This Is The BEST Summer Scent

Ask any man about his go-to fragrance, and chances are you’ll hear the same name: Dior Sauvage. Don't get me wrong, Sauvage smells nice, especially the elixir, but there is far more to the world of fragrances once you look beyond the overplayed, mass-marketed designer scents. Luckily, this issue of The Salamone Blog has you covered for this summer, so you can smell alluring and stand out from the masses.

Fresh, aquatic and citrus: these are the notes desired in the summer heat; these are the accords we need in the perfect summer scents. Close your eyes and imagine a summer by the Amalfi coast with the sun beaming through your shades and the cool sea breeze blowing through your hair. Now imagine that in a bottle, and you will have Acqua di Parma: a beautiful fragrance house rooted in classic Italian style and charm. The brand was founded in 1916 with the release of its first fragrance: Colonia. Colonia is regarded as the first Italian eau de cologne - a timeless classic that smells just as incredible today as it did over a century ago.

What makes Acqua di Parma so special? As an Italian myself, I may be biased; however, I have never found a bad scent from the brand. Mirto di Panarea, my least favourite scent from the brand, is something I would still wear over many other fragrances. There is no such thing as a bad Acqua di Parma. Due to it being a niche brand, Acqua di Parma utilises more expensive ingredients in its perfumery, and thus, its products command a higher cost. Despite this, I could justify the splurge, as their fragrances are more intrinsic and naturally scented than those of regular designer brands. You pay for a higher quality product and, I believe, you get what you pay for.

Acqua di Parma fragrances perform best in the summer, and for good reason. They're typically lighter in composition, though that often comes at the cost of longevity. To combat this, I tend to keep an Acqua di Parma travel spray in my pocket for a subtle spritz here or there throughout the day. Of course, having a bottle and a travel spray can get expensive, don't even get me started on the face wash, moisturiser or even their nine-kilogram jumbo candle, which retails for almost a thousand pounds. It's not hard to blow the bank at the boutique or on their website, so before you get carried away, stick to fragrances. From personal experience, their reed diffusers are lovely, but only go down that route once you have fallen in love with the brand: most likely upon first sniff.

Equipped with my Acqua di Parma travel spray before a gym session.

Acqua di Parma is a brand best suited for the classy and refined gentleman, who understands the power of dressing as understated as his choice of fragrance. He knows that standing out is not about being loud or flashy with his aesthetic, but letting his effortless elegance speak volumes.

Perhaps the brand can be captured by a single Italian word: sprezzatura. Sprezzatura is more than a word; it's a lifestyle which embodies effortlessness with one's style and mannerisms. It can be expressed through the subtle attention to details in your outfits, especially in the silent sophistication of scent. Even the presentation of every Acqua di Parma product is crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail, representing exactly what the brand stands for.

For all the ladies who may be reading this, do not feel excluded. While my area of expertise lies in men's style, I am pleased to say that most Acqua di Parma fragrances are unisex, if not for women. Should the man in your life purchase one of their beautiful scents, you will find yourself constantly taking sprays for yourself. Acqua di Parma is for everyone, so whether you are a man or woman, go and give it a try.

My limited edition Acqua di Parma room diffuser.

Here is my list of the top 5 Acqua di Parmas to test:

1. Blu Mediterraneo Arancia di Capri
   
2. Blu Mediterraneo Fico di Amalfi
   
3. Buongiorno
4. Colonia C.L.U.B
5. Oud

I can list fragrances from the brand all day, but that would be a very long list, as they have yet to make a fragrance I dislike. All I can say is just try their fragrances out, you will not regret it.

Want to master the art of fragrance? Discover more in The Art of Style eBook.
Already found your signature scent? Share it in the comments: I’d love to know what you’re wearing.