Acqua di Colonia

Bright, sweet-but-not-cloying citrus. Darkened just barely by a smooth, warm herbal accord in the background. Juicy at first, after an hour it becomes a little drier, greener and spicier. Lasts 4-6 hours. Very summery and happy. The truly wonderful thing about it is the connection to Caterina de'Medici, 14 years old, impossibly wealthy, "small of stature, and thin, and without delicate features, but having the protruding eyes peculiar to the Medici family" according to contemporaries. This was, of course, created for her as a wedding present by the Dominican monks of Santa Maria Novella. The French court loved it on her so much, they decided to start wearing perfume, too. And the rest is history. The rest of her historical legacy as France's dowager queen is... less fun, more brutal. For me, it creates the kind of transportive experience particular to the olfactory. What a thing, to delight in what she delighted in, 500 years ago. It makes you feel your humanity. More pragmatically, I'll sometimes put a splash of this on to brighten up a fragrance that feels a little too dour on any given day. Gauche, I'm sure, but it functions as the perfect citrus top note.

Acqua di Colonia is the best of the eau de cologne genre that I personally have ever encountered. I used to live in Florence and I vividly remember lusting after this and Zagara during one of the hottest summers on record there as I could smell them on passersby and any time I passed the shop. Today I got the chance to smell and wear this again, and it lived up to my memories. Acqua di Colonia is a joyous burst of fresh citrus that grows more complexly herbal, green, spicy and round as it dries down. It is one of the few fragrances that I can actually smell all the listed notes. Absolutely unisex, uplifting, and calming. This is wearable aromatherapy. This is a time capsule. This is eau de cologne at its best.

@ Gigi the Fashionista- Bergamot is not coming from Bergamo, but from southern Italy. I am from near Bergamo and, of course, Italian. Anyhow, this fragrance is nothing short of a good quality old fashioned Cologne. It was created for Caterina de Medici as Gigi says and the formula has unvaried so far, a part from some add ons of the now omnipresent Farnesol and bla bla bla. Nothing more to add and nothing to substract to what's been said so far. I'd like to point out one thing only. No one can say that this reminds of 4711 , TF Portofino or other ones: it is all those others that smell like SMN, as this came first, and a long time ago

I got a second-hand bottle of Santa Maria Novella Muschio Oro with 30ml left a few weeks ago. It's my first time trying something of Santa Maria Novella, and I have to say that it is wonderful. What should I describe it? Gloomy and bitter appears at the top notes, then turns soft? Pure scent of musk lasts from beginning to end? No, it's not enough to express my feeling of it. It quiets me in the sweltering summer heat during the day, it comforts me into sleep at night. Musk is a note said to be horny. Maybe it is, since it fits in with the skin. I am fascinated by Santa Maria Novella, and I want to try more fragrance of this brand.

S. Maria Novella has an exquisite aroma of citrus/powdery/floral vib making it addictive. This juice has a real clean green aroma from neriol and a very citrusy lemon note. Longevity and Silage is at best moderate lasting 6hrs. Overall, This fragrance with several notes is a complex blend coming together making it ABSOLUTELY ATTRACTIVE as a unisex juice. I pick up other floral notes besides lavender and jasmine. As a blind purchase, I didn't know if this line, I wasn't sure if I was going to be impressed with this fragrance's...I am The only tiny downside is the longevity....7.5/10

This is THE scent of classic Italian Colonia. Unfortunately, the longevity is basically non-existent, even if sprayed on fabric. Really more of a "splash" than an EDC, which is authentic, but a major detractor considering the price point. I prefer this scent to Acqua di Parma's similar Colonia (which also has poor longevity, but still better than this), but considering the longevity, would have to recommend the ADP for someone looking for the classic Italian, unless you've got money to burn and don't mind reapplying every half hour.

A lovely neroli scent. Santa Maria Novella has several neroli-based fragrances, and they all smell wonderful. I think it’s a unisex scent. It’s a pleasant, soothing fragrance. The sillage is low: 9/10,

I think I just discovered what heaven smells like.

I love fresh citrus unisex scents. I find that out this particular scent has a more herbal quality to it than compared to Acqua di Parma Colonia and that Montale Soleil de Capri is more citrusy and feminine compared to both of those. The Santa Maria Novella Original/Colonia definitely leans towards the masculine for me and is slightly medicinal. It's nice for a hot day. Unfortunately, it does not last that long on me or have considerable silage. Not surprising since the formula is supposedly unchanged. I mostly bought it because I love the story and it does make a beautiful gift or memento if you're able to visit the original Santa Maria Novella shop in Florence.

I bought this one because of the historical significance, and I'm using it because it smells very, very good. One of the best citruses I've encountered. I smell the beach and ocean, but without the salt. More like a fresh, cool breeze while lounging under a lemon tree. Longevity is great for a cologne (like most fragrances from this house) and is on an EDT+ level. Considering this, "Acqua della Regina" (Water of the Queen), was made for Catherine de Medici, you can't help but feel you're wearing perfume history. That in itself is pretty mind-blowing if you ask me. Not only one of the best citruses I've smelled, but one of the best perfumes I've tried, ever.

The quintessential eau de cologne in all it's classic splendor. Bright, fresh citrus with a herbaceous note. Lovely, but as with all such fragrances, very limited longevity.

Smell like a Medici queen. Confusingly this one has three different names: Acqua della Regina , Acqua di Santa Maria Novella and Acqua di Colonia , but then it has been in production for almost half a millennium. Opens as a bergamot bomb with a large slug of neroli, underneath lavish spicy cloves almost balsamic and a waft of green rosemary and petitgrain. I don't detect much lavender (and lavender-detection is my superpower). A musk and patchouli base. It's that great bergamot opening and the cloves in the dry down — used in other S Maria Novella classics like Marescialla and Pot Pourr i — that make this one worth investigating.

This one, I bought when visiting Florenze this easter. My first SMN cologne (I do have different home fragranzes witch I have loved for years, and can ́t live without) In this cologne though- I do not even like the scent, I just love the history of the brand, and what better pice to have than this... It is truly the one piece im feeling proud to have in my (small, but growing) collection, and the first one I have, just because of a love- here for the history of Santa Maria Novella and Florenze. The scent, for me is not that great. The citrus and floral is a wicked mix, at least "back in the days". It is what it is, and it is old. But what a brand! And what a history

Fragrance Review For Acqua Di Colonia Santa Maria Novella Top Notes Bergamot Orange Lemon Tangerine Neroli Middle Notes Rosemary Lavender Petit Grain Cloves Base Notes Benzoin Created in 1533 by Italian friars in a convent on the occasion of the wedding of Queen Catherine De Medici and the French King Henri who, was not at all in love with her and kept a mistress, the beautiful Diane de Poitiers, this fragrance is a huge step back in time to the Renaissance period. This is the scent of the Italian Renaissance and as an Italian American I am proud to wear this fragrance. For me it's like wearing a piece of Italian history and my heritage. My ancestors hail from Bergamo in Northern Italy. Bergamo is where the bergamot orange comes from. The bergamot note in perfumery is one of the most commonly and traditionally used of any note. The scent is unisex as it's a citrusy skin freshner. It's still a perfume but it smells of citrus toilet water. It would have been worn by both men and women of the Italian Renaissance. This does not have a luxurious air because it's really quite simple, even pastoral. It smells of being outdoors in orange groves and has a gigantic neroli. The neroli takes over the fragrance although unfortunately it has a weaker projection. For a more full bodied neroli that still smells like this ancient historic cologne check out Tom Ford Neroli Portofino. Neroli Portofino is quite similar to this scent so I'm wondering if Mr. Ford was browsing through the rare and old colognes in the Santa Maria Novella shop in Italy. This scent has a pastoral rosemary and lavender with a spicy rustic air. Smells like peasants made this perfume for themselves but the monks stole the formula and they opted to sell it exclusively to the aristocracy. Monks and nuns were the first true perfumers and noses. They were familiar with all the different scents in nature: neroli, oranges, roses, jasmine, lavender, and woods. They would create their own fragrances which were simple soliflores or toilete water made up of rosewater, lavender and neroli. This one is a fresh citrus that lifts your spirits and helps you feel good all day. It's perfect for wearing just after your shower or bath. As a unisex scent, it's neither too sweet and powdery/feminine nor too strong and masculine. It's medicinal as well. Smells like a citrusy medicine. Acqua di Colonia is simple but enjoyable as an every day fragrance. Wear this if you like the citrus based frags like: 4711 Eau de Collogne by Maurer & Wirtz Florida Water by Murray & Lanman Tosca by Maurer & Wirtz Neroli Portofino by Tom Ford

Its history intrigued me to investigate this one and I love it just as much as Caterina de Medici did. It's fresh, clean, and classic and suits all times of the day. The opening feels like a fresh waterfall with citrus and there is a white floral dry-down that carries through the day. Another great feature is that it lasts and doesn't need to be reapplied multiple times. If you are a fan of 4711 or Guerlain Imperiale and are ready to upgrade, this one is for you. Well worth the price.

This isn't bad, but I'm getting a soapy and slightly medicinal scent. It's not unpleasant, but more of a masculine fragrence than I usually go for. Once I've finished the small sample I have, I don't think I'll be spending the money for a whole bottle.

I went to a Santa Maria Novella boutique and the salesperson said this one was rebranded and repacked with the name “Acqua della Regina”, but I wasn’t sure about that information. Couldn’t find any bottle that looked like this one in the picture ;-(

Lovely cologne. Expensive, but the best. The other versions are wonderful too, I have the Caprifoglio and the orange flower too, but the the queen's cologne as it was called is the original and the best.

I really wanted to like this one, but as with other fragrances from this house, it is definitely not my cup of tea. Especially this one. It smells just like mosquito repellent from beginning to end.

Its very fresh. Neroli aroma is perfect. I like it. But it doesn't last at all! 30 min top - everything is gone, this perfume even doesn't sit close to the skin. Disappointing.

Not a review. I was watching Ripley on Netflix and decided to research this scent. Even with the mixed reviews, I think I'm going to buy this for my girlfriend.

@reasonablenose ditto, and ditto lmao, sorry for the 'no review' I hate it when people do exactly what im doing, so double sorry :)

I can't believe that some people are surprised to find that a cologne made 500 years ago would smell dated lol

Purple floral! Smelled like a kind of soap that I often use to wash certain types of clothes.

Absolutely perfect cologne. Citrus and neroli, fresh and clean. One of my favourites.

You can't get anymore old school then this