Acqua di Parma’s Acqua Nobile Magnolia Review

Acqua Nobile Magnolia, by Italian perfume house Acqua di Parma, is a shimmering and sunny Magnolia scent that is delicate, dainty, and uplifting like a fresh breeze on a Summer’s day.

Acqua di Parma is brilliant at making sophisticated scents that are true to nature yet unique and intimate. Wearing an Acqua di Parma fragrance makes you feel like it was created specifically for you. Their unique combinations of notes smell so different on every individual and the imagination behind the blends truly transports you on a tour of Italy; so much so, that just by wearing it, you’d swear that you were born Italian. Whether it’s the vibrant Citrus of jet setting off to Rome, the aromatic herbs of Tuscany, or in this case the sweet magnolias in your villa garden, Acqua di Parma is Italy at its finest.

Acqua Nobile Magnolia is a rare example of how to take the usually powerful scent of the Magnolia blossom and make it crisp, refreshing, clean, and above all, bright and airy. These accords set it apart from any other Magnolia scent on the market, as most are heady and overpowering.

As with most Acqua di Parma scents, there isn’t a real defined fragrance pyramid, meaning they don’t really distinguish between top, middle, and base notes. This adds to the originality of the scent and the easy-breezy wearability that all Acqua di Parma fragrances have. But there are still notes that standout above the rest, and in Acqua Nobile Magnolia it is definitely the citrusy notes of Bergamot, Citron, Lemon, and the sweet nectar notes of Neroli and Mandarin orange that give an instant lift to the scent with a smile. Combined with the delicate blooms of Orange Blossom and Lily-of-the-Valley, these notes are like pure sunshine.

To round out the scent, deep floral notes of Magnolia and Jasmine are present but don’t steal the show. And the addition of a peppery Freesia note is superbly placed in amongst the citrus and heady flowers. Having this perky Freesia note present keeps the scent from smelling overly girly or too frilly.

I can praise this bright scent all I want, but in the end, we all want a bit of warmth and softness to linger, but unfortunately this fragrance never seems to let those traditional base notes flourish. Listed are notes of Patchouli, Vanilla, and Musk, but I found it hard to detect these notes, if at all. I kept waiting for the dry down (when all the top bright notes have evaporated), but the scent seemed to vanish before I could catch a glimpse of the warmth it should have had.

So I am left a bit heartbroken because the effervescent and perfectly combined citrus and floral notes were like hope-in-a-bottle, but left me floating in the clouds! There wasn’t anything to ground the scent to my skin.

Which brings me to the most unfortunate point of all with Acqua Nobile Magnolia, and that is it’s sillage and longevity. The scent is delicate and intimately worn close to the body which is great when a subtle effect is needed like at a wedding or on the plane. But the longevity is almost non-existent. On me, it only lasted a mere 40min; but what gloriously happy 40min it was!

Due to its close sillage and short longevity, this fragrance is a moment in time. A brief romantic encounter floating on a Summer’s breeze. The wind in your hair. The sweet breeze at a garden party. A walk past a flower shop. Acqua Nobile Magnolia lives in a woman’s Ferragamo handbag and is brought out many times a day, whenever she feels the need to add a bit of sunshine, whenever she feels the need to leave a fleeting memory in her wake.

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The Perfume Expert Rating

Longevity

Sillage

Complexity

Value

Summary: A fresh breeze from a villa garden in the warm Italian sun! This is a rare and beautiful fragrance that brightens up the usual heady magnolia flower. Bright citrus notes add sparkle to the floral notes making it a breath of fresh air. But unfortunately this exquisite moment does not last long and wears too close to the body to be enjoyed by anyone else but yourself.

3

Exquisite but Brief

Tags: Acqua di Parma, Eau de Toilette, Perfume Reviews

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