Acqua Di Parma Description

Shop Acqua di Parma's fragrance, bath and body, and home collection, representing over a century of Italian craftsmanship and the art of living. Acqua di Parma was founded in 1916 by Baron Carlo Magnani in a small perfume factory in the center of Parma's historic old town. At a time when most commercial perfumes were much stronger and heavier in composition, Magnani created Colonia as his personal signature scent, an unusually light and refreshing fragrance built around natural ingredients that honoured the vibrant citrus fruits grown in Italy. Originally conceived as something that could remind him of Parma, Italy, his family and the Italian sun, the fragrance became the first true Italian Eau de Cologne.

Colonia quickly gained recognition among high society in the 1930s, with gentlemen discovering it in bespoke tailor shops where they would spritz it on their pocket squares as a finishing touch. The 1950s marked a golden age for the brand as Hollywood stars filming in Italy, including Cary Grant, David Niven, Ava Gardner, and Audrey Hepburn, became devoted fans. For the first 60 to 70 years, Acqua di Parma was never sold in fragrance stores but only through tailors who would spray Colonia on suits as a finishing touch. In 1993, three Italian luxury goods entrepreneurs, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo of Ferrari, Diego Della Valle of Tod's, and Paolo Borgomanero of La Perla, joined forces to revive and preserve the brand.

The company's logo features the coat of arms of Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma, who ruled from 1816 to 1847 and helped develop the perfume industry of Parma. The brand's distinctive yellow packaging takes inspiration from "Parma Yellow," the colour that has graced the facades of the city's finest buildings since the 18th century. LVMH acquired Acqua di Parma in 2001, supporting its international expansion while maintaining its authenticity. The collection now includes the original Colonia line, Blu Mediterraneo inspired by Italian coastal regions, fragrances, home candles crafted by hand in Rimini over 24 hours, bath and body products, and leather accessories, all made exclusively in Italy and distributed in 43 countries.