Acqua di Parma Colonia Intensa is not a stronger, longer-lasting version of Acqua di Parma Colonia; Colonia Intensa is a brand-new fragrance. Colonia Intensa’s opening reminds me of Christian Dior Eau Sauvage, its mid-development recalls Annick Goutal Eau du Sud and its finish resembles Monsieur Balmain’s base notes. With such great precursors (and delicious-smelling ingredients), I found Colonia Intensa hard to resist.
Colonia Intensa was developed by perfumer Alberto Morillas and contains lemon, neroli, bergamot, myrtle, mugwort, ginger, cardamom, lignum vitae, cedar, benzoin, leather, patchouli and musk; it smells more masculine than Acqua di Parma Colonia and its structure and development are seamless. (Acqua di Parma Colonia has more distinct top, middle and base phases of development.)
Colonia Intensa opens with ‘electric’ and ‘fizzy’ lemon-ginger accords. As Colonia Intensa develops I smell cardamom, soft cedar, sweet, not earthy, patchouli, and benzoin (imagine the taste and smell of a sour lemon drop with a spicy-resinous center). Colonia Intensa’s active layers of citrus and spicy woods flicker for a long time and seem to percolate on my skin, producing a feeling of euphoria (reason enough to use this fragrance in the drab days of winter).
Colonia Intensa’s citrus and spice “heat up” in mid-development and lead to a warm, but buoyant, ending — featuring light leather and cedar accords, a hint of incense, crystalline patchouli and powdery musk.
As noted in the first paragraph of this review, Colonia Intensa is not “original” — but its conjuring up of three of my favorite summer fragrances under one cap prompted me to buy a bottle. Of all the Acqua di Parma colognes I’ve tried, this is my favorite.
Acqua di Parma Colonia Intensa Eau de Cologne ($83-$112) has very good lasting power (but stays close to the body), and the Colonia Intensa scent is also available in a shampoo/shower gel and aftershave balm. For buying information, see the listing for Acqua di Parma under Perfume Houses.
I just bought this for my husband. He likes the bath and hair gel, too. I think they have great fragrances and I would like to see them add a few more for women.
Virginia: I bought my bottle at Nordstrom right after Christmas and the sales person said the scent was a best seller over the holidays — I was happy to hear it because the AdP display was surrounded by “the usual” and DULL suspects of men's perfumery — I won't name names. k
I had completely ignored this one- now I am going to have to seek it out. Thanks, I think…
Tom: AdP is VERY generous with samples so you can get a couple of big spray vials to try it out at N-M or Nordstrom (at the stores I visited there was a BASKET of samples for the taking).
As Tom said: Thanks, I think. You've once again made a scent sound so delicious that I need to get myself to Nordstrom to try to snare a sample. Anything with a sunny citrus fizz makes me think of a perfect summer scent, though I understand what you mean when you say they can be great during winter's dark days too. I'm hoping that if I like this I can at least hold off to purchase this with my summer budget — remember, lean and mean 2008!
Kevin,
I bought as one of his Christmas presents. I had the hardest time not giving it to him early. I have even sprayed it on myself and not because I wear unisex or men's fragrances. It smells divine–just what I think a man should smell like. I just love it.
Joe: My bottle of Intensa will be in heavy rotation this summer…the samples I have of it will last me thru winter when I only put on citrus scents when winter depression hits HARD. The last few days in Seattle have been “balmy”…near 50 in daytime.
Made for a man. . .but I like it, too. I'm a sucker for the lemon/ cardamom combination. I loved the original, but the drydown was too soapy to wear, so I sprayed it on towels and in the sheets, where the soapy part was fine. I'd also put a spritz in the dryer and the whole cellar would smell like summer. Since you don't mention the soapy dry-down, this will be a must try.
I have this fragrance and find it very nice. It has a mild sweet musk smell on me after the citrus. It is very light and clean. When I bought this a month or so ago I said to my self that I think I have found my new Aqua di GIo.(before everybody started wearing it). Very good review.
quinncreative: NO soapiness in Intensa thankfully.
gknight: glad you've found your “new AdG”… I think distribution is tight on Intensa for now so you won't “smell yourself” walking down the street anytime soon, K
I've never paid much attention to Acqua di Parma's fragrances but now I'm really curious to try this one!
eminere: this is a good one to start with…but do smell the original Colonia too.
I LOVE this fragrance.
I was wandering through Selfridges, sampling endless niche perfumes which largely did nothing for me then WHAM! KAPOW! SPLAT! ZAMEEE! I encountered AdP's Intensa.
This makes my nose itch in the kind of way it's delicious when someone scratches THAT spot on your back,. I want to lock myself in a room with no ventilation, smother myself in this and breath in so deeply that breathing out is parting of so sweet a sorrow that I can't wait to breathe in again.
This is a fantastic fragrance.
But SSSSHHHH!!!!! Keep it a secret otherwise the dull and ordinary unimaginative people that think that buying a celebrity perfume is a good idea will want some.
And frankly, this is way too good to share with people who think that smelling like Victoria Beckham is a good plan.
Call me selfish. I frankly don't give a damn…
HDS1963: I know what you mean but I also would rather AdPCI be worn by LOTS of people rather than the dull ole mainstream stuff that litters perfume counters around the globe.
This and the Absoluta sound like a dynamic duo to have in the cupboard or shelf. In 50ml form, they should be small, but perfectly formed; in shape and smell.
I can see myself eventually becoming a collector like your good selves and shunning big value 100ml popularist stuff except for my Calvin Klein Eternity and Obsession.
I suppose it helps if I’m partial to woody and marine fragrances.