As a long winter recedes, flowers bloom and the temperature finally starts to rise, I’m looking forward to getting reacquainted with my favourite scent; Acqua di Parma’s Colonia. It is the essence of a summer in the Italian Riviera captured, distilled and bottled.

Quite a few years ago, I was flicking through a magazine, I can’t even remember which one now, and I stumbled across a brief history of the brand. Apparently, when Colonia was created in 1916, it was used by gentlemen to spritz on their handkerchief’s. Regular readers that are aware of my eccentricities will not be surprised to know I was completely enamoured with the story and decided there and then I must acquire a bottle. It could have been the genesis of the “shut up and take my money” meme.

So, off I went to a department store to smell and purchase a bottle. I was quickly won over by the lightness of the citrus scent. It’s robust enough to stay fragrant for hours but light enough to be worn during the day without giving me a headache, which is very rare. It’s now the only eau de cologne that I wear. Whenever I do wear it, everybody tells me how good I smell and then ask what it is. I normally don’t divulge, telling them it’s my signature scent but I’m letting you all in on my secret.

It’s not cheap, nothing worth having is but I guarantee once you’ve worn it, you’ll never look back. When the price is compared to some of Tom Ford’s or Creed’s scents, it’s actually decent value for money too. With all of the recommendations I make in my articles, I’ve placed a heavy emphasis on quality. Scent is such a powerful sense. It can evoke strong memories, even of different times and places so it’s worth investing in something that will leave a lasting impression.

You may no longer need something to spritz onto your handkerchief but I promise you now that you will love it, your partner will love it and so will everyone who smells it. There’s a reason it’s been around for over 100-years. Simply spray it on, close your eyes and be transported to a sunny piazza in Sicily, surrounded by lemon trees. I’ll see you there.

Thanks for reading,
Terry