Acqua di Parma
Italian elegance in signature yellow, since 1916
A century of Italian perfumery translated into home fragrance. Acqua di Parma’s candles are the warmest and most Mediterranean on this list, and the ceramic vessels are made in Tuscany.
The Acqua di Parma review
Acqua di Parma opened in Parma in 1916 with Colonia, a citrus and lavender eau de cologne that became a byword for Italian elegance and is still in production. The house colour, that unmistakable art deco yellow, has been consistent for over a century. The home fragrance line extends the same sensibility into candles.
The vessels are the highlight: hand-finished ceramic produced in Tuscany, warm to look at and pleasant to handle, and considerably more interesting than a plain glass jar. They also hold heat well, which contributes to a steady, even burn and a good sustained throw across a medium room.
Fragrances lean Mediterranean and comforting rather than avant-garde. Oh, L’Amore is a bright citrus and floral, Legni is dry cedar and vetiver, and the Colonia candle reproduces the original cologne convincingly. Nothing here will surprise a hardened fragrance collector, but the execution is consistently warm, polished and easy to live with.
Signature scents
- Colonia
- Oh, L’Amore
- Legni
- Luce di Colonia
- Note di Colonia
The verdict
What we like
- Hand-finished Tuscan ceramic vessels
- Over a century of perfumery heritage
- Warm, approachable Mediterranean compositions
- Ceramic retains heat for a steady burn
- Strong value relative to the French houses
Worth knowing
- Compositions are classic rather than adventurous
- The signature yellow will not suit every interior
- Smaller candle range than its fragrance range