Acqua di Parma hasn’t exactly cornered the market on citrus aromatics, but its Colonia and a few of its subsequent flankers will go down as classics in the category. If someone asks me for a fresh scent for summer, I’m sure to point them in the direction of the venerable Italian brand, advising them to try all the ones in the yellow and blue bottles. There’s a stylish Italian nonchalance that resonates through their range.
Their latest fragrance, Buongiorno, started life as a room spray. However, due to overwhelming demand, the brand developed it into a perfume. I’m thrilled they did. It’s lovely. The lively opening bursts out of the bottle with all the exuberance one would expect from Acqua Di Parma. The herbal combination of basil, mint, and rosemary instantly puts me in a relaxed holiday mood. If you were to plot out an Italian garden, you’d probably pick out these three herbs to form the centrepiece. As I wear Buongiorno, I envision manicured lawns, immaculately trimmed hedges, and vibrant evergreens.
Of course, there’s a citrus component here too. The authentic-smelling lemon and petitgrain notes smell as if they’ve come straight from the tree. They’re free from the sharpness and devoid of the candied crassness that sometimes spoils citrus fragrances. Mandarin leaf brings in a sunny sweetness. The aromatic base of cedar and lavender reminded me somewhat of Cedro di Taormina from the Blu Mediterraneo line. But Buongiorno smells much greener and less woody than that scent. The minty note, combined with the lemon, gives me flashbacks to Renaissance or Torino 21 from Xerjoff. However, the Acqua di Parma smells more natural and less forced than both of those.
I sampled Buongiorno in-store, and the Acqua Di Parma presentation included coffee beans to help reset your sense of smell. After discovering the price for a bottle of the stuff, I can tell you I needed something a lot stronger to bring me around. For 50ml, the cost is $302, and for 100ml, it’s $450. I felt a price-induced dizzy spell coming on. Perhaps these brands should consider replacing the coffee beans with smelling salts.
Even though Buongiorno might be one of the better things I’ve tried this year, I’m not willing to pay that price. Inevitably, this brand appears on discounters. I might need some patience. For now, it’s arrivederci to Buongiorno. We may cross paths again someday—perhaps if I win the lottery!
Note: All images, other than the first image, are my own.
