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kolbin – :
This is an amazing scent, I am totally in love with it because it reminds me somehow my Italia, my childhood and my mum. So fresh, classy, carefree and timeless. It is the same as the regular Acqua di Parma Colonia…I don’t see any difference and the both of them has a terrible longevity. They don’t last more than one hour on my skin. WTF! I’ve payed 100euros for 100ml and I am afraid this is such a scent you can wear only when you date or get in bed with the most beautiful girl in the world to please your sense and your partner. How can you wear each day such an expensive and weak fragrance? Such a shame..it is not worth what you’re paying for even though fragrance is really amazing.
mediamel – :
I really love this perfume. It smells so gorgeous, nothing can compare it. Unfortunately, the performance is not good enough especially in my tropical country. I prefer buying the miniature so I can apply it on my skin and sniff it frequently.
qyartu – :
08/14/2018
This is day three of my Acqua Di Parma sample testing. Today I tried Colonia Assoluta and its good not great. I sprayed it and initially there is a strong cinnamon like smell. I guess that was the paprika and pink pepper notes. After an hour it comes across as a a spicier version of the original Colonia. I like it and have received a compliment but, I think I would stick with original Colonia.
Now after wearing it for a day. It is a nice smelling fragrance. Lemon is still strong and there tiny hint of a powder smell. It has that nice citrus smell like the original Colonia but, its just not that great a departure that is is anything special.
NalBarelariny – :
Citrus, Froot Loops, powder, floral, herbal, cinnamon, spice. No.
Sunfes – :
I’m ordering a backup. This is great for the dog days of Summer.
I have great citruses, and Neroli colognes, but when you want something different, this has it all.
It’s very citrus, but also fresh spicy, and lots of florals without getting feminine.
rwe032speagoessenda – :
2018 Update – After repeated wearings, I’ve come to find that I really enjoy this much more than after the initial wearing that prompted the review below. Once I came to terms with this being a very different fragrance than the original – not a flanker – I was able jettison the bias of an irrelevant benchmark and judge this on its own merits – as a well-constructed citrus – woody – patchouli construct with a touch of amber and floral sweetness – jasmine/rose.
Old (2013) Review – I have to say this is a bit of a disappointment to me after the original, which is one of my all time favorites. The citrus opening on this one seems more synthetic and lacks the original’s nice balance with an herbal note. There is less complexity and less quality to my nose. The dry down is also very pale and never completely looses the touch of sweet industrial solvent that spoils this for me. Not a negative because overall it’s still a decent, wearable fragrance. It’s just that its a bit like the undistinguished child of a legendary parent to me.
kuzowok – :
Bitter citrus cologne. Don’t like the bitterness, just because it somehow reminds me airfreshener(but that might be coz they use lot’s of citrus notes). Mainstream, didn’t get a wide opening on the skin. Price is too high for it’s longevity.
vitalikgk – :
A Venetian scene, View of Venice by Martin Rico Ortega
wgf192elipseskism – :
Beautifully done fresh aromatic citrus vibe luxury.Just gorgeous and makes me feel like million dollars and in a super positive mood.
Xaron – :
Is it me or does the opening smell very very similar to YSL L’homme….?
ninulkao – :
Very nice, aromatic, orange cologne. Appropriate for both sexes. Fresh, invigorating and clean. Good choice for warm weather conditions.
rzz436speagoessenda – :
If you’re looking for a classic zesty and tart citrus fragrance and are realistic enough to know that you’ll probably need to reapply it throughout the day, but want something that is superior to 4711, but not as expensive as Neroli Portofino then this wonderful ball of refined freshness is the one for you. Fresh, invigorating and elusive; perfect for summer days and nights!
Atstek33 – :
If you think AdP Colonia Assoluta is anything like AdP Colonia, think again. While it’s in the same spirit of a traditional citrus EDC, Assoluta stands on it’s own for it’s uniqueness. Instead of the neroli, bergamot, and lavender triphecta of the traditional EDC, you have a bitter orange, bergamot and ylang ylang combination that provide the essence of the fragrance here.
The open is a blast of citrus, primarily lemon verbena and the bergamot and bitter orange that sustain into the drydown. The ylang ylang and jasmine then come in, but the bitter orange and bergamot keep it from getting overly floral. The result is a nice balance of citrus and floral, tempered by the earthiness of the vetiver and oakmoss in the base.
The only downside to this fragrance is the performance, I get a measly 3 hours and this is a skin scent on me. AdP Colonia is still my signature scent, but AdP Colonia Assoluta is a good alternative for when you’re looking for a change but don’t want to veer too far from the original.
Максбани – :
This was a blind buy on my behalf and I could not be more happy. To put it quite simply Colonia Assoluta is a creamy citrus modern delight that is perfect for Spring or Summer. A stellar job by these two top perfumers!
KelsGrealse – :
Colonia Assoluta is a bright and joyous fragrance that evokes the carefree idleness of summer with its lashings of tart citrus, creamy ylang-ylang and breezy jasmine.
Like most of the Acqua di Parma line, Colonia Assoluta is a standalone scent, rather than a flanker of the original Colonia. There’s some serious talent behind this installation, too – the fearlessly inventive Bertrand Duchaufour and the refined minimalist Jean-Claude Ellena. Together, the pair have drawn on the common ground between their disparate styles to create a thoroughly contemporary Eau de Cologne that plays up the floral and soapy aspects of the genre.
Colonia Assoluta is brightly floral from the get-go. The first note to make an olfactory hit is ylang-ylang, with its sunscreen and banana-like facets prominently on display. Jasmine is also prominent, here playing the part that orange blossom or neroli might play in a traditional cologne. The floral notes are bolstered, of course, by a pillow of citruses, but it’s hard to pick out specific notes against the mighty wall of creamy yellow and white petals. The whole composition is lifted by hints of spice – Duchaufour’s pink pepper, and Ellena’s beloved cardamom. The base, wonderfully smooth and ever so woody, is mostly vetiver and oak moss to my nose.
I agree that Colonia Assoluta leans feminine, but it is absolutely wearable by anyone, especially as the florals settle in and the vetiver-spice heart comes to the fore. Overall, it’s an interesting, worthy and very wearable collaboration between two of perfumery’s finest working noses – and it’s simply gorgeous, to boot.
HassyKinasami – :
bought a sample
was curious about it in testing it
great light citrus scent with creamy ylang-ylang
fair longevity for a cologne absolute (4hrs)
I do think this fit more for a 35+ women (lean feminine but can see how men can wear this)
6.5/10 …very pricy for the lack of performance :/
will give the sample to my mother
Try before buy
voteban – :
While I really love the scent, I am utterly disappointed in it’s performance. Even after 15 sprays, 30 to 45 minutes later it’s hardly detectable, not even close to the skin. Of course I bought the 180ml bottle…If I could return it, I would!
antituiviar – :
Smelling Colonia Assoluta, here’s how I imagine the creative process behind it: On one end, Bertrand Duchaufour adding layer after layer of complexity, and on the other end Jean-Claude Ellena stripping every aspect down to its barest essentials. The result is a cologne that oozes mediterranean refinement like no other, a fragrance that feels like it came with a complementary Brioni blazer and horsebit loafers.
Most classic eaux de cologne burn bright and fast, an explosion of citrus and zest followed immediately by the drydown. Colonia Assoluta instead strikes a much more understated, but immensely durable chord of orange and ylang-ylang which, over the course of several hours, gradually transitions into a creamy, woody afterglow.
A hint of the original Colonia is still in there – a slightly powdery floral heart – but Assoluta is less dandified, less openly retro than its progenitor. It may lack the rugged charm of other retro offerings, but this makes the fragrance more accessible to those who usually steer clear of classic perfumery. So if you’re in the market for an elegant summer scent, take Colonia Assoluta on a trip to the Emillia-Romagna.
tavakkaljon – :
I bought this along with Essenza di Colonia, and these were my first actual bottles from AdP.
and what can I say? Beautiful, refreshing, classic and pleasant…
I love it.
umiks – :
in opening there is orange and bitter orange note that i really love. but after 30 min there is just aromatic soap remant on your skin. another boring soapy perfume from ADP. i haven’t expected those 2 master perfumer to make this perfume that i don’t like at all.maybe just differnt taste. i don’t know.really sorry ADP.4/10
در ابتدا بوی بسیار زیبای نارنج و پرتقال و مرکبات دارید ولی بعد از نیم ساعت دقیقا بوی صابون لوکس رو حس می کنید. واقعا مسخره است اینقدر پول بدید بوی صابون بدید. اصلا از این دو اسطوره عطرسازی توقع ساخت چنین عطری رو نداشتم.
derzkii – :
Update: This did grow on me, I’m getting a bottle for a complete colection that I didn’t want to add to.
It is in the genre of Grey Vetiver or Eau Savage, but I like the unique bitter spiciness of this one, it gives it that Italian flare.
Of all the Colonia’s it is more about spiciness than other fresh cologns that are about citrus, neroli, musk and some green notes.
This is surely my favorite Colonia. I know the original, which I liked the least, it and Essenza have this bitter spice that reminds me of licorice, which I don’t like. It does give them more of an Italian feel than Assoluta.
Assoluta has a bitter orange, which takes the place of rosemary in the first two Colonia’s mentioned. Assoluta is the brightest and freshest, also most floral of the three. It does not feel like a Mediteranian series, like Fico d Amalfi, it has more of an aromatic sophistication.
It reminded me of Guerlain Habit Rouge, fresh bright, floral and sunny, yet with more bitterness comming from the orange peel note. It has a cologne like structure, citrus, floral, musk. Then it has a spicy edge with the pepper and orange peel. So it’s like a combo of Neroli Portafino cologne, Habit Rouge, and some of the Italian flare of the original Colonia. It has that barber shop soapiness…
This fragrance leans masculine, the lang lang and other florals are noticable, but well blended, so for me it does not feel feminine at all.
Surely worth a try. Composed by two of the very best noses, Ellena and Duchaufour, authored many of my favorite fragrances.
Rating: 8.5/10
God bless you. John 3:16, Chao…
marinera – :
A wonderful citrus creation but after an hour on skin , I am left wondering if I wore any fragrance today , In other words best on clothing not skin ,
Summer days ;Yes
Nights ; Not recommended .
Scent good 10/10
Silage poor 3/10
Long lasting ?
Thanks,
astasiya – :
A peppery citrus cologne on a background of smooth florals. One of the most complex colognes I’ve tried, this one straddles the line between cologne and parfum. Elegant and refined; very rich smelling. I’d say this leans towards the masculine but a woman can still pull this off. I can see this on a (wealthy) older man. Has amazing longevity for a citrus cologne, and a great deal of depth as well. I’m personally not interested as it isn’t quite my cup of tea (I prefer the more aromatic Eau D`Orange Verte) but I respect this fragrance. If you want to project quiet, effortless class, wear Colonia Assoluta.
nicolette868 – :
Assoluta is strange as a cologne because contains no neroli, and instead has a long list of notes such as chili pepper, ylang and bitter orange, which makes sense when you look at Duchafour’s baroque oriental creations. Ellena must have done the editing here and Assoluta has that airy quality Ellena is famous for. So essentially you have the master minimalist meets Mr. More is More, who together set out to reinvent the classic cologne.
What I THINK they did was try to take the `wetness` out of citric freshness and play up the tang and bite of citrus but with dryer elements, while putting a surprising amount of gentle florals in to balance out any harshness. The image i get from Assoluta is of fresh laundry dried in the sunshine on a hill beside the ocean. Maybe an orange or lemon grove is nearby. Its a quiet, still kind of freshness and definitely does not enter the territory of ‘juicy’ or ‘dewy’.
Assoluta is beautifully balanced for the entire duration of its sillage and has a transparent presence that reaches out gently without creating a wall of scent. Longevity is surprisingly good for a cologne and the drydown has its own personality to look forward two.
mitriy32 – :
Sigh.
“IF I WERE A BOOOOOY….. EVEN JUST FOR A DAAAAY”
But really, this is unisex (although amazing on men) and everyone could (and should) wear Colonia Assoluta. But I really feel the need to sit on a Vespa and greeting everyone ‘buongiorno’ whilst wearing this.
krufti – :
As I’m a huge fan of the regular Colonia, I did never warmed up to this one. In my opinion it’s sweeter and less masculine. It’s high quality,but it’s just something that I don’t like about it. I would go for the original colonia no doubt.
tmx774bedyWelty – :
My signature if my budget would allow. Will always have a bottle, but it is a special day fragrance, rather than an everyday one because of the cost alone.
I love ADP fragrances, i’m yet to test a bad one, but this is a great modern twist on Colonia, keeping the essence of the original, while making it more relevant to today.
“Summer in a bottle” someone said in an an earlier review, or as my daughter would say..”you smell of Italy” as I first bought this on holiday on Lake Garda visiting beautiful Riva.
Whatever, this manages to be light, citrusy, classy, long lasting and changeable, from bright citrus to a light,fresh, clean, musky smell in the dry down.
Everything I expect of Italian style, class, quality and sophistication in a bottle….Love it!
morEmuppy – :
My first impression after buying a 180ml bootle of this juice, 3/10.
I usually wear a new perfume 3 or 4 times to get a proper impression and I am keen to give this a few more days because I am disappointed.
It is a pleasant soap on a my skin and not much more, it is far too humble in my opinion and it last 2 hours at most.(If I can compare the staying-power of Amouage or Byredo, Assoluta has poor longevity and for that reason, it is way over-priced.
I will edit my critique in a month to see if my opinion improves but for now this pretty soap fragrance earns a 4/10.
aleks310379 – :
With a heritage like Avignon, Eau D’Italie, and Timbuktu on the Duchaufour side… and First, Déclaration, and Osmanthe Yunnan on the Ellena side, this lovechild literally reaches out and says, “I love you” when first sprayed. AND ALL DAY.
Wow, this is good. It really IS the best of everything! To the yearling nose it may bring to mind the original Dolce & Gabbana for men in the dark blue box, back when it had life. The yearling nose, however, wouldn’t remember its powerhouse days, and that fragrance was too strong to wear anywhere but a night club. But in the hands of these two master perfumers, this cast of notes balances buxom beauties and staunch masculines in a relatively minimalist composition of formidable longevity to create something entirely new and revelatory in its ability to offer these notes served as never before. Shall I go on?
ден-хруст – :
This juice smells excellent , But I regret to say it do not last on the skin , Today I wore it and in Canada the temperature is +25 , From the time of the first spray , 20 min after the sent was gone ,My wife had her nose one me and could not smell it and I did about 9 Spray, Sorry I am disappointed .
gavuz18 – :
After just trying the original yesterday, I can corroborate much of what’s said about Colonia Assoluta: it’s more complex than the original, being less citrus and more spicy, sweet, and floral. Whereas the original is mainly citrus and musk with a hint of spicy, Assoluta is sweeter and more floral without notes that I can specifically detect, and is spicier with respect to the pink pepper and cardamom. The dry down of Assoluta is definitely more of a sweet/spicy/musk grouping as the initial citrus has faded. I find the dry down more pleasant than the opening, in this case.
At a similar price to the original, it makes sense that many would lean toward Assoluta in lieu of the original due its complexity and modernness, but the original is definitely a more purely masculine and situationally-versatile take on the cologne concept. Both clearly lean toward use on a summer day, though they’re both pleasant enough to wear in most situations throughout the year.
Also, while many tout the superior longevity and projection of Assoluta (and Intensa and Essenza, which I’ve not yet tried), I don’t find this to be clearly the case. Both performed comparably well on my skin, still hanging around after 6+ hours and a shower.
This is, on the whole, another great entry in the Acqua di Parma line and I cannot wait to try more, but as others are saying, try them for yourselves, for sure.
7 out of 10
tako74 – :
After a long winter of wearing heavier, spicier scents, I broke out my bottle of ADP last week; what a tremendous pleasure. Fresh and clean – sunshine in a bottle. An absolute delight to wear.
sambrownly735 – :
A nice citrus / bergamot pairing! Very fresh and clean, its a super safe fragrance to wear at office.
insogantist – :
This was on my Next-to-buy list for aeons and finally, I received a little bonus and bought it off an Amazon partner. I received a sample in a swap a while back, and I really enjoyed this one the most.
I thought the topnote was a little more orangy than this from today. A little sad at the loss of citrus. The bergamot is just very, very dry, and a lot of earthy vetiver this time. I also think I get violets. Unfortunately, it’s just too soapy for me on the topnote.
Later, the vetiver comes out and ditches the citrus/floral notes. The middle is just plain and simple, something like a clean powder and I am guessing that’s the ylang ylang heart. Overall, it’s a cooling, earthy scent, such as a after a rain drenches the luscious citrus groves in the country, but the sun has just emerged from clouds. It’s chilly, and the aromatics and resin (I couldn’t tell ya what a resin smells like, but maybe that stuff you clean your cello bow with? nah, not getting it at all).
The drydown is just a very dry soapy scent, something distinctively cool and floral such as violets. That could be the oakmoss too, which is a very cool scent. I don’t get any patchouli. I get zero peppercorns.
I’m a little disappointed it’s not got that nice orange scent tucked away in it, but there’s always Rue Fauborg for that. Just a classy, simple fragrance that’s perfect for a luxurious night out or a day at the office.
wgu081InsuffBooni – :
This is one of the best wear to the office fragrance i own. The citrus verbena/ bergamot ,oak moss musky vibe is very attractive. I have gotten great feedback. Longevity is not bad for a citrus fragrance, above average in my opinion. When I wear Assoluta I will reapply one good spray to my chest and one to a wrist right after lunch before coming back to the office. For some of my fav’s that don’t seem to last as long I use the small 3 mil atomizer just for that purpose. There are many that do not last the 8 to 9 hours I am at work. I try to never over do it to start the day. Assoluta is a very becoming fragrance for a man to wear. Assoluta just makes me feel good when I wear it, as well as being a very versatile fragrance. Classy quality about it. My wife likes this on me quite a bit. Sniff this out if you can. Acqua di Parma is a quality house. Price point is a bit high, I would opt for this when I am in the mood over a fragrance like Eau Sauvage etc. Purchasing Assoluta is a much wiser decision if I base on wearing it often or a signature scent. The difference in cost spread out over a year made a lot more sense for me to purchase. You would have to weigh that out. For us fragrance enthusiasts we all seem to wear many different ones so it becomes harder to justify many full bottle purchases. It is a quandary. I have no remorse for purchasing. If you love to wear citrus blends Assoluta deserves to be considered ,I tested some other Acqua di Parma citrus blends and opted for this one. Sometimes they are so close and you can go back and forth and drive yourself nuts..I have.. I give this two big thumbs up.
Sm1lee – :
This is a very refined-well balanced-modern classic-soothing-truly unisex – anytime u don’t know what to wear-fragrance..
On me, i especially looovee it soothing effect.. While it still projects proffesionalism & maturity.. 😉
This one similar to Lalique Pour Homme, but Colonia Assoluta is more refined & more unisex (as listed) than LPH..
This is one of some unisex fragrance that i could wear, without being too masculine or feminine..
Suitable for office without too generic or too flat..
Simply LOVE it! 😀 <3
DAUREN – :
The ADP Colonia Assoluta is a contemporary version of the original Colonia which works itself into the rotation more than most in my collection. Although this fragrance is best when worn by itself, I find myself layering the Assoluta with Borsari Acqua di Classica when I wear it to work. The woodiness of the Borsari muddles with the sweetness of the Assoluta. Damn, those do dry down well together.
LAZIZ757 – :
Fresh but still classy, maybe the best one from Colonia series. 9/10
STAFOR – :
Refined is a word perfectly matched for this fragrance.A true masterpiece.
LeonVS – :
fresh almost typical cologne , nice but not special as colonia intensa and essenza , as usual i cannot hide that it is chic as all perfumes from Aqua Di Parma
glx1 – :
As my buddy would say, “this smells like Pierce Brosnan looks.” A James Bond scent; clean, sharp edged, with just a hint of danger.
Andrey609 – :
Colonia Assoluta has a dynamic freshness offered by the heavy handed use of lemon verbena which permeates this fragrance. Calabrian bergamot and red orange contribute juicy sweetness, which mirror the lemony facets of the verbena. Faint hints of chili pepper, cardamon, and pink pepper intermingle with the shimmering citrus accord. Exotic ylang-ylang and jasmine blossoms offer indolic floral qualities whilst fragrant vetiver root (also known to have lemony notes) and American cedar round out the dry down. The overall feeling is one of intense cleanliness. I have seen this fragrance associated with soaps and showering in previous reviews, and I would have to agree. There is something oddly generic with this scent. The notes seemed highly promising, but the general aesthetic falls flat for me. (141)
vsavinov – :
Acqua di Parma Colonia Assoluta is my least favorite out of Colonia line. Starts with lovely citrus blast and settles down to “out of shower” feel, like you just washed yourself with some old fashioned herbal soap and then used cheep men’s shaving foam. The smell came out soapy, boring and uninspiring. Not long lasting either.
Бербатофф – :
A MODERN CLASSIC
Very high quality .
Another fresh out of the shower, classic beautiful unisex from the colonia line. This is high quality , equally wonderful as the original colonia , it’s more modern I guess. ,,, it opens with a blast of orange and citrus and has an earthy aromatic feel to it. Full of cedar, Cardamon and. Oakmoss. Like a walk in the woods. Boy I love this one. Both colonias are great , I am not familiar with the others as I believe they are more for men. This one is quite unisex for sure although it leans to the masculine side like the original Colonia. I find this one is soapy and a touch more modern and even yet more wearable by a lady than Colonia. I like both though,alot.
To me this is a fragrance you can wear to work, to play and to go for a walk in the woods. It never feels old or heavy or out of place. It just feels clean and fresh and well groomed. Who wouldn’t want to smell like this 🙂
Runaway – :
Opens with a ton of bergamot and lemon. They are joined by resins in the backdrop adding a very very minor sweet note, almost like Tonka bean. Hmmm, a little bit later and its all creamy sweet lemon. Im not sure where this sweetness is coming from, maybe the musk? Yes, that’s the musk underneath the creamy lemon. Now its softening into a bit of vanilla, which I guess is the ylang-ylang. The vanilla must be the end of the show for this one. I like it but not what I wanted in a cologne.
Edit: 01-14-15 Creamy lemon or citrus whatever! That is what this is about. Very, very similar to the note in MFK Absolue Pour le Matin. I may be coming around to this.
gpf613Bessinepome – :
Opens in a more purely flowery way than the original. It’s heavier and more powdery as well, with more orange and less lemon. I guess they use some aldehydes, because sometimes I get a buttery sensation that I had never previously understood when reading other people’s reviews of florals. It’s too feminine for me in a heavier but more relaxed way than the original…plus it feels about 10 years older. Another very nice blend for someone else, and I’ll give it a thumbs up on their behalf. If I were to buy one of the two, I’d buy this over the original for its strength and longevity.
PULYA1000 – :
@rave75, perhaps you mistook the samples, it is very easy to mix Colonia with Intensa with Assoluta. The only safe one is Essenza for the black bottle. I myself am on a battle trying to find the one for me. Cheers, JM
palek – :
This is weird, I tested this cologne in a department store, bought a tester vial, and then bought a 2013 special edition version and it smells different. So I bought another one at david jones and it smells exactly like the 2013 special edition but it smells different than the tester and vial.
Has they been re-formulated??
lkj579Negeltzex – :
Colonia Assoluta is another great option that Italian fashion house to our climate in Brazil.
Opening with bitter orange also citrus balanced with bergamot and lemon verbena, brings an air invigorating, and very natural.
The body heats up and appears floral touch by ylang ylang where it creates a salt air beachy lightly. I feel something spicy and woody with vetiver appears with a slight earthy aspect.
Woody base that intensifies the air dense by moss which creates an aura more classic and mature.
Rating: 8,5/10
зося2010 – :
You know what this actually reminds me a lot of? Laura Biagiotti ROMA PER UOMO. It has a really similar vibe, with the orange and the resins. bittersweet citrus, and creamy. I own both fragrances. Check out Roma per uomo if you want something very similar to this cologne for half the price.
Geg-333 – :
Beautiful. When I smell this, I picture the colours orange and gold. It starts with a blast of citrus, but less lemony than the original Colonia. Then, ylang ylang takes centre stage, but one can still smell orange and lemon verbena in the background. Sillage isn’t so bad, and neither is longevity. I’ve had it on for about two hours, and I still get whiffs of it. It’s more “perfumey” than the original Colonia, and less powdery, as well. Also, it smells natural. I’m glad I’ve sampled and bought this, too, because both versions are worth having. I’m also grateful for the help I’ve received from Deefit, who was so kind as to answer my queries with regard to this fragrance.
By the way, I’ve tried layering Colonia with glycerin hand cream, and it lasted much longer than it would have without it. I’m definitely going to try the same trick with Assoluta.
Demon73 – :
yes it is a real nice perfume. The scent is a modern interpretation of the classical masterpiece. Colonia is better in Fall and Wintertime, Colonia assoluta is more for spring and summer. On hot days it has a nice projection with elegance. And the opening is so typical the same as Hermes Un Jardin en Mediteranee.
Y also can smell here the master-perfumer of Hermes Jean-Claude Ellena. It opens with much citrus and bergamot and lemon-verbena. In the middle it changes to more a heavier scent with a complex mix of wood, flowers and spices: vetiver and cedar that gives a woody-citric note, jasmine, Ylang ylang which gives a bit vanilla like scent going into cardamon. It ends similar as the original masterpiece powdery and spicy.
I have to get used to it because i prefer the masterpiece, the original. But this is great too.
venia – :
The ultimate in Itailian refinement. You gotta love it!.
kostyafriend – :
If only they could capture sunshine in a bottle. Turns out they have.
If Lalique’s Encre Noire is like the beguiling midnight moon at the witching hour, then Colonia Assoluta represents the golden midday sun in all its brilliance. For me, they’re akin to night and day.
Colonia Assoluta is positively vibrant. Applying this glorious nectar never fails to elevate me to an altogether brighter place. The composition strikes a harmonious and heavenly floral/citrus accord that delivers this devotee into a sustained state of rapture.
Sunshine in a bottle – joyous, uplifting, transcendent.
lorena – :
This is so delicious to be worn all summer long. It’s fresh, green, and clean. No it isn’t strong, it stays close to the skin. It’s definitely a day fragrance. Opens with that nice lime or lemon citrus, and it’s powdery as well. To me this is better than the original Colonia version of Acqua Di Parma, as it stays longer. Try it.
judith55 – :
I got a small sample of this with another Acqua di Parma purchase. I had originally intended to give it to my boyfriend, but he nearly dumped it down the sink. So today, on a whim, I decided to try a bit on my hand, just to see what the dry-down was like.
To me, this is divine. It’s simple, it’s out-of-the-shower fresh, you get an initial burst of citrus that wakes you up from the fatigue of hot weather followed by a rich, high-quality soapy note.
But I can’t tell if this is something I want to wear, as it is very masculine, or something I just want to smell all the time. Is this the fragrance I want to exude? Or do I just want Andrew to suck it up and wear the damned thing so I can smell him?
fredi74 – :
I adore Colonia Absoluta! It is a classic, clean and fresh fragrance I feel comfortable wearing anywhere at any time during the year. I live in a city with a climate of four distinct seasons, and I feel comfortable wearing this fragrance during any of the seasons. It’s safe for the office, the market or going out to a restaurant. I doubt 99% of the world would find this fragrance offensive so I consider it a safe bet for all occasions. I love the travel size, as it allows me to take this scent with me on business trips and vacations. The entire line of shower gel and shaving cream are top quality too should you want to splurge in other aspects of your grooming routine. This fragrance line will definitely make you feel refined, well-to-do and affluent, even it you aren’t.
vsd722intitytek – :
Classic and classy.
This is bitter orange and bergamot up front for a short time. So it’s not really a “CITRUS” fragrance. The heart and base of this is floral and moss and patchouli. This is a Chypre, minus lavendar, with Fougere tendencies.
Smells clean and dirty at the same time. A little hint of something that reminds me of soap. Not young, not modern, not trendy, just good.
Got at least 6 hours on my skin. Sillage is moderate.
Pnz_Chaki – :
Citrus and lemon verbena with lots of ylang ylang, its a little bit powdery but not as much as the original.
A very nice and natural smelling scent I think I will purchase this a