Acqua Essenziale Colonia

Just picked up a bottle of this for $14 at Marshals! So far, this is the epitome of a barbershop scent in my opinion. Fresh, but not too much citrus, manly, deep, lots of interesting notes pulling your nose in multiple directions. This is great! It shares a lot of similarities with Replica At The Barber's, and the sage note reminds me of At The Barber's basil note. I originally sold Dior Sauvage in favor of At The Barber's, but this is so similar to ATB, that I might sell At The Barber's in favor of this! (That's not to say that this is similar to Sauvage, because it isn't.) We'll see which I keep after some wearing, but this is a great manly fresh scent so far! How anybody could label this as unisex, I have NO idea! (And that's coming from a man who will openly wear women's perfumes without an ounce of shame). Update: Two hours in, and the water note is finally taking precedence, while it was heavily shrouded by the sage note, originally. Now I'm noticing a VERY SLIGHT similarity to John Varvatos Artisan, which is not a bad thing. The other notes are still present and keeping this scent mature and manly. Final update: Four hours in, and the projection is gone and the scent is now just an unrecognizable skin scent of fresh water notes. Still there, but not enough to be noticed. Unfortunately the performance is a bit abysmal on my skin, but at its price, it's one that you can respray on your lunch break without any guilt. Final Update: Decided to keep this one and part with At The Barber's. This is a no brainer scent, and while not my favorite genre, or favorite scent in the genre for that matter, this scent will scratch the itch just fine for whenever I'm in the mood for a clean barbershop type scent. (And it's cheaper than the others too!) Also - I don't like AdP Colonia, but I do like this, obviously.

First let me start off by saying I can understand how this scent could throw quite a few people off. This scent reminded me of Bright Neroli by Ferrari, which is strange because there is no neroli in this, but it has kind of the same vibe going on. Years ago I also purchased 4711 and loved it because of its freshness but the performance was horrible. Shortly after I went back to my Ferrari bright Neroli bottle and started to understand it and appreciate it way more over time, so much so I picked up a few other bottles. Anyway, I’m telling you all of this just for context about my struggle with these types of scents. When people say it smells like an old lady I think they mean like an old ladies attic, you know, the mothballs thing. That’s what I equated Ferrari’s scent to, mothballs.. However, something strange happened to my senses after wearing 4711 for a few months, I started loving it, and when I ran out I went to Ferrari’s bright neroli more and more, and then it was one of my most beloved fresheis for spring and summer rotations. I think what I’m trying to say here is if you like 4711 Eau de cologne but hate the performance of that, think of this as 4711 on steroids. Sure it’s slightly different but not by much. To my nose this has the herbal feel that most Salvatore Ferragamo scents have and has a touch of sweetness in the top and mid that I find the other 2 colognes I’ve mentioned are missing. This is everything I could wanted for this type of scent, some much needed punch and staying power. Solid 9/10 for me. You need to let this stuff grow on you, and I promise the compliments will start rolling in. It’s winter over here and I’m wearing this even in the winter, and I’m doing just fine with it.

Don't judge this one on the opening, which is an astringent blast. Give it a good minute to settle and you'll smell a subtle sour sweetness of juicy bergamot. As it dries the clary sage and orange blossom start to come out more. Some will read this combo as "urinal cake" but it's very well blended and calls to mind classic Italian colognes in the vein of AdP. The lavender starts to become apparent after a while, say an hour later. Mixed with the neroli/orange blossom you get the impression of fresh laundry blowing on a clothesline on a sunny day. It gets a hint of powder to it, but never becoming a powdery scent. The base is ambrox done right. It's less the intense bombs of blue fragrances of the last 10 years and more in a tobacco-y ambergris sort of way. It's around from the early stages and quite nice for the price you pay. The coumarin adds a hint of sweetness while never being overt, and the vetiver keeps a sour, slightly salty vibe through the far drydown. Vetiver, orange blossom/neroli, and a slight hint of bergamot are most of what remain after about four hours and it remains somewhat close to the skin for another few hours after that. It's not listed, but I get a bit of patchouli in the far drydown, probably there to extend things out a bit longer. Essenziale Colonia certainly feels like a Morillas creation, and I'd even go so far as to say if Acqua di Gio were an Italian guy in his 20's, this Colonia is the same guy in his 40's. The ideas of Eau Sauvage mixed with Mugler Cologne are apt. I might say it more as AdP/Mugler, but that's splitting hairs. It's a more mature scent that a lot of 20's and 30's guys won't jibe with, but for those that click with it it's a gem in the price range.

Salvatore Farragamo Acqua Essenziale Colonia EDT To my nose: This opens with a very soapy mix of clary sage and neroli (orange blossom), with clary sage being dominant. As it dries down I get hints of soapy vetiver and lavender mixed with clary sage and neroli, making the whole thing smell like Italian soap (though clary sage is still the most dominant note). It's a very pleasant smell. I also detect watery notes throughout the whole thing, which I'm not sure were necessary for this type of fragrance. It has a very Italian 'colonia' type feel to it. On drydown I can also detect ambroxan. Ambroxan to my knowledge is a synthetic version of a very old perfume ingredient known as ambregris ('grey amber' in French), or whale vomit, which when aged smells very pleasant with an oceanic and mineralic undertone to it. Ambroxan has been used in a number of famous modern colognes, chief among them being Dior's Sauvage and Versace's Dylan Blue. The ambrox in this is there but it's muted (which I find particularly pleasant as too much ambrox as in Dylan Blue and Sauvage ends up oddly smelling like generic shower gel to me). Sillage is moderate while longevity is moderate leaning strong. The whole concoction in this fragrance ends up smelling like a fine Italian soap, and I actually enjoy it. Alberto Morillas (my favourite perfumer) was behind this fragrance, of famous names like Armani's Acqua di Gio, CK One, Carolina Harrera 212 Men, and Givenchy Pi. And he doesn't disappoint with this fragrance either, which is in the style of Acqua di Parma's Colonia but different. It has an old-school sort of feel to it that I really enjoy. 5/5

Light, airy and enigmatic. Opens citrussy. It's light and airy. Aromatic and a bit waxy on the skin. Clean, a little zesty and "rindy." Tiny bit green, then becomes fruity and smells a bit like "Skittles." Turns watery, remains airy, gets tangy. Aquatic notes are quite salty and marine like but overall it's still fruity (maybe some pineapple?) Base has some vetiver, maybe faint notes of melon? Some very light musk. Still clean and a fraction spicy. The Clary sage is noticeable as the scent warms off the skin. This isn't a strong fragrance, not that the performance is bad, just that it is constructed to resemble a traditional cologne and so is light with occasional wafts. Inoffensive and safe for the office, fine all year but is designed for the heat. More masculine. Performance is enigmatic, others will smell it longer than the wearer. Good projection for at least 2hrs, skin scent no more than 3-4hrs. Smells like the sea in a pleasant, synthetic way. The actual smell of the sea can be quite sulphurous, this is more like an idealised aroma of the Med. Has a passing resemblance to "CK One" and "Cool Water" and is closer to Creed "Millesime Imperial" more than "Himalaya." This is decent for the right price but wouldn't pay over the odds for it. I really like it though.

This is a very good scent that's managed to more or less fly under the radar. Colonia starts out with a sharp kick of fresh bergamot over a clean, soapy heart of clary sage. Think of citrus notes and lavender, but with an added dimension of sweetness. Everything is encompassed in an aquatic sheen, radiating a translucent, aqueous aura, taking this beyond your standard herbal-aromatic. In fact, Colonia is a great marriage of the two concepts--aquatic and aromatic--and should satisfy fans of both styles. What results is a sophisticated Italian-style citrus fragrance for men; sharp in the beginning, though smooth and comfortable thereon; traditional yet completely modern. The foundation of tonka, vetiver, and ambroxan makes for a solid and somewhat sweet woody base. While this particular style of base has become rather ubiquitous, it's very well done here and makes for a seamless conclusion. The Acqua Essenziale family is surprisingly good. With its well-crafted structure and above average performance, Colonia is perhaps the best of all, providing a crisp and elegant option to the lineup. Recommended as a blind buy for fans of aquatics and Italian citrus colognes, and those searching for a versatile warm weather fragrance. Thumbs up!

The opening note combo is 100% classic '70s Paco Rabanne mixed with Dial bar soap, and I LOATHE it. So, when I sprayed it on (the morning after I bought it), I was immediately about to go wash it off. But, suddenly, as I frantically waved my arm about, trying to clear the air with my non-tainted wrist, this light touch of orangey lavender wafted past, and I thought, "Whoa, where was that from?" Being kind of thick that early in the morning, I did not immediately realise it was the fragrance I'd just sprayed, and instead, I tried to follow the smell. Five minutes of stupid later, I reflexively scratched my nose with my scented hand, and, lo and behold, that lovely aroma was coming from my own wrist, where, buried under the '70s nose-bomb opening, was this lovely spring-summer freshness. Colour me stunned (which is a shade of rainbow, accented with dark clear, or so I've been told). A mid-afternoon warm breeze carrying orange, lavender, and the smell of clean laundry, with a distant whiff of the sea. That's this scent in a nutshell (after that atrocious opening), and It's officially in the rotation because it's that good. ...I just need a nose plug for the first 5 minutes.

I purchased this Salvatore Ferragamo Acqua Essenziale Colonia years ago from the bargain bin as a gift. I was shocked to discover that it immediately reminded me of Acqua Di Parma. I was however never able to pinpoint which Acqua Di Parma it was, so long story short I just picked up a bottle of Colonia for myself. It's the first Ferragamo fragrance to capture my attention & of course, it's now discontinued. This fragrance opens up with a fresh blast of bergamot & aquatic notes. A herbal woody backbone of sage, lavender & vetiver is felt immediately. The ambroxan & tonka bean temper the citrusy, herbal aspects lending a bit of a creamy, muskiness that leaves a clean pleasant drydown. What I love about Colonia is how it takes that classic Italian barbershop DNA ala Acqua Di Parma but makes it palatable for todays audience. Still a touch mature, but not dated. Colonia smells very Italian, very masculine, very classy. I wore it today, in the fall, & it held up great but I'm sure it would do well in the warmer seasons as well. I'm excited to get to know Colonia better, but this Italian gem will definitely remain in my collection!

I am not familiar with any of the other Salvatore Ferragamo Acqua Essenziale fragrances but a family member now owns a bottle of this Acqua Essenziale Colonia so this is my first impression of this new fragrance.. Acqua Essenziale Colonia opens up very bright, fresh, & invigorating! Lots of citrusy bergamot, & some aquatic notes make the opening.. In the heart some lavender becomes detectable along with some sage, & a hint of orange blossom.. Ambroxan in the base along with a touch of tonka add a slight sweetness to the dry down while vetiver adds masculinity.. Acqua Essenziale Colonia is a very nice spring/summer fragrance especially for the price.. This fragrance definitely does not smell like something that can be had for so cheap, matter of fact it reminds me of something from the niche house of Acqua di Parma.. Acqua Essenziale Colonia smells very Italian, the way a real "Colonia" should smell, I definitely recommend this fragrance, great quality for a very affordable price..

Smells like a refined, chic Italian barbershop! This is easily one of my best finds in the last 12 months or so. Italian fragrances in general are a favorite of mine and this is one of the very best I've found. Dry yet smooth, slightly crisp and metallic but not sharp or cold. It definitely has a barbershop vibe and I love that about it! Antonpan's review is bang-on. What I get out of this is some citruses, lavender, a very smooth vetiver background and maybe a tiny aquatic vibe (but you'd never in a million years mistake this for an aquatic), florals and ambroxan. Tonka adds a slight sweetness. The result is very masculine. Performance is good and this does not smell cheap. I can see why some might find a slight resemblance with Himalaya, but this is far superior IMO. Also similar to ADP Colonia but I prefer this one, and it lasts longer. Ferragamo has several impressive fragrances but this one may have impressed me the most. Definite try if you like this genre.

My batch number comes back to being almost nine years old. I say this because the scent trail on this batch is monstrous, and the performance is good. Acqua Essenziale Colonia is unlike its siblings in the Acqua Essenziale line, and there is a noticeable difference in its use of citrus and aromatics. Colonia opens and cuts through the air like a piercing knife; the scent starts with very sharp citrus and aromatic qualities. As the fragrance hits its middle, you are encountered with a white floral, which stays in the bright direction. As the fragrance settles, you are left with a remarkable scent profile, which is excellent for warmer weather. If you have an older batch, don't make the same mistake I made and overspray. A beautiful woman told me that my fragrance smelled good, but she could taste the scent ... the bad part about all this was she was easily 8 feet away from me, and my fragrance invaded her nostrils. Don't be like me and overspray.

If you were thinking about buying a full bottle of ADP "Colonia", I highly suggest you rethink your decision. More on that later. Pretty basic bottle, good sprayer. This is definitely a "less is more" kind of deal. ADP "Colonia", a clone. A damn fine one, at that, with better performance. I love ADP, most of their fragrances, "Colonia" being one of them. I just can't justify the price tag on some when there is such a great alternative in Ferragamo "Colonia". It may not smell quite as realistic as the ADP but it's a damn fine clone. Citruses, a tad aquatic, herbal, a tad flowery but masculine. Soapy finish. This is a classic "cologne" done extremely well without the exorbitant price tag. Performance is killer, especially compared to the ADP. I get a consistent 7-8 hours out of it. Sillage is moderate. I could see this being a go-to work frag for all ages. Can work in all situations, really. Excellent stuff.

Fantastic composition,i wish i could get the USA prices like in marshals or tj max,its about 35USD here,but you know what,ill get it...its so amazing, beautiful bottle, heavy glass and nice metal plate in front.i get beautiful citruses with herbaceous qualities which is reminiscent of adp colonia, ferrari radiant bergamot,neroli portofino or 4711, all in same cologne style,Mediterranean sea side feel...fresh invigorating stuff, many people dont get very good performance, i got 4/5 hours in summer, im very happy with that, i definitely think its beautiful and much better than many expensive designer summer freshies... longevity&projection:7/10 smell:9/10 compliments:8/10 versatility:7/10(summer/springs only) age:a bit mature overall:8.5/10 a must try :)

So, it’s flowers clearly come from the structure of Salvador Ferragamo Pour Homme, AND UOMO. which I loved But was a little too feminine(personally), and UOMO was too spicy. This also smells like a mix between GIT Himalaya VIW and TOMMY Hilfiger (or UOMO). Somehow the juicyness is like acqua di parma or D&G ph. Along with the lingering floral wet sweet juicyness there’s a separation that is also dry transparent aromatic and spicy. The balance of the two fragrant categories fluctuate and at times overlap. This is my new favorite for summer, today. Simultaneously, this pulled off mocking so many other fragrances in one, for ex. Prada l’hommes slight soapy powder or Tom Ford grey vetiver without jeopardizing it’s own identity in full! Interesting.

I bought this because I was looking for a scent similar to Acqua di Parma Colonia with better longevity (and a lower price if I'm being honest). The 'reminds me of' for ADPC pointed me to this fragrance and I bought it blind in a sale. I'm not disappointed. It doesn't have the fierce orange opening of ADPC and it drys down to something altogether more modern and contemporary. It's trendily aquatic and citrussy and very close in personality to Versace Pour Homme (no bad thing in my book). Therefore, it's probably a better option than ADPC! I will be wearing this in rotation for work but it's a sophisticated fragrance that's also perfect for evening wear. A definite recommendation from me.

This a secret weapon that most people are completely overlooking. It’s created by the master himself, Alberto Morillas, and you can smell that genius in every spray! It gives you that ultra-clean, Italian barbershop vibe with bergamot, clary sage, and a beautiful orange blossom. It’s fresh, it’s soapy, and it’s miles ahead of other budget freshies because it actually smells expensive! It has that suave vibe that works perfectly in the office or on a summer date. But here is the catch, this fragrance is becoming harder and harder to find, maybe discontinued!? It’s a tragedy because it’s one of the best bang-for-your-buck fragrances ever made

Having used it repeatedly for the last couple of weeks, it's a very good soapy lemony/orange blossom scent for warm weather and definitely a welcome change from the usual aquatics. It's beautifully presented (the bottle especially is fantastically heavy glass with a nice heavy chrome top that has a white rubber ring inlay) but I found performance to be modest indeed needing heavy spraying and repeated top ups, even in warm weather. Being marketed as a cologne (colonia) even though it is actually an EdT, perhaps that's how it was meant to be, but I still find it disappointing from that aspect and so I wouldn't buy it again.

Extremely unique, not like anything else I own. It takes some time to get use to. At first it comes off very pungent and almost smells like an “old lady”, but the more I get my nose on it, the more I’m starting to appreciate it. Projection and longevity are beast mode when you get out in the sun. I would definitely suggest smelling before buying cause it’s not for everyone. Edit - this is growing on me so much. I constantly wanna smell it and always wanna wear it. Something about it is so addicting. Still might not be fore everyone, but you might fall in love with it. Give this one a good chance and try it more then once.

Not a big fan of Acqua colognes, BUT I came across a sample of Acqua Essenziale Colonia and gave it a try. My first thought was hey this is not bad, I may have found the 1st Acqua cologne I have ever liked. Tried again a few more times and hey this stuff is good, worth keeping. It is not like the zillions of other acqua colognes I have tried and trashed. Starts out a light acqua scent that quickly fades into a high quality masterpiece. Has a long longevity but stays close to the skin. Pretty unique and I find myself wanting to try it again and again. So if you are not a big fan of acqua colognes this might an exception!

Acqua Essenziale Colonia by Salvatore Ferragamo has a classy and mature scent profile. A younger guy could pull this off but I thinking it’s more suited to the older guys >40 years old. It’s perfect for hot summer days and has a slightly less Creed Green Irish Tweed feel about it which I really like. This is one of my first purchased fragrances only worn twice now. I wasn’t impressed the first time I wore it but this time?! It’s outstanding. It put me in a fantastic easy going mood. Like nothing can go wrong with my day sort of feeling. There is nothing synthetic about this fragrance and I’m really enjoying it.