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Best place to buy Acqua Di Parma in States

post #1 of 15
2/17/10 at 10:39pm
Thread Starter 
Hi,

Acqua Di Parma seems a bit of an odd ball to get in the states. Where's the best place / price to buy it (I'm in NYC). I could be looking in all the wrong places or it is just more expensive than I remember.

Also what is the difference between Acqua di Parma Colonia and Assoluta? I smelt the original but want ot make sure I get the right product.
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post #2 of 15
2/18/10 at 8:03am
It is expensive. Neiman Marcus has it near me (Boston) - but in NYC I'm pretty sure Saks has it? Bigelow had a pretty good selection of it as well, but I haven't been in the store downtown in years - not since they were taken over by Bath and Bodyworks.

The "regular" and the "assoluta" varieties are similar to each other; the assoluta being amped up a bit in every aspect (as I remember; I don't wear it). "Intensa" is something else altogether. Prudence dictates sampling first, but I don't think anyone can go wrong with the "regular" Colonia.
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post #3 of 15
2/18/10 at 8:28am
Neimans has the whole line... for best price... no clue? sorry.
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post #4 of 15
2/18/10 at 9:01am
They come up occasionally on Ebay, but I'd say avoid this route for AdP. I've seen them occasionally at some of the online discounters (do a search for the big list or PM me if you can't find it and I'll send you a list).

The regular AdP is different to the Absoluta and Intensa. Use the Directory button at the top and read reviews about them and of course just go hit a higher end dept. store (Saks? Neiman's should have) and smell them yourself. You can also order samples to try (not free of course) from places like The Perfumed Court.
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post #5 of 15
2/18/10 at 12:00pm
I've never seen a price variation of ADP, even online. You can get it at Saks or Neiman, possibly Fred Segal (that's where I've bought them).
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post #6 of 15
2/19/10 at 4:13pm
At least in SF, Bloomingdales carries the whole line, too. So do Saks & Neimans, which means Bergdorf Goodman probably has it.
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post #7 of 15
2/19/10 at 4:15pm
I prefer to buy my AdP at Bloomingdale's just because their fragrance set-up is much more user-friendly than Sak's or Neiman Marcus.
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post #8 of 15
2/19/10 at 4:53pm
I found, fell in love, and had a torrid affair with Acqua di Parma at an expensive ski resort in Colorado. Staying there on business, lots of dress-up required, and I realized I left all fragrance at home. The situation was too nice and dressy to pull my usual "forgot to pack fragrance" trick, which is to buy a magazine with lots of scent strip samples and wear them instead. [Really, not a bad trick, especially if you're on a tight budget - though you have to get used to the idea that it's highly likely you'll end up smelling like "this year's molecule" from one of the big fragrance industrial manufacturers.] So I went to the very cool, very old-money, dripping with class boutique in the chi chi resort, and said, "I want a fragrance that's classic, something that makes me smell like a stuffy old man." The knowledgable sales associate recommended Acqua di Parma. From here to eternity I will always remember the rarified atmosphere of that dreamy resort, the beautiful Colorado weather, the "I'm in a chic Hitchcock movie" feel of it all, and Acqua di Parma -- the scent always brings it back.

So yes, buy it in a place like that. Ha. And if you aren't finding yourself conveniently in that situation, try a good department store. In any case, try to save your initial impressions for wear in a similarly memorable time and place. Old-school luxury goes very well with this classic scent. It's so beautiful. . . hard to forget. . .
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post #9 of 15
2/19/10 at 5:42pm
If the price of AdP is off-putting, Scentsitivity replied to my thread about a less expensive doppleganger, which is Roger & Gallet Jean Marie Farina Extra Vieille EDC. It is really quite similar.

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post #10 of 15
2/19/10 at 6:07pm
Nordstroms has it too.
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post #11 of 15
2/19/10 at 6:24pm
I've seen it at Barney's aswell
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post #12 of 15
2/19/10 at 6:35pm
Oh yes, R&G Extra Vielle is very similar in feel. The scent is quite different, but the effect is very much the elegant, old-school attitude. Highly recommended to any and all.
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post #13 of 15
2/19/10 at 7:18pm
I used to purchase mine at C.O. Bigelow but they are no longer in my city.....I will have to purchase mine from neimans in the future or Bergdorf Goodmans.
Gary
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post #14 of 15
2/19/10 at 8:19pm
Barneys, Saks (I think) and Bergdorfs carry it.
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post #15 of 15
2/19/10 at 11:07pm
I bought my Colonia from Beauty Encounter. Their price is probably the lowest and they have good stock and service. They offer coupons for signing up to their newsletter.
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