Colonia Ebano

Colonia Ebano, inspired by Acqua di Parma Colonia Ebano (2017)

It opens in pure Colonia style, on bergamot and petitgrain, the green, slightly bitter oil pressed from orange leaves and twigs. Within minutes the citrus thins out and an ebony wood accord takes over, dry and polished rather than smoky. Elemi, a resin with a lemony, peppery smell, keeps the heart lifted, and pink pepper adds a small prickle. Overall it comes across as faintly soapy and old-school, in the best barbershop sense.

About the original

Acqua di Parma launched Colonia Ebano in February 2017 as an Eau de Cologne Concentrée in its Ingredient Collection, following Colonia Quercia from the year before. Ebano built the house's citrus cologne style around ebony wood. When the brand moved several Ingredient Collection scents into its Signatures of the Sun line in 2019, Ebano was not among them. It is no longer listed on the official Colonia collection page, and it has been withdrawn according to reports, though Acqua di Parma has made no statement.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Acqua di Parma stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Anyone who finds the original Colonia too bright will appreciate the drier woods here. It reads old-school and masculine, with a gentleman's-club seriousness. With only a trace of honey in the base and no fruit up top, it can seem austere next to sweeter modern colognes.

Notes of the original fragrance, as given in the launch information.

Top notes: Petitgrain, Bergamot

Heart notes: Ebony, Elemi, Pink Pepper

Base notes: Vetiver, Patchouli, Honey

Petitgrain and bergamot open in the familiar Colonia style: green, bitter-edged citrus with no sugar to it.

The heart is ebony wood, dense and dry, with elemi giving a resinous lemon-pepper glow and pink pepper a fine spicy lift.

Vetiver and patchouli form the base, earthy and slightly rooty, while honey adds a faint golden roundness late in the drydown.

Is Colonia Ebano still made by Acqua di Parma?

It no longer appears on the brand's Colonia collection page, and unlike Quercia, Leather and Oud it was not re-released as an Eau de Parfum in 2019. Acqua di Parma has not published a statement.

How does Ebano differ from the original Colonia?

It keeps the Colonia-style citrus opening but builds the heart on ebony wood, elemi and pink pepper, so the drydown is woody and dry.

Is it sweet?

Barely. There is honey in the base, but it only rounds off the vetiver and patchouli rather than turning the scent sugary.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Acqua di Parma and Colonia Ebano are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Acqua di Parma in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.