Colonia Classica

I am so sorry I didn't buy it when I was in Rome in 2007. I still have sample pack and the fragrance is still alive. It smells of class,wealth, elegance and sophistication.

Una fragranza speciale.....a mio gusto veramente superlativa...per chi adora le fragranze di una volta è da dieci e lode!!!!

Acqua di Genova Colonia Classica is one of the original Italian colognes and has all the hallmarks of what defines the genre to this day. It opens with a nice citrus opening and a soft sillage. There's bergamot, lemon, orange, and lavender and rose. Some half an hour later when the perfume has warmed up there's a mix of bright citruses, lavender, jasmine and a hint of rosemary. You can find echoes of Acqua di Genova in Creed's Royal Water, Annick Goutal's Eau d'Hadrien, Guerlain's Eau de Coq and Eau de Cologne Imperiale, and the opening of Eau De Rochas. It's all very pleasant and I am reminded of sitting in some of the gardens when I lived in Genova. Around 90 minutes in and Colonia Classica is beginning to fade. The citruses are fading but there's a touch of mint evident now. Four hours in and you have citruses, musk and sandalwood. There are the faintest traces left around six hours in. Acqua di Genova is a rather good classic Italian cologne. It's definitely worth a try. One for the Riviera and the lovely spring and summer days.

Non è dozzinale ma è talmente datata che mi ricorda il profumo di mia nonna. Più femminile che unisex. Voto personale: 5/10

I think the pyramid might be slightly off. There should be a spearmint or peppermint note listed, because I get quite a bit of it off the central accord to this otherwise straightforward classical cologne. Ingredient quality is actually very high, and the bergamot note shines past the other citruses. What I like most about AdGC is that its neroli is balanced by brisk herbs, mostly mint, and its musk is enormous, a burly swab cementing the "fresh" stuff to a more dandified, powdery presence. A close comparative to this is Creed's Royal Water. I suspect you'll pay significantly more for the Creed, but you'll get better longevity (all day) vs. about ninety minutes with this. You also get an interesting basil and juniper berry accord that adds darkness and dimensionality, whereas AdGC is very "bright" and focuses quite a bit on minty orange blossoms. I can't fault it for being short-lived, though. It's a cologne after all, and a darned good one at that.