Colonia Club

Here I am at last - reviewing my signature! Reading some reviews comparing it to Green Irish Tweed and Cool Water are a wee stretch for me (sorry - I own all three and I still use Cool Water today after 20 years). Especially in contrast to what Lo-fi said. They are at best somewhat similar. Keeping it simple, to me GIT is like honeyed lemon verbena with some flowers, and thats it nothing else. CW again in simple terms is Fresh Aquatic, Lemon (not even in its pyramid), Lavender with SPEARMINT not mint in the back ground with a pinch of tobacco and coriander. Colonia Club is like a Sweet Lime Soda in a can with a pinch of tobaccy and lavender and a little musk straw to sip it with a clean mint always present in the back ground! Alternatively amazingly its also a dead ringer for Guerlain L'Homme Ideal EDT if you replace the cherry with lime/bergamot (not EDP which has less musk more cherry). I know this is almond and tonka bean in Ideal but this is what it smells like to me from a non technical point - I also own them. CC is an EDC so only has a small percentage of oil compared to CW which is an EDT or GIT which is an EDP hence higher oil content. Ironically I think it is reverse world!!! I find GIT to reek of quality but have a low to moderate silage and reasonable longevity and CW to smell cheap in construction (at least the last one i bought - infact it smells vinegary on first spray) and to have a decent longevity. CC on the other hand... after dry down (admittedly I do spray a lot) it smells of sweet lime (not bergamot) mixed with a layer of lavender, coriander, maybe cedar, amber and mint over the top after 15 minutes a bit of powdery musk presents itself . The mint does cool you but 50cm away its the only fragrance I know that just smells of all the combined. Its very textured and even though its a cologne the ingredient quality basically means that it lasts 6-12 hours for me AND its completely linear - I'm not sure that it changes. Its not an in your face perfume yet I can smell it more easily from a distance than most - I don't know why. AND this is coming from someone whom doesn't really like musk or powdery scents (not that they are dominant). Its kind of a mature scent for smart casual dressed guys in their 30's and above (imagine Panerai watch, polo top and chinos) or someone confident in a Tom Ford or Brioni like Daniel Craig, George Clooney or Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy as the CEO of GE in 30 Rock would wear - not loud but a mix of warm, cool, formal, casual. So I love this scent because I can wear it in winter as the musk lavender and amber are somewhat warming and the mint and lime keeps it fresh like I just got out of a shower in a waterfall with naked women (actually it reminds me of Norsca maybe lol). I recently bought Jacques Fath Green Water as someone somewhere mentioned it was like Colonia Club dialled up to 11 - he was spot on except its simpler - just Lavender Mint and Lime. I sprayed each hand before I started typing this 60 minutes ago with distractions with CC and CW. CW has already faded noticeably and changed whilst CC is still powering on at the same level with the same presentation... I have to stop myself wearing this everyday... that and L'Homme Ideal when I feel like Cherry instead...

This was one of my first full bottles. I haven’t worn it in many months because at some point, after getting deep into vintage and niche, some of my early stuff started feeling jarring. Now that I have a more experienced nose and a better vocabulary, I can pinpoint what had put me off. And I can also go back to and rediscover these early loves; maybe even fall for them all over again. Colonia Club was clearly a departure from the citrus eau de cologne style that characterized most of AdP’s variations of the original Colonia. This one seems like an homage to a certain kind of sporty green Italian masculine of the Pino Silvestre/Acqua di Selva variety, though it doesn’t quite reach fougère territory (some claim that it contains a dose of coumarin in the base, in which case it could qualify). The proposal is straightforward: a super bracing, woody aromatic composition with MINT (in all caps) at the center. This thing is so invigoratingly cooling that the opening actually stings, sort of like the icy half of Icy Hot, in a manner not dissimilar to the sensation of aftershave slapped on open pores (think Kevin in Home Alone). I personally love this. What follows is green, aromatic, slightly citrusy, and somewhat floral, featuring neroli, geranium, and, of course, lavender. The galbanum (Galbanol) makes its presence felt throughout. In the drydown, the vetiver and a salty “ambergris” accord (some kind of woody amber) come to the fore, rendering a pseudo-aquatic (as in marine) impression. I guess this is what put me off for a while, giving it what I felt was a “mainstream”, “boring”, “synthetic” feel. But I’ve come around (almost) full circle. I can appreciate this kind of composition, a modernized riff on a classic, more than before. I can now see the trajectory much more clearly. And I dig it! Colonia Club feels balanced, elegant, and modern. Frequently compared to Green Irish Tweed (for a fraction of the price) and Cool Water (though more robust and less synthetic), it’s a simple affair that gets the job done. And it’s just right for a crisp, sunny day, under a pressed shirt and a blazer, like today.

This is a beautiful green fougiere fragrance that is to Acqua di Parma what Green Irish Tweed is to Creed (although the two do not smell similar at all, and I prefer the Colonia Club). As for the scent, it's in the same genre as Amouage's Beach Hut Man and Coty's Aspen to my nose but different than both. It opens with a very beautiful fresh green accord of very natural smelling spearmint leaves (the mint in this is as natural as YSL's Live Jazz and Lush's Dirty, and is noticeably spearmint rather than peppermint). The mint is so prominent in fact that it produces a noticeable cooling effect on your skin (just as is the case with Lush's Dirty). But the mint is not the only thing there, and is united by notes of to my nose galbanum (which smells like grass), petitgrain, neroli, vetiver, lemon, and a very strong green bergamot accord that almost smells like limes. It's very green, very cooling, and very fresh. It also smells both modern yet refined and sophisticated at the same time to me, like they took the classic fougiere (fern-like) cologne formula, made it modern but also of natural-smelling ingredients so it smells high-class. It definitely leans masculine; it smells like what a gentleman in a tuxedo or someone on a golf course would be wearing. On the drydown I smell a small hint of seawater and ambergris accord that makes it sort of aquatic in nature, but in a good way. It's as if you were walking in a lush green forest with fields of spearmint and it started raining. The scent overall is pretty linear from opening to the end however. Sillage is moderate (as is the case with all Acqua di Parmas in my experience), while longevity is also moderate at about 5 hours (better than most Acqua di Parmas though, except for Colonia Oud and Leather). Overall, this is my favourite fragrance from the historic Italian Acqua di Parma house, followed by Colonia Oud and Fico di Amalfi. In fact it's one of my favourite fragrances overall of all time. 5/5

This is a beautiful but (as is often the case with Acqua di Parma freshies) a slightly short lived old school green fragrance. I also have noticed that the amount of mint varies slightly by batch. I have a 50ml bottle and a 180ml (I really love this fragrance :) )and there is noticeably more mint in the 50ml unfortunately (as that bottle won't last me for too much longer). It opens with a gorgeously refreshing blast of natural smelling fresh mint which leaves a palpable tingling sensation on the skin. I love mint in fragrances but it can often smell very synthetic (Versace Eros) or be lost within the other notes (Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme). Not here though. It's front an center and smells incredible for about 30 mins As it moves to the mid and dry-down the mint pulls back but is still noticeable, and the ADP Colonia DNA comes to the fore. Now citruses, petitigrain and lavender are blending in to make a really classy and sophisticated barbershop fougere. It probably works better in it's intended environment of coastal Mediterranean rather than colder northern climates TBH. You do get a bit of the ambergris and musk in the drydown but after 3 hours this has lost most of it's potency and is a fresh and clean skin scent. I'm in my 30s and on a cool spring day in a shirt and shades by the coast this fragrance makes me feel like a million dollars. It's classy and sophisticated and one I'll have in my collection forever.

Green with Envy..!! Certainly the mantra of this beautiful creation from Acqua di Parma... I preface this review stating I am a huge fan of the Acqua di Parma line, housing several in my stable of fragrances. The Colonia Club edition is a blend of mint, citrus, and floral notes where the end product is a nicely done fragrance that I find intriguing and appealing. Acknowledging some of the negative reviews, this fragrance is not for everyone. Sample it prior to purchasing the bottle – AdP has historically been quite generous providing samples to inquiring minds (and noses..). I would offer that Colonia Club tends to have more of a masculine vibe, but for those that like a feminine fragrance, but daring to try something out of the comfort zone – go for it..!! You may like it..!! Additionally, I would suggest CC may appeal to a more mature audience. When wearing this gem today, I was reminded of more dated and distinguished fragrances from yesteryears gone by. Oh, to reminisce... (where did all the years go? – but I digress..) My final tally for Colonia Club is 4.2 stars out of 5. I am a fan of Acqua di Parma. That said, while Colonia Club is not my favorite in this line, it does offer something different which I like. It is very appealing, distinguished, and worthy of a test drive... For those who are “Green with Envy”, definitely recommend adding to your collection. Enjoy your day and Happy Fragrance Hunting...

Got a bottle of this.. another blind buy (nearly all of my purchases are and because I bought essenza a few weeks ago and I really like it) ... and I’ve gotta say that, although I only applied it 10 minutes ago for the first time, I really like it. Fresh, green, cooling Citrus and mint.. and yes, as others have pointed out it really does have a cooling effect on your skin. I have Essenza as well and I really like that too, and I’m surprised to say it, but I think even in this early stage, I like Club equally if not more than essenza... it’s got a really nice zing to it. It’s funny.... A few weeks ago after purchasing essenza I sprayed it a couple of times on my neck/collar area and then a few minutes later put a couple of pieces of peppermint chewing gum in my mouth and started chewing.. the mint from the chewing gum mixed with the essenza in my throat/nasal passages and it smelt like a really minty fresh boosted mix of essenza and I thought “they should add mint to this essenza stuff”... well now I know that with Club they already have!.. Can’t stop smelling my wrist and I’m looking forward to seeing what the dry down is like and how long it lasts on my skin.. hopefully as long/or even longer than essenza...

When first sprayed, it actually has a cooling effect on the skin! It perfectly compliments the smell. This is country club gentleman all the way. It's fresh without trying to be fresh, if that makes sense. Not in-your-face fresh. It's my favorite "green" scent. There's a hint of mint, too. Others here describe it well. Easily office friendly, very professional. No one could flat out hate it! It's one of the few fragrances out there that I smelled in the store and thought about for months how I really wanted it, sparingly spraying my tiny sample and feeling as giddy about it each time as I did the first. Finally saw it half-off from an authorized retailer, and I pulled the trigger; should've bought the 100 mL. I should add that I own over 50 fragrances, including from high-end heavy-hitters Tom Ford, Creed, Clive Christian, Giorgio Armani Prive, By Kilian, etc.... And if I'm being honest, few of them blew me away the first time like this does and still does. Longevity is better for me than people here. 7-12 hours. 5 hours if I'm getting really hot. Perfectly acceptable for a fresh fragrance that isn't even an EDP. 10/10 scent, 9.5/10 longveity, 10/10 sillage and performance. Highly recommend, blind buy worthy.

I love mint in fragrances , I have nearly run out of my PDM Sedley so ive been looking for a possible replacement. As Sedley is hard to find here in the UK for a reasonable price, it smells great but not £200 great! I tested colonia club side by side with essenza. The minty greenness in club is just perfection. Essenza would be ideal for a guy abit older who possibly wears suits to the office, I usually dress more smart casual. Anyway I put Colonia club on for a daytime date and the women I met couldn't stop sniffing me and while outside she kept trying to catch whiffs in the wind. She said it was the best scent she has ever smelt on a man ! Considering Colonia Club flies under the radar and is not spoke about much on youtube, it can be found at discounters at a great price. I can get like 2-3 bottles of club for the same price as 1 bottle of Sedley, I actually think Club smells of slightly higher quality. I think I have found my new minty signature scent 10/10

Solid fragrance even if it is pretty far gone departure from the Colonia DNA. That initial burst of mint and citrus is accompanied on a bed of lavender dominated herbs (reminiscent of a Platinum Egoiste (I can see where the GIT comparison comes in) theme) giving it a bit of sweetness in a nice mint julep type of a feel with a pretty high grade of ambroxan that can totally pass as a ambergris. Why more designers don’t go this route for their ambroxan boggles my mind. For those lamenting the discontinuation of this fragrance, Polo Cologne Intense in my mind is a more than suitable replacement for this. Materials are a bit lower quality (niche vs designer) and the prominent mint note is backed by a fresh airy violet leaf dominant herbs rather than fresh sweet lavender dominant herbs in CLUB. Overall not entirely dissimilar, even though they are 6 years part. Wouldn’t surprise me if Carlos Benaim took inspiration for Polo Cologne Intense with CLUB

I love mint in fragrances but find it quite a difficult note to pull off well. It either evaporates within minutes or smells like chewing gum. ADP got as close as possible to a really great mint/green fragrance with this one. There is something a bit dewy, redolent of the new greenness of spring, that is captured here. I understand the GIT references- Colonia Club definitely draws inspiration from that classic, but it is miles better than the cheapie clones like Aspen, Tres Nuit, etc. This one avoid the chemical mess that those two eventually devolve into. Strange that ADP labels this as unisex. It is definitely based on a classic and well-known masculine fragrance DNA, but whatever. With the moderate price this goes for on discounter sites, its a great spring/summer option. A modernized take on a classic scent profile, it may skew a bit mature but it just smells nice and fresh with a bit of mellow haziness underneath.

This is for those who want a side by side comparison between C.L.U.B. and the OG. Both are beautiful fragrances, the kind you'd smell at a country club. Scent-wise, the vintage version is dryer, more mature, and perhaps commanding more respect. The reinterpretation is sweeter, softer and more modern. Think of it this way. You go to a country club and there's a fine gentleman in his 50s, and his 25 years old son. Both are dressed for their age. The more seasoned gentleman is wearing the vintage CLUB, while his son is wearing C.L.U.B. If you can get your hands on the old version, get it. And add the new one to your collection as well. They don't exclude each other, neither do they complete each other. They're simply two very beautiful fragrances that should be in every modern gentleman's collection.

The opening of Colonia Club is very reminiscent of Issey Miyake’s original L’eau d’Issey - lots of old school bright citrus notes, nice on their own - but AdP’s offering really comes into its own when the mint leaves come forward - really well crafted, crisp and green and fresh - that is backed up by a lovely smooth vetiver just at ‘the back of the room.’ I can see this being applied post-sauna at a clubhouse, just before Cocktail Hour. It has decent projection, even in colder weather - my girlfriend could smell it at arms length even in a sharp wind - so drinks on the veranda on a cold evening won’t kill it. A few sprays lasted close to 6 hours on my skin on a cold January day/evening. Colonia Club is definitely one of the better of Acqua di Parma's more recent offerings.

Read reviews before buying a fragrance, but take them with a grain of salt. Everyone has their own opinion regarding smells. Some people love it. Some people hate it. My advice is for you to get a sample of ANY fragrance before you ever buy it. That way, you can assess it yourself and have your thoughts, rather than strictly going off someone else's thoughts and opinions. A fresh, minty, "green irish", classy, casual, soapy, daytime fragrance. Usually, when people hear "green Irish" or shower gel, they think of "gym" or "bro" fragrances like Green Irish Tweed. Personally, I WOULD NOT say that Colonia Club is a "gym" or "bro" fragrance, but it takes out of that DNA--I just think this is a refined, gentlemanly, classy fresh fragrance. I love it.

I'm impressed! Colonia Club is essentially Aqua Di Parma's answer to Yves Saint Laurent's take on Barbasol shaving cream - Rive Gauche. This is the Italian version, inspired by Proraso. Super fresh and masculine and dare I say a little sexy. Colonia Club shares that magic with Rive Gauche where it smells very fresh but also slightly dirty and macho at the same time. High quality too, and that mint top note... probably the best mint note I've smelled in a fragrance to date and the fragrance evolves nicely from there, definitely no boring linear scent here. If you like Rive Gauche or similar fresh fragrances like Green Irish Tweed, you'll almost certainly like this. If you also like Italian scents in general, I can pretty much guarantee it.

Big LOVE for me i'm 31 and I love this stuff it's green,it's fresh wearing this is making a statement it smells luxury and class if you look at the top of this page you'll see people riding horses/playing polo...that's that kind of vibe green fresh luxurious forest vibe I thing I could wear this indoors but outdoors is where it becomes magnificent gives you a nice scent bubble and a nice silage when the catches it longevity in high heat humid sunny day is around 3h guess it will be more in temperatures below 38C definitely not for every one sample first 8/10 This and Armani eau de cedre are my favorite ''forest'' vibe but the Armani is a beast going in a totally different path

Colonia Club from Acqua di Parma is one of my biggest fragrance discoveries in 2021. One of a kind masterpiece, and still a hidden gem. The genius inclusion of Ambergris in the old-school green scent genre from the 1970s is what takes Colonia Club on a whole new level, and makes it contemporary, unlike the original 1916 edition. To my nose, mint dominates the fragrance, and that salty note is to die for. Thankfully, the saltiness is not amplified as in for example Profumum Roma Acqua di Sale and is closer to something we have already seen in Giorgio Armani's Acqua di Gio Profumo or Tom Ford's Costa Azzurra. Read the full review on scentgrail.com

Got a spray at Niemans the other day. Definitely agree that this smells like GIT at first but with a slight menthol and mint overtone which makes it a little more harsh. There were a few times in the first hour that it sort of reminded me of a urinal cake. It wasn't too off-putting and didn't last long, but I definitely had that moment where you go, i recognize that smell, I wonder what it is... oh, now I remember. After dry down, it was too powdery for me and my wife hated it, so it's a no-go but it was close. I liked the forst 2/3, but the base lost me. Could see wearing it if spending a lot of time outdoors though.

Very refreshing for the spring. Love the mint. It has a cooling effect on skin. As with most ADP's and most frags in general, I just decant and respray when I'm going out. As other reviewers have mentioned, there is a creamyness to it. I don't think it would be that off-putting in hotter weather, although there are probably better options for the high heat. Definitely ideal for casual spring wear. Discontinued, so get it while you can. I've recently started using the Irish Spring shower gel and deodorant stick. Club blends quite well with that scent profile. I always feel clean and confident wearing this juice.

Colonia Club Acqua di Parma is becoming one of my favorite Spring time scents. I'm sad it took me so long to get my nose of this fragrance. The herbal touches are reminiscent of Ralph Lauren Polo Green or Creed's Green Irish Tweed, but this is much more modern while still maintaining class. The scent is not as deep or as much of a "powerhouse" as the 1980's fougeres. I guess it could be worn by women, but this leans a bit more masculine to me. It's a cooling somewhat mentholated green herbal masterpiece. The mint is so authentic. Reminds me of smelling a fresh mint leaf picked from a garden, minus the dirt.

This was a blind buy, and boy am I glad! It's a beautiful blend of mint, citrus, and floral notes. The star of the show is definitely the mint, it hits you front-and-center and stays with you all the way until it settles into vetiver and a bit of musk. I get good longevity and sillage with this, and receive compliments every time I wear it. I personally prefer it as an evening fragrance, but that may be just me. I've read some reviews below that compare it with Proraso and other old-school barber scents, but I don't see it. Those are more eucalyptus/menthol, while this is mint all the way (and then some!).