Like Acqua di Parma Colonia scents but not the projection?

[kreteknose]

I've been looking at the Acqua di Parma Colonia line (and have a travel bottle of Colonia Club) and passed by the store a couple of times to try a couple on skin. I find myself liking the scents (boy, are there a lot of flankers!), but I find something else is missing for me. It's like the scents just don't project and I have to sniff what I sprayed on my wrist or inner elbow when I tried it on skin. I also find myself wishing they had just a little more body or complexity to them. I find myself comparing, for example, to the Terre d'Hermes line, where the classic scent creates a beautiful citrus scent cloud and the scent is multilayered.

Does this impression make sense and does anyone share these (or share the opposite) preferences?

 

[WarmJewel]

It's like the scents just don't project and I have to sniff what I sprayed on my wrist or inner elbow when I tried it on skin. I also find myself wishing they had just a little more body or complexity to them.

Acqua di Parma Colonia in my experience is a light, subtle 'close to the skin scent'. I have no experience of the myriad of different flankers.

If you want more performance look for something else.

 

[Mythrol]

Isn't most or all of the Acqua di Parma line EDC strength? That's probably why you find it lighter not heavily projecting.

 

[_Nicolas_]

Try their Colonia Oud, Fico di Amalfi and Colonia Essenza. I've tried quite a few of them and these are the best performers for me.

 

[WarmJewel]

Try their Colonia Oud, Fico di Amalfi and Colonia Essenza. I've tried quite a few of them and these are the best performers for me.

Actually I did receive Acqua di Parma Leather as a free sample. I thought it was one of the most disgusting fragrances I'd ever smelled in my life!

 

[otterlake]

Actually I did receive Acqua di Parma Leather as a free sample. I thought it was one of the most disgusting fragrances I'd ever smelled in my life!

I like that one!

 

[_Nicolas_]

Actually I did receive Acqua di Parma Leather as a free sample. I thought it was one of the most disgusting fragrances I'd ever smelled in my life!

Ha, it was partly how polarised the reviews were for it that kept me away from it! Plus the fact that the only proper leather I'd tried at the time was Knize 10 and its oily leather note kept me away from leathers for years. Actually now I'd probably love K10 as I love quite a few vintage leathers like Trussardi, Fendi, Moschino and the leather note in Francesco Smalto PH's dry down. Still haven't tried that ADP one!

 

[_Nicolas_]

I like that one!

Haha, well as I said, a polarising one apparently!

 

[otterlake]

Haha, well as I said, a polarising one apparently!

It has a rugged feel appropriate to the Italian ambiance, but wears nicely. The only thing I don't love about it is that it opens with some synthetic-feeling fruity citrus (but it's not unpleasant, just artificial feeling).

 

[hednic]

Does this impression make sense and does anyone share these (or share the opposite) preferences?

How many sprays are you applying?

 

[_Nicolas_]

It has a rugged feel appropriate to the Italian ambiance, but wears nicely. The only thing I don't love about it is that it opens with some synthetic-feeling fruity citrus (but it's not unpleasant, just artificial feeling).

That's interesting, I get that synthetic feel from Fico di Amalfi's fig note in the opening, but it's only really present for the first 30-40 seconds and then evolves into something quite lovely IMO.

I really like those traditional Italian leathers, they always seem to have an earthiness to them but overall never feel particularly dark to me.

 

[sjg3839]

Projection and longevity is pretty good on my skin.

 

[kreteknose]

at least one spray on each side of the neck and one spray on each wrist or inner elbow?

 

[Toxicon]

I know what you mean, but that's also the nature of this scent profile. The core ADP Colonia is a textbook Eau de Cologne style, which isn't meant to be loud or long-lasting (even if the current version is probably propped up by synthetics anyway).

I've never really connected with the ADP line, but I've worn Essenza several times - it's basically a louder, soapier, and longer-lasting version of the original, so you might want to try that one. I think there are a few other flankers like Assoluta and Intensa that are supposed to have better performance than the original.

I know ADP has plenty of fans, but I haven't felt motivated to explore further (the whole line seems overpriced IMO). As you mention, I much prefer Terre d'Hermes and its flankers, but it's all subjective.

 

[Pippin06]

I love the fact that many, likely most, of the ADP fragrances are mid projectors and sit close to the skin. They are supposed to be this way, I believe. I own Colonia; Colonia Intensa; and Arancia di Capri. Had Essenza and Assoluta. The original Colonia remains my favorite--so refreshing, uplifting and happy.

 

[Ken_Russell]

So far, tending to second both the opinion (s)/reply (s/ies) that second both that regular ADP Colonia does provide a sufficient amount of longevity and projection.

But also that its Assoluta flanker might remedy most if not all issues regarding the projection and/or longevity of initial EDC version Colonia.

 

[Pippin06]

So far, tending to second both the opinion (s)/reply (s/ies) that second both that regular ADP Colonia does provide a sufficient amount of longevity and projection.

But also that its Assoluta flanker might remedy most if not all issues regarding the projection and/or longevity of initial EDC version Colonia.

I agree--and miss Assoluta. Too bad they discontinued it. The original Colonia gives me very soft projection for 10 plus hours. Couldn't be happier with its performance.

 

[Andrewthecologneguy]

Acqua di Parma Colonia in my experience is a light, subtle 'close to the skin scent'. I have no experience of the myriad of different flankers.

If you want more performance look for something else.

This.

 

[kreteknose]

I know what you mean, but that's also the nature of this scent profile. The core ADP Colonia is a textbook Eau de Cologne style, which isn't meant to be loud or long-lasting (even if the current version is probably propped up by synthetics anyway).

I've never really connected with the ADP line, but I've worn Essenza several times - it's basically a louder, soapier, and longer-lasting version of the original, so you might want to try that one. I think there are a few other flankers like Assoluta and Intensa that are supposed to have better performance than the original.

I know ADP has plenty of fans, but I haven't felt motivated to explore further (the whole line seems overpriced IMO). As you mention, I much prefer Terre d'Hermes and its flankers, but it's all subjective.

Thanks, I tried Essenza on skin and it didn’t grab me

 

[Toxicon]

Thanks, I tried Essenza on skin and it didn’t grab me

Same for me. After sampling the original Colonia and Essenza, I didn’t really connect with either. Some of the Blu Mediterraneo line smells good when I see it at the store, but I don’t feel any particular draw to the brand. It’s a wide world of perfume - follow your nose.