Fragrance house

Acqua di Genova

Acqua di Genova was created in Genoa in 1853 by Genoese distiller and perfumer Stefano Frecceri for Vittorio Emanuele II of the House of Savoy. Italy’s Accademia del Profumo places it among the country’s early perfumes and within the development of Italian perfumery. Its historical identity is tied to Genoa, the Savoy court, and nineteenth-century perfumery, with contemporary descriptions emphasizing continuity with older formulations and a nineteenth-century character. The original scent, commonly identified as Colonia Classica, was the brand’s first fragrance and was associated with permission to use the Savoy royal coat of arms from 1866. The cologne was reported to have received 24 gold medals at Italian and international exhibitions, including London in 1862 and Paris in 1878. The brand is operated under Intercosma West, which created the Acqua di Genova 1853 line for its 150th anniversary while retaining the historical visual character of the original cologne bottles. Its defining fragrance style is the original classic cologne, described as citrusy and powdery.