Eau d’Italie really have it made as a brand. I mean, creating fragrances inspired by their native Italy, specifically the phenomenally gorgeous coastal town of Positano (where they own and run the famous Le Sirenuse hotel), really gives them a lot of beauty to work with. Besides, the Italian way of life is incredibly attractive, one can’t help but want to own a part of that, even if it just an olfactory representation.

For their tenth perfume – ‘Acqua Decima’ (Tenth Water), Eau d’Italie have roped in the talents of perfumer Alberto Morillas (Mugler Cologne, Penhaligon’s Iris Prima and Salvador Dalí Parfum de Toilette) to create a perfume that celebrates “the spirit of Italy itself”. The result is a perfume that, as Eau d’Italie puts it; “reflects the sunniest feelings we have inside” but also perfectly captures a way of life in a bottle.

The Notes

Top: Lemon, Mandarin and Mint Leaves
Heart: Neroli, Petitgrain and Hedione
Base: White Wood and Vetiver

How Does it Smell?

Acqua Decima’s initial blast is a refreshing zing of citrus – lemon and lime predominately – accented by the cool menthol of mint. Together the mouthwatering lime and sweet herbaceous mint conjure up the image of an ice cold mojito being gently sipped by the ocean (a la Guerlain’s Homme but without the woody foghorn), the delicious drink soaking up the sea breeze. There is a definite lack of rum backing up this olfactory mojito, so perhaps one is just being sensible and opting for a mocktail instead – after all, it’s important to always drink responsibly!

Neroli and petitgrain, both of which display more than a few hints of orange blossom in the heart, add a delicate clean heat to the proceedings. It’s a fairly subtle nuance but it goes a long way to place Acqua Decima as something that came from nature and keeps the associations with Italian landscapes well and truly alive.

In the base vetiver and white woods are billed as the key players and to a degree this is true, but both ingredients are presented in a crystalline manner where only the clean and clear facets are allowed to come through. Musk elevates and gives lift to the translucency of the base notes and allows for Acqua Decima to continue its fizzy, vivacious dance long into the hot Italian night.

During my Summer Special for Perfume Lovers London earlier this year I chose Acqua Decima to represent an olfactory trip to Italy. To my nose it represents the the animated and lively spirit of the Italian people whilst capturing the clear blue skies and topaz coloured seas of the beautiful Amalfi coast.

Summer may be drawing slowly to a close but just a few spritzes of Acqua Decima will keep the spirit of the season well and truly alive.

Availability

Acqua Decima is available in 100ml Eau de Toilette for £87.

Disclaimer
Image 1 via onebigphoto.com. Image 2 via cafleurbon.com. Notes and quotes via eauditalie.com.