italian composer. To be clear, these are more for fragrance connoisseurs.
Exclusive
And they come in luxurious bottles with Italian hand-crafted crystal stoppers. They also come with prices to match.
Buongiorno
This is the brand’s newest collection. Buongiorno is Italian and translates to “good morning,” and the scents from this collection are crafted to evoke the smell of different emotional moments on an Italian morning.
These clean and fresh musky compositions come in transparent ribbed-glass bottles that come with different vibrant-colored caps depending on the scent in the collection (except the original, Buongiorno EDP, which comes in the standard iconic Colonia style bottle).
So there we have it.
ADP has a scent for every personality. Every season. And every occasion.
Now, it’s your turn…
We would love to hear from you:
What do YOU think the best smelling Acqua di Parma fragrance is? Did we miss any?
Or maybe you have a question.
Either way, please let me know by leaving a quick comment below right now.
Where to go from here?
Discover the best Burberry colognes or the top Creed fragrances for men.
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