Acqua Della Regina

It's really amazing how much of an effect the marketing of a fragrance can have on people's perception of it. This fragrance is a perfect example of that here on Fragrantica. This is the exact same fragrance as the one listed as Acqua di Colonia on this site (also known as Acqua di Santa Maria Novella). That one is perceived as a unisex fragrance, even leaning slightly masculine according to the votes, but because this one is mistakenly labeled as a woman's fragrance, it is perceived as decidedly more feminine. Maybe because the word "Regina" (queen) is in it, people think this is for a woman. This was not made for Queen Caterina de' Medici; she asked for a fragrance that she could gift to her husband, King Henry II, for their wedding. Santa Maria Novella says this themselves on their website. They decided to give the classic colonia its original name for the 800th anniversary of the monastery in 2021. I would suggest that Fragrantica change this from a woman's fragrance to unisex, because I'm sure there are a lot of men who would like this, but may think it's too feminine and so miss out on this beautiful fragrance. If you're a fan of classic cologne fragrances, then you will probably like this one, as simply put, it is the ancestor of all colognes. I would describe it as a combination of 4711 and Acqua di Parma, but I think it is closer to Acqua di Parma Essenza. It is not as fruity as 4711, but at the same time it is not as floral / green as Acqua di Parma Essenza. It is somewhere in between, and I think this is the perfect balance. It's hard to recommend this to someone unless they absolutely love old style colonia fragrances because the performance is really not great. I would say projection and longevity are slighlty longer than 4711, but slightly less than something like Acqua di Parma.

When you thought you know it all, this diamond comes along. Imagine someone with well over 100 💯 fragrances to choose from totally excited about this royal gift to himself. The ingredient list is short, so there is no doubt that they are of the highest quality. Fresh, clean and absolutely delicious and perfect. When you thought the British fragrance houses had it down in terms of a perfect citrusy cologne, think again. No funkiness during the lifespan of this wonderful fragrance. It’s royal thru and thru. I’m deeply impressed and humbled to have discovered the brand and the many colognes that they offer. Acqua Della Regina is great all around and fit for any occasion. You will absolutely love it. Thank me later. “Fragrance for Women” makes me smile. Fragrantica displaying lack of energy. If you like my thoughts, hit the like 👍 button.

Currently I’m studying abroad in Florence and I wanted to get a scent to remind me of the city. I really adored this one out of all the choices Santa Maria Novella had and it smells like lemon verbena to me. It is definitely up there with some of my loves but I wouldn’t ever put this in my top 5 and I probably wouldn’t repurchase just because the lasting power isn’t great. I maybe get 2-4 hours out of it and I have freshies that can last all day on me. So overall it’s a lovely perfume that just has lasting issues. I recommend checking it out though. This reminds me of royalty. It is citrusy with the lemon verbena and lavender like as it dries down. It makes me think of Jason from the Percy Jackson Series funnily enough. I’m not entirely sure why? It just does.

This is not just an ordinary cologne — it’s a piece of history, a living heritage. But above all, it’s a mood-lifter, a true emotional reset. It’s a high-quality citrus–herbal composition. The fruits are distinctly tart, slightly bitter, while the herbs are aromatic and carry subtle medicinal nuances. And somehow, this very combination brings an immediate sense of calm and relief — it soothes the nerves, relaxes the mind, and creates a feeling of inner balance. The projection and longevity are moderate, but reapplication becomes a pleasure in itself — a small ritual of self-care, a conscious pause, a moment to breathe and return to yourself. Something truly beautiful — worth knowing, owning, and wearing.

Zesty, juicy citruses and biting petitgrain burst off the top, leading into a herbal heart centered around a slightly soapy neroli. A little floral, green, aromatic. Not quite aquatic, though the juiciness of the fruits give it a similar watery texture. The quintessential fresh and vibrant eau de cologne, but with a hint of warm spicy undertones from the clove. Soft projection for 2-3hr, longevity 5-6hr. Scent-wise, this is at the top of my list for a classic cologne-style fragrance. It has the performance to match, unfortunately, but so it goes with this style of fragrance.