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December 7, 2017

Acqua Dell’Elba Altrove (2016) ~Perfume Review + Essenza di un’Isola Smeraldo, Acqua and Altrove Gift Box Draw

Essenza di un'Isola Acqua Trio photo by Robert H

I hate wrapping presents. There, I said it. What I love is finding gift boxes like the ones offered by Acqua Dell’Elba, especially this beautiful aquamarine gift “book” of fragrances. Called the “Essenza di un’ Isola” this gift box contains three bottles of Eau de Parfum; a 100 ml. Bottles of Acqua, and two 15 ml. bottles of one each: Smeraldo and Altrove. Although available within Italy, the line is previously unknown elsewhere until now; these beauties are finally available stateside thanks to ADE Imports through their website. We first featured Acqua Dell’Elba in our coverage of New York City’s Indie Beauty Expo by Senior Contributor Hernando Courtright, discovering that the line is actually quite popular throughout Italy, with small retail boutiques in many touristic locations; 29 locations in all. Based on the Tuscan island of Elba, the story of their creation goes something like this….

 

Fabio Murzi, Chiara Murzi and Marco Turoni via Acqua Dell’Elba

“On a bright May morning near the turn of the century, three members of the Murzi family set sail on the clear, blue waters that surround Elba, their island home off the west coast of Italy. The fresh Elban breeze that day would carry them on the first leg of an amazing journey. They landed on 'Isoletta di Paolina' – a little island named for Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister Paolina during her infamous brother's exile on the island."

 Paolina Bonaparte Borghese

Near that island, a polished ivory statuette bottle had been recovered in the 11th Century from the hold of a sailing ship. Its watertight lid had protected a precious perfume and this became the inspiration – a message from the sea.

via Acqua Dell'Elba Paolina Bonaparte

The idea came to them loud and clear and with it came a desire to recreate that experience with a perfume that was not just a fragrance but an essence like no other – the essence of an island.

Aethalia was the name given to Elba  in the ancient Greek Legend Jason and  the Argonauts

The first perfume creations were introduced in 2001. The fragrances pay tribute to the island's wild flowers, herbs and citrus, the beauty and the scent of the sea and the breezes that carry these essences around the island. They are authentic, free from the superfluous, and made just for those who love simplicity, transparency, and beauty. They evoke the charm of Elba’s landscape, its art and culture, and its simple, natural way of life. The heart of Acqua dell’Elba perfumes is in the laboratory in the Elban town of Marciana Marina, where Chiara and Fabio Murzi and Marco Turoni have been working since 2000 alongside master craftsmen who have given life to these unique and inimitable perfumes.” -Acqua dell’Elba

Island of Elba Photo via Acqua Dell’Elba

These delightful fragrances are full of joie-de-vivre and inherent sunshine; the perfect bottled representation of a beachside holiday in December. The perfumes glow with an inner-heat, and I can’t wait to wear them again in warmer weather. They perfectly capture the rugged beauty of Elba, replete with ozonic watery notes interspersed with dry herbal and mineral-like notes that bring the cliffs, green scrub, and cypress trees to life.

 via Acqua Dell’Elba

My favorite in the Essenza de un’ isola gift set is Altrove . Inspired by the island of Montecristo with its charm, mystery and remoteness, Altrove is a sheer explosion of tart citrus and blue Mediterranean notes backed by sweet incense that brings a smoky, earthy depth to the composition. Not usually a fan of incense notes this one has captured my heart and soul, a minor miracle. It wears and drapes as casually as a light cashmere summer sweater thrown over your shoulders. Although labeled as a mens fragrance! I cannot imagine any woman not loving this scent.   Notes: Strawberry tree berries, Jasmine, rose, tobacco, iris, Juniper, cypress, Mediterranean shrubs, incense

Disclosure: Thank you SO much to Acqua dell’Elba USA for supplying my gift box. The opinions are my own.

–Robert Herrmann, Senior Editor

-Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

 Meet the Foundersof Aqua dell'Elba:  Friday December 8, 2017 at Parfumerie, 155 Lafayette Street, NYC, NY 3-6 PM and visit the pop-up shop Saturday 2-7PM.

Thanks to Acqua dell’Elba USA, we have a holiday surprise: a Essenza di un'Isola Acqua Trio  or a 100 ml of Altrove for a registered reader In the USA, so be sure to register if you have not done so. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LOG-IN FOR OUR SITE IS RIGHT BELOW OUR AWARDS ON THE UPPER RIGHT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO NAVIGATE. To be eligible please let us know what appeals to you about Robert’s reviews, which prize you would like should you win and which Aqua dell'Elba perfume you might like to try from their line of For Him and  For Her. Draw closes December10, 2017.

We announce the winners only on our website and on our Facebook page, so like Cafleurebon and use our RSS feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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21 Comments

  1. avatar fazalcheema says:
    December 7, 2017 at 4:07 pm

    These perfumes do seem quintessentially Italian, taking inspiration from local islands and their wild plantations. Even the compositions have classic feel to them. Thanks for the generous draw. My choice is Essenza di un’Isola Acqua Trio. I am in US.

  2. avatar Carol Webb says:
    December 7, 2017 at 7:37 pm

    I have never heard of this brand, so I enjoyed reading the background. Robert’s review is straightforward and easy to read but still very descriptive.
    I’ve visited the website and all of the descriptions sound so amazingly beautiful – both the women’s and the men’s fragrances – that I don’t know that I could pick just one. I would love to try the Arcipelago Donna EDP – but all the others as well. I will probably order at the very least some samples, because they do sound amazing.
    If I win I would choose the Trio. It would be a beautiful gift.
    I’m in the US, thank you for this opportunity.

  3. avatar Galen says:
    December 7, 2017 at 7:56 pm

    This kills me: “These delightful fragrances are full of joie-de-vivre and inherent sunshine; the perfect bottled representation of a beachside holiday in December.” I need some sunshine and sea, even if only in bottle form!
    I’ve been looking into Acqua Dell’ Elba recently, and am glad to see their offerings are now easier to find stateside.
    I’d definitely choose the Essenza di un’Isola Acqua Trio. The parfum Acqua is the one I’m most interested in trying: the combination of fruits, spices, flowers, and wood sound absolutely delightful.
    I live in the US.

  4. avatar Maya says:
    December 7, 2017 at 9:50 pm

    Classica Donna would be one that I would like to try because of the gardenia in it. They all sound lovely though. I like the story that goes with the line. Robert has made me very very curious when he says ” Not usually a fan of incense notes this one has captured my heart and soul”. I usually do not care for incense also. I am most interested in the Trio. USA.

  5. avatar NiceVULady says:
    December 7, 2017 at 11:48 pm

    I’m enchanted with the way Robert writes. Everything seems to come alive. These fragrances sound alive and full of summer sunshine. I would the Essenza di un’Isola Acqua Trio. SPort and Arcipelago Donna sound very interesting. Thanks for the draw. I live in the USA

  6. avatar Chocolate Marzipan says:
    December 8, 2017 at 5:11 am

    I love the tie in to the history and indigenous plants and sea….beautifully described by Robert. I would love the Essenza di un’Isola Aqua Trio but Aqua di Donna also intrigued me for the color of the juice and usage of fig as a note. I reside in the USA.

  7. avatar Steve A. says:
    December 8, 2017 at 8:43 am

    The listed notes seem to be brilliantly Italian. Like Robert I’d love to try these in warm weather. One from the line I’d also like to try is the Classica Uomo Eau de Parfum. My pick to win is the Essenza di un’Isola Aqua Trio. USA

  8. avatar Diana D says:
    December 8, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    Altrove sounds beautiful! I’ve never tried this line before. When looking through their website, another scent that I’d be interested in smelling would be Arapelago Donna. If I’m chosen as the winner, I’d select the Essenza di un’Isola Acqua Trio because I’d love to share them with my boyfriend.

    I live in the US – Pennsylvania

  9. avatar oldandsmelly says:
    December 8, 2017 at 10:03 pm

    I would choose the 100 ml of Altrove if I won as the notes described by Robert sound intriguing and wonderful. “Altrove is a sheer explosion of tart citrus and blue Mediterranean notes backed by sweet incense that brings a smoky, earthy depth to the composition.”. From the Aqua dell’Elba line the pefume that I would also like to try would be Classica Uomo Eau de Parfum.

    I live in the USA

  10. avatar Hasib says:
    December 8, 2017 at 10:49 pm

    Great descriptive review by Robert. Reminds me of the Italian coast.
    First time hearing about this House. They sound great. I would like to go with Altrove. Sounds like I’ll really enjoy it. Hope to get a chance. Thanks. U.S.

  11. avatar Chris G says:
    December 9, 2017 at 12:21 am

    I love how in Robert’s review, he described hope they came up with the idea of recreating the feel of their voyage. If I win I would love to try Altrove. The notes sounds so unique together (citrus, marine notes, and incense) sounds like an incredible and unique combo. I’m so looking forward to getting my nose on this. Altrove would be the fragrance I want to try the most. I live in Philadelphia PA

  12. avatar VerbenaLuvvr says:
    December 9, 2017 at 6:20 am

    I need to be whisked away to a Mediterranean island! 🙂 I agree that warmth in general is missing from most citrus fragrances meant to evoke the same, so it would be nice to see how it is worked in here. Of the offerings of this house, Blu Donna with its fig top interests me most. If selected I would choose the trio. Thank you for the chance to experience this line, I live in the US.

  13. avatar Cynthia says:
    December 9, 2017 at 9:08 am

    Ahh, these sound wonderful as I shiver in my sweater drinking hot coffee this morning. Even the bottle of perfume looks like a clean glass of water. You’ve really sold me on Altorve, Robert, but I’m greedy and would like to try all three if I won so I would select the trio. Thanks for the heads up. I may have to gift myself! USA

  14. avatar doveskylark says:
    December 9, 2017 at 12:05 pm

    Robert’s review truly evoked a Mediterranean island, hiking on a trail through cypress and citrus trees, never far from the sea breeze. I’d so like to wear one of these fragrances as I spend the USA winter in Brazil. I am especially interested in the notes of Altrove. I’d choose the trio. I live in the USA.

  15. avatar Vahagn says:
    December 9, 2017 at 12:38 pm

    Thanks for review and drow!! I liked this phrase “These delightful fragrances are full of joie-de-vivre and inherent sunshine; the perfect bottled representation of a beachside holiday in December.”
    My pick to win is the Essenza di un’Isola Aqua Trio.
    USA

  16. avatar Patty P says:
    December 9, 2017 at 12:44 pm

    I love so many of those notes listed above. The colors of these liquids are very inviting and match the description Robert gives.
    My choice is the Trio, which would be a great gift for me. 🙂 US

  17. avatar roxhas1cat says:
    December 9, 2017 at 9:52 pm

    A beachside holiday in a bottle…..sounds great right now. The picture of the seaside looked so inviting! I would most like to win the Altrove, if Robert says he usually doesn’t care of incense and likes this then it must be a winner! I love juniper, reminds me of where my parents live. Thanks for the draw!!

  18. avatar sunnlitt says:
    December 10, 2017 at 1:19 pm

    Thanks for the lovely review. It inspired me to check out the website where all the fragrances sounded delightful.
    The phrase ‘delightful fragrances are full of joie-de-vivre and inherent sunshine” captured me. These are my favorite type of fragrance–ones that lift my spirits.
    If I win, I would love to experience the Essenza di un’Isola Acqua Trio.
    And, on the website, the Blu Donna calls to me. I love fig notes.
    Thanks again.

  19. avatar james weaver says:
    December 10, 2017 at 3:31 pm

    These fragrances really intrigue me, Altrove is the one that most intrigues me. I haven’t sampled the brand yet I would love to. USA resident

  20. avatar rodelinda says:
    December 10, 2017 at 10:21 pm

    I could really use “a bottled representation of a beachside holiday in December,” so this line sounds fantastic! I truly can’t decide which fragrance sounds best, so I would pick the fragrance trio if I won. I’m in the US. Thanks!

  21. avatar Raee says:
    December 10, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    This is a perfect gift idea. The box has good presentation.
    I liked Altrove the most as I love incense and having some depth to marine scents is important to me.

    In USA.

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