Colonia

Colonia, inspired by Acqua di Parma Colonia (1916)

Colonia is a citrus cologne in the old Italian manner. Lemon and sweet orange open it, with bergamot giving a slightly bitter, tea-like edge. Lavender and rosemary follow with a herbal, barbershop cleanness, while verbena and rose add a gentle floral lift. Its base is light and dry, there to anchor the citrus rather than to take over.

About the original

Baron Carlo Magnani created Colonia in Parma in 1916 as his personal scent, and retailers describe it as the first Italian eau de cologne. The Art Deco bottle and yellow cylindrical box arrived in the 1930s. Acqua di Parma became part of LVMH in 2001, and from 2003 the Colonia line grew with Colonia Assoluta and, later, many more editions. The plain Colonia remains the brand's core product.

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

Acqua di Parma sells it as unisex, and nothing in it leans sweet or floral enough to read as one or the other. The style is clean, herbal and light, so anyone wanting depth or amber should look at the richer Colonia editions instead.

Related scents

• Acqua di Parma Colonia Intensa
• Acqua di Parma Colonia Pura
• Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Top notes: Lemon, Sweet Orange, Calabrian Bergamot

Heart notes: Lavender, Rose, Verbena, Rosemary

Base notes: Vetiver, Sandalwood, Patchouli

Lemon, sweet orange and Calabrian bergamot open it with a zesty, faintly bitter citrus brightness.

The heart is aromatic: lavender and rosemary, with verbena and rose softening the herbs.

Vetiver leads the dry finish, with sandalwood and a touch of patchouli beneath.

Is this the original Colonia or one of the flankers?

The original Acqua di Parma Colonia from 1916. We also make several other editions, including Colonia Intensa, Colonia Pura and Colonia Essenza, which are separate scents.

Is Colonia for men or women?

Acqua di Parma sells it as unisex, and its citrus and herb profile suits either.

What concentration is the original Colonia?

Acqua di Parma sells Colonia as an eau de cologne, the traditional light citrus format. Ours is an eau de parfum.

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 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.