Wearing This Perfume Makes Me Feel Like I Summer in Portofino, Tuscany and Capri
If you want to smell like you reside on the Amalfi Coast, you'll want to try Acqua di Parma's perfumes. These are our tried-and-tested favourites.


Perhaps my favourite part of wearing a perfume is the power it holds to transport you to a time and place. And my favourite place to visit is Italy. From Tuscany to Lake Como, every Italian region I've visited lingers in my mind, with memories evoked by scent. And for me, no other fragrance house captures these Italian scentscapes better than Acqua di Parma.
Founded in 1916 in the historic heart of Parma, this iconic Italian brand has become a quiet but powerful force in the world of luxury fragrance and is beloved by beauty editors and fashion insiders alike. What sets the brand apart is its deep-rooted connection to Italy’s diverse landscapes and Italian citrus notes. You'll find that many of the predominantly citrus fragrances nod to the essence of a different Italian region—from the sun-drenched citrus groves of Capri in Arancia di Capri, to the herbaceous Tuscan hills in Buongiorno. It's not just perfume, it’s a passport to Italy’s most treasured destinations. Truly, these are some of my favourite summer perfumes, ever.
While I might not be visiting Italy this year, I know I can easily travel there by wearing one of Acqua di Parma's scents. The only problem is landing on just one to wear. From iconic classics to new launches, I've been testing some of the best Acqua di Parma perfumes, and I've shared my thoughts below.
Best Acqua Di Parma Pefurmes
- Acqua di Parma Arancia Di Capri (£147)
- Acqua di Parma Fico d'Amalfi (£147)
- Acqua di Parma Buongiorno (£143)
- Acqua di Parma Colonia (£153)
- Acqua di Parma Colonia II Profumo (£143)
- Acqua di Parma Essenza di Colonia (£108)
- Acqua di Parma Peonia Nobile (£180
1. Acqua di Parma Arancia Di Capri
Key notes: Italian sweet orange, Italian mandarin, Italian lemon, petit grain, cardamom, caramel, musk
Wow, I'm not surprised that this is one of Acqua di Parma's bestsellers. While I've not yet visited Capri, it only takes one spritz of this scent and I'm there. It smells exactly like the first bite into a sweet, juicy orange slice. It's mouthwatering. Both sparkling and fresh, it transports you straight to a breezy Italian coastline, think a sparkling blue ocean framed by orange trees. I've totally fallen for it, and I'm not even that big on citrus scents. In fact, the first time I sprayed this, my boyfriend (who rarely notices new perfumes that I bring into my rotation) instantly asked what it was, and now we share the scent. If you're a lover of citrus perfumes, you'll adore it too.
2. Acqua di Parma Fico Di Amalfi
Key notes: Italian lemon, Italian bergamot, grapefruit, fig nectar, pink pepper, jasmine petals, fig wood, cedarwood, benzoin
Another in Acqua di Parma's Blue Mediterraneo collection (which is inspired by Italy's pictureesque coasts) is Fico di Amalfi. It was the very first Acqua di Parma scent I fell in love with, and I still think it's one of the best, especially if you love fig perfumes. It's fresh and sparkling, but the sun-ripened fig fruit and fig wood give it a deliciously creamy and woody greenness. It's fruity, but remains breezy and refreshing so it won't ever become cloying in the heat. It's a lazy afternoon with a gentle breeze and dappled sunshine in a bottle. To me, it's the perfect summer perfume if you want to feel like you're on the Amalfi Coast.
3. Acqua di Parma Buongiorno
Key notes: Lemon, spearmint, rosemary, basil, petitgrain , lavandin, mandarin leaves, cedarwood leaves, amber, white musks
One of Acqua di Parma's latest scents, Buongiorno, is inspired by the arrival of spring in the rolling hills of Tuscany. And it is a stunning aromatic perfume. Buongiorno — Italian for “good morning” — has quickly become my new go-to. Picture yourself emerging from a sun-drenched villa nestled in the sun-drenched Tuscan hills, the air thick with the scent of rosemary from the herb garden as the first light of day stretches across the landscape. It's green, refreshing and a little soapy— like a breath of fresh air after a serene spa retreat, with the soft whisper of lemon trees swaying nearby.
4. Acqua di Parma Colonia
Key notes: Lemon, sweet orange, Calabrian bergamot, lavender, rose, verbena, rosemary, vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli
Perhaps Acqua di Parma's most iconic scent is Colonia, the first of the brand's fragrances, which was originally created in 1916 and is rumoured to be one of Audrey Hepburn's favourite perfumes. And the original citrussy, aromatic scent remains a classic today. It was originally created as an antidote to the heavier perfumes from France and Germany at the time and drew upon Italy's sunny citrus notes, offering something much lighter and more refreshing cologne compared to its European counterparts' eau de parfums. It feels like a timeless, grown-up citrus, worn by someone who wears sharp tailoring and is elegantly put together at all times. Like many of Acqua di Parma's iconic scents, as it's a cologne, it's designed to be a light splash of fragrance, so you may want to top up throughout the day.
5. Acqua di Parma Colonia Il Profumo
Key notes: Italian bergamot, grapefruit, blood orange, petitgrain, rosemary, ylang ylang, orange leaves, vetiver, patchouli
Riffing on the classic Colonia scent, Colonia II Profumo was created as a modern reinterpretation of the original in an eau de parfum. It's more long-lasting, but is just as magical as the original Colonia, only amplified. The addition of ylang ylang and patchouli further enhances the bright, sunshiny citrus that makes this scent so special. After the sparkling citrus dries down, you're left with a warm, radiant woody base that lingers on the skin for hours. It's pure Italian sunshine in a bottle.
6. Acqua di Parma Essenza Di Colonia
Key notes: Lemon, orange, bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit, neroli, petitgrain, rosemary, lily of the valley, rose, jasmine accord, cloves, vetiver, patchouli, white musk, amber
Another classic from Acqua di Parma is Essenza di Colonia. It sits alongside the original Colonia scent in the collection, but this interpretation is bolder, woodsy and a touch soapy. To me, it smells like a traditional, hand-made bar of soap that you might pick up in a traditional Italian pharmacy, infused with citrus and petals. But has a grounding smoothness that lingers on the skin. I would say it leans more traditionally masculine, but is a beautiful scent that anyone can wear.
In fact, beauty director Shannon Lawlor considers this one of her favourite perfumes ever made. "There are two perfumes in the world that I would be totally lost without, and one of them is Essenza. It has the same iconic citrus burst as the original Colonia (another favourite of mine, by the way), but the juicy top is swaddled in shavings of solid shaving soap and earthy, bitter vetiver. I've never felt down when I'm wearing Essenza. It's power in a bottle," she says.
7. Acqua di Parma Peonia Nobile
Key notes: Black pepper, raspberry, peony, Egyptian geranium, freesia, Turkish rose, amber, patchouli, musk
While many of Acqua di Parma's scents focus on citrus, the trio of scents in the Le Nobili collection celebrates florals. In this case, Peonia Nobile centres around peony, and it is devastatingly pretty. Think of wearing a silk gown and wandering through an Italian summer garden, filled with peonies and roses unfurling their soft petals in the late afternoon sun. Once the sun sets, the amber, patchouli and musk create an alluring trail wherever you walk. It's one of the most expensive-smelling floral perfumes I've tried.
Shop Acqua Di Parma Discovery Sets
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections.With a degree in fashion journalism from the London College of Fashion, she has 10 years of industry experience and has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is providing readers with honest and helpful beauty content. She has interviewed celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson.
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