Origins

1916. A small perfume factory in the old town center of Parma, the aristocratic culture-packed city of Giuseppe Verdi and Stendhal. Here, in this "small capital" of Italian savoir-vivre, skilled master perfumiers, with unexpected modern sensitivity, created an unusually light, fresh and crisp fragrance that marked a move away from the strong, aggressive perfumes of the day. Acqua di Parma Colonia. A refined alchemy that was an immediate success and became the most popular perfume of the era between the 30’s and 50’s.
The start of the 60’s marked a turnaround in the world of perfumes and the market was flooded with proposals. In this period, Acqua di Parma continued to represent the expression of a long tradition, and true connoisseurs continued to appreciate this timeless classic. The historic Colonia became a cult object within a tight circle of high society devotees.