Ermenegildo Zegna
Ermenegildo Zegna
122 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The bergamot sparkles with that characteristic Italian citrus brightness, immediately olfactory-pleasant and properly invigorating. That peculiar moldy wallpaper note emerges almost simultaneously, creating an incongruous dusty-floral haze—slightly off-kilter and strangely compelling.
The almond notes fully assert themselves, transforming the composition into something powdery and confectionery, with the fermented aspect preventing pure sweetness from dominating. The scent becomes warmer, earthier, almost spiced despite no spice being listed, as vanilla and benzoin begin their slow emergence from the base.
A creamy, powdered vanilla-benzoin haze settles onto skin, supplemented by lingering almond sweetness that turns increasingly amber-like. The projection softens considerably, becoming a skin scent wrapped in soft, somewhat dated gourmand warmth that whispers rather than speaks.
Zegna Colonia presents a peculiar paradox: a post-shave lotion that reads far more like a gourmand fragrance than skincare afterthought. The bergamot arrival is crisp and immediately refreshing—what you'd expect from an Italian grooming product—but it's quickly hijacked by that distinctly unusual "moldy wallpaper" note, which creates an almost retro, slightly oxidised quality. Rather than repelling, this dusty, slightly fermented character lends the composition an unexpectedly complex air, as though you've stumbled upon a vintage barber's cologne languishing in a forgotten drawer.
The heart is where things become genuinely intriguing. Almond and fermented almond create a candied, almost marzipan sweetness that's both powdery and subtly funky—the fermented aspect prevents this from becoming a simple sweet gourmand, instead lending it a faintly vinous, slightly aged quality. Jasmine softens the edges with a delicate floral whisper, though it's largely overwhelmed by the almond's narcotic embrace.
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3.6/5 (422)