Acqua di Parma
Acqua di Parma
288 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Bright, zesty lemon and bergamot arrive with immediate clarity, accompanied by a distinctive bite of pink pepper that feels almost peppercorn-sharp. Within moments, petitgrain adds a slightly herbaceous green quality that prevents this from reading as a simple citrus splash.
The woody framework emerges gradually, cardamom lending a subtle spiced warmth that transforms the composition entirely. Geranium softens what could have been an austere woody core, introducing a delicate green-floral thread that sits between the citrus memory and the approaching base.
Oakmoss becomes the dominant narrative—earthy, slightly smoky, genuinely mossy rather than synthetic. Tonka bean adds creamy vanilla comfort whilst patchouli deepens everything into a woody, mineral finish that lingers with impressive tenacity despite the EDP concentration.
Quercia is Acqua di Parma's answer to those seeking restraint without surrender. This is not a fragrance that announces itself; rather, it unfolds with the deliberate pacing of someone settling into a leather armchair with an aged whisky. The opening crackle of bergamot and pink pepper provides necessary vivacity—the scent's acknowledgment that it hasn't forgotten brightness entirely—but this citrus front exists primarily to introduce what lies beneath: a woody architecture of unexpected sophistication.
The heart reveals the fragrance's true ambition. Cardamom weaves through cedarwood with an almost spiced-tea quality, whilst geranium adds a subtle floral restraint that prevents the composition from becoming aggressively masculine. This is where Quercia distinguishes itself from the procession of mass-market woody fragrances: the spice accord feels considered rather than bombastic, never veering toward cinnamon-sweetness or artificial warmth.
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3.5/5 (114)