Best italian fragrance for men

[surileo]

Hi All,

Which is the best italian fragrance for men?

Cheers!!!!!

[gupts]

My favorite Italian fragrances are

Ungaro III
Lancetti via Condotti pour homme
Acqua Di Parma Colonia
Acqua Di Parma Colonia Assoluta

[shamu1]

I'll definitely second Acqua di Parma Colonia. Although my favorite fragrance is Mazzolari Lui (also Italian), I have to say AdP beats it in terms of smelling very Italian or Mediterranean in overall feel. It's delightful.

[neal]

AdP Colonia
AdP Assoluta
Lorenzo Villoresi Uomo
Lorenzo Villoresi Acqua di Colonia
Armani pour homme
Santa Maria Novella Colonia

[scentsitivity]

Acqua di Parma Colonia also. The fragrance I reach for most frequently.

[Ken_Russell]

I second ADP and Ungaro III

Other suggestions would include Trussardi Uomo, Very Valentino, Armani and Versace PH

[sables]

Laura Tonatto is propably the best italian perfumer for years and her creations for Carthusia and her own line are very italian - sanguineous, hot tempered and voluptuous!

Albi, Ré, Amir, Oltre and Carthusia Uno are great frags, IMO!

Mazzolari is another very good but quite expensive brand. Their Lui, Patchouly and Mazzolari (signature) are bold and extravagant scents, real head-turner.

[Tedster]

My favorite Italian fragrances are
Acqua Di Parma Colonia Assoluta

Totally

[Bartlebooth]

I will further endorse Acqua di Parma Colonia, and add another favourite of mine, Baraja by Acqua di Biella

[mr. reasonable]

The original Acqua di Parma Colonia (worn this for over a decade)
Villoresi Uomo & Mazzolari Lui (since coming to basenotes and can't imagine livng without them)
Antico Caruso is hardly 'typical' but just a great simple almond comfort scent

I'm also very interested to explore more of the Italian houses . . .

2012 Update:

Acqua di Colonia & Yerbamaté (very unusual) from Lorenzo Villoresi
Santa Maria Novella has a house style - personal favorites Fienno & Melograno
Lalfeorosa is also the one from O'Driu that appeals to me

[Tonyprince]

Lorenzo Villoresi (Uomo, Spezie, Vetiver, Piper Nigrum, Yerbamate)
Mazzolari (Mazzolari, Lui)
Profumum (Fumidus, Olibanum)
Trussardi (Uomo, Inside Man)

[damon]

acqua di parma is probably the most popular Italian fragrance, and definitely one of the best.
others that come to mind are MISSONI UOMO(1983), GIANFRANCO FERRE FOR MAN
(the original 1986) GRIGIOPERLA( by laperla) and UNGARO I,II,III.

[JonB]

Villoresi Uomo
AdP Colonia Assoluta

[Kevin Guyer]

FYI guys: Ungaro is a French company. Emanuel Ungaro is of Italian ancestry but was born in Province, France and his business is and always was based in Paris. I worked with his company in the mid-80s for about 4 years.

[wicozani]

Lots of great recommendations already, and I also like Villoresi's Vetiver, Colonia (+ Assoluta) and Trussardi Uomo very much.

Not yet mentioned, and among my favorite Italian fragrances

Romeo Gigli per Uomo
Spazio Krizia Uomo
Roma Uomo (Biagiotti)
Fresco di Vetiver (I Profumi di Firenze)

[scentemental]

FYI guys: Ungaro is a French company. Emanuel Ungaro is of Italian ancestry but was born in Province, France and his business is and always was based in Paris. I worked with his company in the mid-80s for about 4 years.

The three Ungaros, I, II, and III, are very much in the French tradition of perfumery, and all three fragrances were created or co-created by the two doyens of French perfumery François Demachy and Jacques Polge.

This is a difficult question to answer really. It would require first defining and then separating the quintessential characteristics of the Italian tradition of perfumery from that of the French. I think the two are inextricably intertwined, and so it would take quite a bit of thought to answer the question accurately along these lines, if it were, indeed, asked along these lines. Of course, if it is more a question of which is the best Italian brand fragrance for men, then that's a different and easier questions to answer.

scentemental

[narcus]

FYI guys: Ungaro is a French company. Emanuel Ungaro is of Italian ancestry but was born in Province, France and his business is and always was based in Paris. I worked with his company in the mid-80s for about 4 years.

... and the Acqua di Parma brand is a late 20th century revival of a pre WW2 family enterprise. I doubt the Cologne is now only half as popular within Italy than the first twelve colognes of Santa Maria Novella have been between Firenze and Napoli in the south, or Torino and Trieste in the north - for a whole century. The effective owner of the ADP brand is Louis Vuitton, and the better part of colognes was probably born outside of Italy. The Assoluta had two creators: J C Ellena and Bertrand Duchauffour. Smilarly , Francis Kurkdjian and Francoise Caron signed for Iris Nobile.

As to the best (beyond SMN): how about The Domenico Caraceni 1928 brand?

And whatever devil may have ridden the most famous perfume critic (of Italian origin !) when he wrote about that master in Firenze - Lorenzo Villoresi definitely deserves being named among the best! I also trust there is no doubts about his italianita...

[StylinLA]

Acqua di Parma looks like the popular choice here, but I suggest Domenico Caraceni 1913

I believe its limited availability is a blessing and a curse...

[Haunani]

Would any of you include any of the Eau d'Italie fragrances on this list? I like them a lot, and several would be excellent on a man, I think.

[Bossa Nova]

Versace l'homme is among my favorites.

[ortho123]

FYI guys: Ungaro is a French company. Emanuel Ungaro is of Italian ancestry but was born in Province, France and his business is and always was based in Paris. I worked with his company in the mid-80s for about 4 years.

Your comment made not too long related to "perfume buffonery" or something like that (not connected to Ungaro) I still value for its precision...when describing a fair number of Italian scent offerings...

[Schachman]

Carthusia Uomo is the one I prefer the most.

[Tonyprince]

Acqua di Parma looks like the popular choice here, but I suggest Domenico Caraceni 1913

I believe its limited availability is a blessing and a curse...

Good call. I forgot about Domenico Caraceni. Great stuff.

[ortho123]

The three Ungaros, I, II, and III, are very much in the French tradition of perfumery, and all three fragrances were created or co-created by the two doyens of French perfumery François Demachy and Jacques Polge.

This is a difficult question to answer really. It would require first defining and then separating the quintessential characteristics of the Italian tradition of perfumery from that of the French. I think the two are inextricably intertwined, and so it would take quite a bit of thought to answer the question accurately along these lines, if it were, indeed, asked along these lines. Of course, if it is more a question of which is the best Italian brand fragrance for men, then that's a different and easier questions to answer.

scentemental

Sounds absurd maybe...but for me the differences appear when even looking at an Ungaro necktie...

[Amit]

My vote strictly goes to Lorenzo Villoresi and Profumum respectively for their Spezie, Piper Nigrum, Sandalo, Incensi and Thundra, Fiore di Ambra and Acqua di Sale.

So, yeah, there isn't just one best Italian scent for either gender.

[N_Tesla]

I can't believe it. I don't see one mention of 10 Corso Como which, is my suggestion for best Italian fragrance.

[Aromabar]

Moschino Uomo

[Oslo-Fjord]

Profumum Victrix
Eau d`Italie Sienne I`Hiver
Eau d`Italie Bois d`Ombrie
Bois 1920 Vetiver Ambrato

[tdem1961]

Lots of excellent recommendations here. I'll add
Versace The Dreamer, as well as a few from Etro: Mahogany, Shaal Nur, Vetiver, Sandalo

[Kevin Guyer]

This is a difficult question to answer really. It would require first defining and then separating the quintessential characteristics of the Italian tradition of perfumery from that of the French. I think the two are inextricably intertwined, and so it would take quite a bit of thought to answer the question accurately along these lines, if it were, indeed, asked along these lines. Of course, if it is more a question of which is the best Italian brand fragrance for men, then that's a different and easier questions to answer.
scentemental

I'm game and I'm up to a good drubbing. I think there is a relatively clear Italian tradition of perfumery that shares many characteristics with Italian cuisine - I am skating on frost now, someone send in the clowns.
I think Italian perfumery is characterized by a much more holistic use of materials, less blending, less abstraction, the ample use of hesperidic notes and herbs and an absence of animalistic, unwashed notes. Case in point Lorenzo Villoresi's approach as well as Santa Maria Novella's.
I think the Italian tradition is close to the English tradition, minus the lavender.

[achanna]

Eau d`Italie - Paestum Rose

[jathanas]

I'm game and I'm up to a good drubbing. I think there is a relatively clear Italian tradition of perfumery that shares many characteristics with Italian cuisine - I am skating on frost now, someone send in the clowns.
I think Italian perfumery is characterized by a much more holistic use of materials, less blending, less abstraction, the ample use of hesperidic notes and herbs. Case in point Lorenzo Villoresi's approach as well as Santa Maria Novella's.
I think the Italian tradition is close to the English tradition, minus the lavender.

Yeah, I call it "Mediterranean minimalism". It's also evident if you'd contrast Italian and French cuisines.

[bokaba]

Who can resist Acqua di Parma Colonia?

[Dimitrios]

From the designer shelves :

Ungaro I
Versace L'Homme
Pino Silvestre
Vendetta PH
Moschino PH

[Haunani]

Lots of excellent recommendations here. I'll add
Versace The Dreamer, as well as a few from Etro: Mahogany, Shaal Nur, Vetiver, Sandalo

Oh yeah, I love Etro!

[DULLAH]

"the best" denotes choosing only the top rank:

Acqua Di Parma Colonia

[seasoldiermarine]

Acqua di Parma Lavanda Tonica
Antico Caruso
Carthusia Uomo

[MikeFromManhattan]

Lorenzo Villoresi Uomo and Spezie

[scentimus]

Trussardi Uomo

[Hillaire]

I like Gucci Pour Homme and Nobile

I also love the old powerhouses of Fendi Uomo and Krizia Uomo

[Renato]

1. Benetton Sport
2. Lorenzo Villoresi Vetiver.

Renato

[Hide & Reason]

In this one thread alone there's several definitions of 'Italian'. Namely, is the company's history grounded in Italy? is the style of the range recognisably Italinate? are the perfumers Italians? and is the non-Italian company's marketing Italian?

In terms of aesthetics, Italian perfume to me means boldness, simplicity and high contrast over subtlety, complexity and gradation, which I find more to French qualities.

[narcus]

In terms of aesthetics, Italian perfume to me means boldness, simplicity and high contrast over subtlety, complexity and gradation, which I find more to French qualities.

Most fans are certainly guided by an Italian name of either brand or fragrance. All other definitions are a little tricky, I agree. And the qualities you listed, including 'French' qualities, can all be found in fragrances of brands mentioned before (like SMN or Villoresi) and not mentioned so far, like ETRO.

In looking through some files I miss Italians in whatever lists of perfumers. Especially Bulgari seems to have engaged French perfumers too. Their fragrances are as Italian as Creeds could be called English. - Modern perfumes are loosing any kind of national character in our global world dominated by a perfume industry acting like one huge cartel tying producers, luxury brand owners, and their trading entities together.

[JickyMan]

Acqua Di Parma Colonia and Assoluta are awesome, but I'm also a huge fan of the clean and fresh Iris Nobile as well.

[Ciprian]

I believe CERUTTI-Image deserves a place here.

[PawelL]

FENDI THEOREMA UOMO, scandalously no longer in production

[Sorcery of Scent]

Calé Fragranze d'Autore - Mistero

[hednic]

My best Italian-named, French-made fragrance by a French designer of Italian descent - Vintage Ungaro III

[NYCBoy]

Uomo? Moschino

[ItalianStallion]

Acqua Di Selva has garnered some nice compliments. I often put some on after my lunchtime swim.

[Craig]

Lorenzo Villoresi
Mazzolari
Profumum Roma
Carthusia
BOIS 1920
MARCO DA VENEZIA
Nobile 1942
Profumo di Pantelleria - Most southern island of Italy.
I PROFUMI DI FIRENZE

[M.David]

Versace Man Eau Fraîche (in my limited experience)

[moon_fish]

Xerjoff

[JDE]

I believe CERUTTI-Image deserves a place here.

I wore this for years when I was younger! It's a great, and relatively underappreciated, scent. I also really like the original 1881 from Cerutti. Both are excellent for warmer months.
+1Million for AdP and i'll throw in Paco PH.

[asingleman]

LV - Spezie
Eau d'Italie - Bois d'Ombrie
Santa Maria Novella - Melograno

I'm being very brave to select just one fragrance from each house since "the best" was asked for, with some misgivings as these houses are loaded with great options for men.

[Sorcery of Scent]

Xerjoff

Ah yes! XerJoff Homme is King!

[wooznib]

Nino Cerruti

[KiatBkk]

Ungaro III

[shifts]

Would any of you include any of the Eau d'Italie fragrances on this list? I like them a lot, and several would be excellent on a man, I think.

I would.

[Paninaro]

+1 Trussardi Uomo
+1 Ungaro III

And of course -> Grigio Perla by La Perla.