Acqua di Parma

In 1916 a small perfume workshop in Parma, Italy created a hand-distilled cologne and gave it the name of the town. The town had an illustrious past having had one of Italy's most dazzling courts under the Gonzaga dynasty. Later the city was renowned for it's sophistication at the time of composer Guiseppe Verdi and Empress Maria Louisa of Australia.

In the 1930's and 1940's the Acqua di Parma Colonia became increasingly popular. The refreshing, light and refined scent was the opposite of the string, aggressive fragrances that were predominant at the time, and through word of mouth, a classic was born. Admirers at the time included Cary Grant, Ava Gardner, Audrey Hepburn, Lana Turner and David Niven.

In 2000 Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) buys into Acqua di Parma and sets the stage for Acqua di Parma to become a leader on the international luxury goods market.