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In my opinion, the best perfumes should make you feel like a totally different version of yourself. Whether you want to feel confident, fresh or fun-loving, I truly believe a scent has the power to bring out whatever alter ego you want to channel. With the warm weather approaching and plenty of summer events in the diary, I’m in the mood to channel my Italian heiress alter ego. You know, the woman who walks around Milan with a Birkin bag in hand, stopping for a spritz whenever she feels like it, driver on hand to take her wherever she pleases. Sure, I might actually be sweating on the central line with my work rucksack on my back, racing to the local pub to have a beer with friends, but a girl can dream, right? Well, thanks to these specific scents, that dream feels just a little bit closer.
I’ve tested plenty of summer fragrances over the years. Still, lately I’ve come across a handful of scents that seem to have bottled that chic, expensive-smelling, Italian heiress vibe better than anyone else. It all started with Bvlgari’s latest launch. On a recent trip in Rome (see, sometimes I can be glamorous), I was introduced to Eau Parfumée Thé Impérial Eau de Toilette. Bottling the signature fragrance of the Bvlgari hotel, this perfume makes you feel like the most elevated version of yourself, wherever you are.
Since wearing the scent and receiving endless compliments, I’ve been on the hunt for more perfumes that bring out my Italian heiress alter ego. Below, you’ll find a concise edit of luxurious fragrances that do exactly that, so if you’re looking to add a bit of glitz and glamour to the season ahead, I highly suggest you keep on scrolling.
The Best Italian Perfumes
Bulgari
Thé Impérial Eau de Toilette
Key notes: Sri Lanka Black Tea, Italian citruses
I mean, we had to start with this one, didn’t we? A truly luxurious Italian scent created by master perfumer Jacques Cavallier in 2017, honoring the signature fragrance of the Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts. It’s light yet rich, with notes of black tea and citrus creating a warm, luminous aroma that makes it smell as if you’ve just emerged from an afternoon in the Bvlgari spa. To me, spritzing this is the olfactory equivalent of drenching my skin in sparkling diamonds.
Acqua Di Parma
Colonia Eau de Cologne
Key notes: Lemon, orange, bergamot, lavender, rose, verbena, rosemary, vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli
You didn’t think I’d do a roundup of expensive-smelling Italian perfumes without including Acqua Di Parma’s Colonia, did you? An icon in its own right, this is a true citrus scent that beautifully captures the feeling of a lavish Italian summer. Although it opens on zesty, uplifting notes, a base of vetiver, sandalwood and patchouli adds an undertone of pure elegance.
Brunello Cucinelli
Segreto Parfum
Key notes: Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian yellow mandarin, orange blossom, Paraguayan petitgrain, sandalwood, Siam benzoin
If you’ve read our roundup of the best Brunello Cucinelli perfumes, you’ll already know that these Italian scents ooze sophistication. Segreto is a standout scent, with a bright, breezy aroma that screams, “I spend every summer on a yacht.” While citrus notes take centre stage, sandalwood adds a warm, creamy touch that envelops the senses like silk.
Bottega Veneta
Colpo Di Sole Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Angelica root oil, bergamot oil, orange flower absolute, osmanthus absolute, ambrette seed oil, vanilla bourbon extract, vetiver oil, eco-musk
Designed to capture the warmth of the Mediterranean sun, this Bottega Veneta perfume is an olfactory work of art. One spritz and you’ll find yourself immediately transported to Italian waters, even when it’s chucking it down outside. Oh, and can we take a moment for the bottle? This is a fragrance that I’d proudly pull out of my handbag.
Emporio Armani
Power of You Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Passion fruit accord, frangipani accord, vanilla absolute
I didn’t think a gourmand scent could smell this expensive, but I’m very glad to say that Armani has proved me wrong. A delicious concoction of passion fruit, frangipani and vanilla, this fragrance is sweet and fresh with a luminous floral heart. It’s not as rich as the scents above, so it’s perfect if you prefer something a little more suitable for everyday wear.
