The Italian Way: Cologne Preferences And Cultural Scents

Italy is known for its artisanal perfumes, with brands fusing traditional methods with modern practices and high-quality ingredients. From the citrus groves of the South to the earthy herbs of the North, Italian fragrances capture the essence of each region.

Acqua di Parma, founded in 1916, is one of Italy's most famous cologne brands. Its fragrances are fruity and floral with hints of cedarwood and bergamot.

Other popular cologne brands include Ducati, Brioni, and Vince Camuto. Ducati 1926 Original, for example, is an intense fragrance that captures the masculinity of a Ducati enthusiast.

When it comes to specific scents, Italians seem to favour fresh, light, and pleasant fragrances, such as Acqua di Gioia by Giorgio Armani, or sweet and oriental scents like Hypnotic Poison by Christian Dior.

Italian citrus fruits

Italy is a paradise of citrus fruits, from the giant citron to the dark-red Moro blood orange. The country's citrus fruits are full of surprises, with fingered lemons, pink grapefruits, green limes, golden citrons, and sweet lemons. The citron, or cedro, was the only citrus in Italy and Europe until around 800 AD when sour lemons arrived with the Arab invasion of Sicily. The blood orange, or raspberry orange, is a variety of sweet orange with crimson flesh and is believed to be a cross between a sweet orange and a berry.

The bergamot orange is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange with yellow or green skin similar to a lime, depending on ripeness. It is believed to be a hybrid of a lemon and bitter orange. The myrtle-leaved orange tree, or chinotto, is native to Italy and is an essential flavouring agent in Italian amari, the popular Campari aperitif, and several carbonated soft drinks.

Woody notes

Cedarwood

Cedarwood is one of the most commonly used notes in fragrance and is native to the Mediterranean region, the Himalayan Mountains, the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and Virginia in the US. Its scent is dry, woody, and resinous, and it is often used as a base note, supporting and combining with fresher notes such as citrus.

Vetiver

Vetiver is a perennial grass with linear leaves, but it is its dense, fibrous roots that produce its distinctive, earthy, and smokey aroma. It is native to India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, and is also cultivated in Japan, South America, and the Philippines. Vetiver is cool, earthy, damp, luscious, sweet, and full, making it well-suited to the cooler seasons.

Sandalwood

Sandalwood is a versatile and widely used scent that blends well with a variety of notes. The oil is extracted from trees in the genus Santalum and has a creamy, rich, and sensual aroma. It is often associated with oriental scents and is known for its excellent staying power.

Oud

Oud is one of the most expensive and recognised wood ingredients used in perfumery. It has an exotic, oriental quality and is native to Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The scent is earthy, bittersweet, subtly smoky, and has hints of leather and musk with sweet-spicy incense nuances. Oud perfumes are incredibly long-lasting.

Fruity and woody

Woody fragrances are a great option for men, offering a natural, warm, and earthy scent that's not too strong or subtle. As the air gets crisp and the nights draw in, it's time to swap out those fresh, citrusy summer fragrances for something a little fruitier and woodier.

Tom Ford Grey Vetiver

Supremely masculine, this fragrance is a great choice for date night or special occasions. It's a clean, citrusy, and refreshing woody scent, using not one, not two, but three different vetivers for an epic, luxurious feel. It's a bold fragrance with a potent but refined balance of orange blossom and saffron in the heart. With great performance and a strong projection, this is one to reserve for evenings – too good for the daytime!

Terre d’Hermes Parfum by Hermes

With a cult-like following amongst fragrance collectors, this is one of the best-smelling woody colognes for men. It has an addictive woody and spicy accord, with an earthy and fruity grapefruit that’s balanced by dry, herby woods like cedar. It's great value for money and can often be found at a discount. Longevity is good at 4-6 hours, but not amazing when compared to niche brands.

Bleu Noir for Him Parfum by Narciso Rodriguez

This is a sexy, sensual, and versatile fragrance. It's uncomplicated and unique, with a softness and creaminess that stands out. Narciso Rodriguez’s musk signature is beautifully rounded off by vetiver, amber, and zest from cardamom and citrus. Performance is outstanding, with more than 8 hours of arm's-reach projection and longevity out of 4-6 sprays.

Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum

This unisex fragrance appeals to almost every nose, with a rich, spicy scent that has warm notes of cardamom, violet accord, iris, and ambrox, and a base of cedarwood, sandalwood, and leather. It's a trendy fragrance, good for day or night.

Chanel Bleu de Chanel

Chanel bottles the woodiness of the earth in a refined, elegant way. This scent is fresh and masculine, with aromatic cedar and New Caledonian sandalwood. It's a designer fragrance, so it's a little more expensive, but it's a popular choice.

Moonlight Blue by Kenneth Cole

This fragrance blends crisp bergamot and grapefruit with grounded vetiver, creating a woody yet aromatic scent. The atlas cedar base brings a delightful woodsy undertone that pairs perfectly with fall's amber sunsets and holiday festivities. It's the ideal scent for cool-weather nights when you want to feel effortlessly sophisticated but still relaxed.

Sweet and spicy

Italian perfumery is renowned for its flamboyance and elegance, with a unique approach that pays tribute to the classics while staying fresh and modern. This is reflected in the colognes they choose, which often feature sweet and spicy notes that are carefully crafted and of high quality.

Terroni by Orto Parisi

Terroni is a fragrance that captures the warmth of southern Italy with its sweet and spicy notes. It fuses woody and oriental tones with a touch of raspberry, instantly transporting you to the rich, sun-soaked landscapes of the country.

Kashnoir by Laboratorio Olfattivo

Kashnoir is a sweet fragrance that is the eleventh creation of the brand Laboratorio Olfattivo. It was inspired by a journey to the mysterious and unknown East, featuring narcotic flowers, enchanting spices, and psychotropic herbs. This potent and almost lethal mix creates a powerful drug-like effect on the wearer.

Sex and the Sea Neroli by Francesca Bianchi

This fragrance takes an emotional and human-centric approach to perfumery, turning it into a collective experience. It is an evolution of the brand's classic Sex and the Sea, adding neroli for a more hypnotic and pungent scent. The result is a refreshing yet warm perfume with intriguing facets.

Megamare by Orto Parisi

Created by renowned nose Alessandro Gualtieri, Megamare explores the richness and originality of marine notes. This masculine fragrance is persistent and evocative, capturing the sacred silence of the ocean and the crashing of waves during a storm.

Parco 1923 by Parco 1923

Parco 1923 is a masculine and woody fragrance inspired by the biodiversity of Italy's Abruzzo National Park. It has a mysterious and unique soul, featuring Wild Juniper, Musk, and Beech. The Laburnum flower, though lethal to humans, adds a colourful touch to the scent.

Leisure in Paradise by Simone Andreoli

Leisure in Paradise is an overdose of coconut milk and vanilla, with fruity and sweet notes of pineapple and papaya. This fragrance is an absolute Caribbean beach holiday in a bottle, transporting the wearer to paradise under palm trees.

Italian colognes in the sweet and spicy category showcase the country's artisanal techniques, modern practices, and high-quality ingredients, reflecting the rich cultural identity of Italy.

Citrus and floral

Citrus fragrances are typically refreshing and zesty, with a tangy and bitter edge. They can be layered with other fragrances or worn alone for a simple, bright scent. Citrus fragrances are perfect for the summer and can be worn by men and women alike.

Floral fragrances are also popular, with women enjoying lush white florals with a touch of powder for a lingering effect. These fragrances can be delicate and dainty, with sweet and powdery notes. They can also be bold and glamorous, with notes of frangipani, black currant, iris, and amber.

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