Summary:
- Perfumer Alexis Dadier creates limited scent using 2024 ylang-ylang harvest from Nosy Be, Madagascar
- Composition pairs Italian bergamot, blood orange, and grapefruit with rosemary, patchouli, and vetiver
- Release includes leather goods and candle holders, with campaign featuring Michael Fassbender and Sabrina Impacciatore
Acqua di Parma marks 110 years with Colonia Il Profumo Millesimato. The release centers on a single ingredient: ylang-ylang from the 2024 harvest in Nosy Be, Madagascar.
Perfumer Alexis Dadier selected the ylang-ylang for specific qualities developed during the 2024 growing season. Weather conditions in Madagascar this year brought heavy rainfall and moderate temperatures. These factors produced ylang-ylang with distinct fruity and spiced notes.
The fragrance opens with Italian citrus. Bergamot leads the composition. Blood orange, petitgrain, and grapefruit add brightness. These top notes establish the traditional Colonia profile.
Dadier builds depth through aromatic and woody elements. Rosemary and orange leaves absolute form the middle layer. Patchouli and vetiver anchor the base. The ylang-ylang connects these sections, adding warmth to the citrus and softness to the woods.
The bottle design keeps visual elements simple. Glass construction features embossed architectural details. A back label documents the artisan production process. The packaging uses Acqua di Parma's yellow hatbox format. A gold medal stamp notes both the 110-year anniversary and the 2024 harvest year.
This fragrance sits within a wider product group called the Art of Living collection. The range includes leather accessories designed for travel and home use. The Via Con Me Scent to Go offers portable fragrance storage. The Tazza Totem provides a modular system for candle displays.
Acqua di Parma pairs the product launch with a film campaign. The short film carries the title "The Art of Living Italian." Michael Fassbender and Sabrina Impacciatore appear in the production. The campaign and product debut together.
The Millesimato concept focuses on vintage dating, similar to wine production. Each batch uses ingredients from one specific harvest year. This approach ties the fragrance to particular growing conditions and raw material characteristics. The 2024 ylang-ylang defines this edition.
Nosy Be produces ylang-ylang for the fragrance industry year-round. The island's climate supports consistent cultivation. The 2024 harvest stands out due to seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation. These changes affected the essential oil composition, emphasizing certain aromatic compounds over others.
Dadier worked with the ylang-ylang extract to balance the new fruity and spiced facets against Colonia's established citrus formula. The result maintains the original fragrance structure while introducing complexity through the featured ingredient.
The £250 price point reflects the limited production run and the focus on a single harvest source. Acqua di Parma sells the fragrance through its direct webstore. The US equivalent comes to approximately $337.
Acqua di Parma founded in 1916. The brand built its reputation on Colonia, first released in the early decades of operation. The formula became a reference point for Italian cologne styles. This anniversary edition revisits the original while documenting a moment in time through ingredient sourcing.
The Millesimato offers a snapshot of one harvest year. Weather, soil conditions, and cultivation practices all influence the final extract. By spotlighting these variables, the fragrance connects production methods to the finished scent.
Kristin Kaye
Insatiably curious about human expression, she immerses herself in literature, theater, art, and dance. Her academic journey led to degrees in Modern Literature, where she delved into The Furioso, and Historical Sciences with a focus on Contemporary History. Her studies took her to the prestigious Erasmus University Rotterdam, broadening her international perspective.
Her passion for culture isn't confined to personal enjoyment—it spills onto the pages of various publications. There, she explores not only artistic endeavors but also civil rights issues and the myriad ways human culture manifests itself. For her, writing about these topics isn't just a profession; it's an irresistible calling that stems from her deep-seated fascination with the human experience.