No.102 Colonia

Colonia is Eden Perfumes' vegan tribute to Acqua di Parma's 1916 Italian classic, a fragrance built almost entirely on the idea of restrained, tailored citrus. The opening leads with bergamot and lemon, sharpened by rosemary and a whisper of amber that gives an early hint of the warmth to come. Through the heart, lavender and rose sit alongside jasmine and lemon verbena, keeping the composition aromatic and slightly green rather than sweet or floral-heavy, which is exactly the register the original occupies. The base brings sandalwood, vetiver and patchouli together for a woody finish that's meant to echo Colonia's famous amber-tinged dry-down, though here it arrives lighter and fades a little faster than the multi-hour performance the designer fragrance is known for. This is a scent for anyone who wants the tailored, suit-ready image of Colonia - citrus at the front, wood and amber underneath - without the full weight of the original's ingredients or its price tag. It suits warm weather and formal settings equally well, projecting a clean, confident freshness rather than announcing itself loudly. As with most Eden reformulations, expect a shorter lifespan on skin and a slightly flatter mid-development, but the citrus-aromatic-woody structure that makes Colonia so recognisable is clearly present here.