Category Archive: Acqua di Parma

Perfume Review: Bergamotto di Calabria La Spugnatura Perfume Review

What do Acqua di Parma’s new fragrance Bergamotto di Calabria La Spugnatura and beloved cartoon icon Spongebob Squarepants have in common? OK, I admit that this is probably not the question you expected to be asked in this review, but bear with me, it’ll make sense, maybe. The answer is simple: they’re both made from sea sponges. What do you mean that doesn’t make sense? Surely it’s obvious? Surely?!

OK, I’ll clear things up for you. La Spugnatura is actually a limited edition version of Acqua di Parma’s popular Bergamotto di Calabria fragrance, which sits within their Blu Mediterraneo collection. What makes this edition different is ‘La Spugnatura’, a traditional and labour-intensive method of extraction which involves, you guessed it, our good friend Spongebob. OK, not Spongebob, but actual sponges. In this process, bergamot fruits are cut and separated from their peel, the peels are then pressed (very carefully) onto sea sponges, which absorb the fruit’s essence. These sponges are then squeezed into terracotta jars. The result is beautiful, brilliant bergamot.

Bergamotto di Calabria La Spugnatura is a limited edition fragrance that features this special bergamot material and because it’s so exceptional, it’s also housed in a gorgeous vessel. For this edition, Acqua di Parma has created a handmade porcelain bottle, adorned with a white and gold bergamot pattern. It’s absolutely beautiful and it really does add to the special feel of this unique, limited edition. But does it smell extraordinary too? Let’s sniff!

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Christmas Crush: Notte di Stelle Holiday Candle by Acqua di Parma

Christmas Crush is where I celebrate the scented things that would make lovely gifts for the festive period!

Yes, that’s right, I’m doing it. I’m dropping the C Bomb. Yup. I know it’s only early November and it has literally just been Halloween, but still, I’m a do it. Here we go. *deep breath*. “Christmas”. OK. There we go. Done. Let’s start…

I love a scented candle. Honestly, there is no better way to create an atmosphere and a vibe in your home than a fragranced candle. Well, that’s not exactly true, you could always start a tiff with your nearest and dearest, but that’s not exactly the atmosphere we’re talking about here…. Scented candles are like set dressing for your home – they let you choose the mood, whether that be fresh and clean, warm and cosy, or fruity and flirty. Not only that, but they’re often a decorative object too, making them the must-have accessory for any room. I love them.

So with all that in mind, it’s no surprise that I’m Christmas Crushing on a scented candle! The theme with Notte di Stelle from Acqua di Parma is most definitely festive. This is the scent you want burning in your living room on Christmas Day and on a year when it’s looking less and less likely that we will be able to share the festive period with those outside our households, it makes for the perfect indulgence to add extra sparkle to the proceedings. Let’s dive in and explore why Notte di Stelle is my first Christmas Crush of 2020.

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Perfume Review: Colonia Futura by Acqua di Parma

Colonia Futura

Colonia Futura is a perfume that comes with a loud message of sustainability. This is no surprise, of course, as over the last two years or so, consumers have been demanding more sustainability from their products, and perfume is no exception. There are two key elements to consider when thinking of sustainable perfume; the juice itself, and the packaging – Colonia Futura aims to address both.

So, how exactly is this new cologne from the historic Italian brand sustainable and eco conscious? Acqua di Parma are billing Colonia Futura as their “declaration of love for nature” and in that vein, it contains 99% ingredients from a natural origin. The packaging has also changed to fit this new drive of friendliness towards nature – the traditional Bakelite cap has been replaced with one made from recycled and recyclable plastic, whilst the bottle (excluding the spray mechanism, which can be removed) can also be recycled. Perhaps the coolest innovation is the label on both the bottle and box, which is fashioned from scrap dust from marble quarries. That’s pretty neat if you ask me.

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Speed Sniff: COLONIA VANIGLIA by Acqua di Parma

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Speed Sniffs are a way to bring you ‘to-the-point’ fragrance reviews that are quick and easy to digest. They are perfume reviews without the faff.

Acqua di Parma always strikes me as a really stylish brand. Their fragrances have mass appeal but also a finesse that puts them above much of what the mainstream has to offer. Their Colonia is a perfumery icon and it has seen many interpretations over its 100 year life span, most notably in the Colonia Ingredients Collection which sees the classic cologne reimagined with new signature ingredients from the likes of leather to oud and amber. With this collection, Acqua di Parma remixes the effortless refinement of Colonia and presents it in

Created exclusively for luxury retailer Harrods, the latest scent in the Ingredients Collection is COLONIA VANIGLIA, an ode to the exotic spice of Madagascan vanilla. Created by Perfumer François Demachy, COLONIA VANIGLIA is an exotic oriental that is evocative of tropical islands. Acqua di Parma refer to it as having an “olfactory roundness” which just hints at how smooth this fragrance is. Anyways, that’s enough of me waffling on, you want to know what it smells like.  OK, here goes…

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Candy Crush: Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo ‘La Collezione’

Candy Crush: Blu Mediterraneo La Collezione by Acqua di Parma
Candy Crush: Blu Mediterraneo La Collezione by Acqua di Parma

I’m always crushing on something scented or other. My nose knows no limits. Candy Crush is where I showcase the beautifully scented things I’m crushing on right now so you can hopefully develop a crush too. 

I bloody love Acqua di Parma. Everything they do is so refined, so luxurious and well, so Italian. They have a nose for beauty, presenting gorgeous, uncomplicated scents in handsome packaging. So yes, I always have time for Acqua di Parma’s many offerings, including the summer holiday tones of the Blu Meditteraneo range which celebrates the wonders of Italy via a series of citrus-centric haikus inspired by the Italian countryside. They are bottled sunshine and they are lovely.

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New Escentual Post: Acqua di Parma Peonia Nobile

Acqua di Parma Peonia Nobile
Acqua di Parma Peonia Nobile

You may remember that one of my favourite fragrances from 2014 (a little while ago, I know) was Acqua di Parma’s Rosa Nobile. In fact, in The Candies that year, Rosa Nobile was one of my honourable mentions for Best Mainstream Feminine and it also found its way into my Guide to Rose as the ‘Straight-Up Rose’. Why? Well it presents a glassy pink rose in its most pure and perfect form, not to mention that fact that it simply smells so darn pretty I want to marry it.

This year, Acqua di Parma are continuing their Nobile Collection with the launch of Peonia Nobile – yet another ode to one beautiful flower. Without giving too much away, this noble peony is just as gorgeous as its rosy sister and it serves as further proof that Acqua di Parma really do know how to take the simplest of things and present them with a beautiful flourish. Click here to head on over to Escentual to read my full review of Peonia Nobile.

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New Escentual Post: Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Cedro di Taormina

Cedro Di Taormina - The Perfect Holiday Treat
Cedro Di Taormina – The Perfect Holiday Treat

Passport, pants and perfume, that’s all you need in your luggage when travelling. Of course, when brining the essentials you want to make sure that you pack the right things, which means it pays to select the right fragrances for that trip away. I always pack something from Acqua di Parma because they offer such beautifully easy to wear scents that sing under the sun and their latest, Cedro di Taormina is no exception. In fact, it’s the perfect thing to kick start your summer. Check out my full review over at Escentual by clicking here.

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New Escentual Post: Acqua di Parma Colonia Club Perfume Review

Outdoor Pursuits in Colonia Club
Outdoor Pursuits in Colonia Club

I’m starting to really get into Acqua di Parma as a fragrance brand. Their classic Colonia is an iconic eau de cologne that’s difficult not to love and last year’s Rosa Nobile has quickly made its way into my regular rotation. There’s an effortless simplicity to all things Acqua di Parma that appeals to my calmer and more refined sides. Of course, they may be a paired-back brand, but that doesn’t mean that Acqua di Parma is exempt from releasing lots of flankers, and their famous Colonia is available in a number of interpretations, ranging from intense versions to oud and leather fusions.

This summer, Acqua di Parma are extending their fragrant wardrobe by launching Colonia Club, a new twist on Colonia that is inspired by the idea of an private members sports club. The result is a surprisingly complex eau de cologne that is somewhere between a salty marine scent and a minty fougére. I think its great and it also proves that sporty fragrances don’t have to smell like sweaty Lynx-soaked boys (or Axe-soaked for my American buddies). Click here to head over to Escentual to check out my full review.

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