Colonia N°0 Antica Barbieria Colla 2015
10
Helpful Review
Mr. Bompieri or how I came to a Barbershop fragrance!
Like a moth drawn to the light, magically attracted by the fragrance pyramid and the notes of bergamot, artemisia, vetiver, and oakmoss, I ordered a sample of Colonia N°0 despite lacking male attributes and interest in Barbershop scents.
I generally don’t care whether a fragrance is designed for women or men or for anyone else, but I must admit that I initially overlooked the actual fragrance direction (me and a Barbershop scent?!). It could have been easily inferred from the brand. But my eagerness to experiment and love for fragrance once again led me quite subtly astray.
Therefore, I was very surprised and perplexed during the first test spray. I was greeted with a timelessly elegant, very Italian, citrus-woody scent and a vibrant company history. I want to take you on a little nostalgic journey.
The shop Antica Barbieria Colla was founded in 1904 by Dino Colla in Milan. Dino Colla not only cut the hair of his exclusively male clientele, shaved and trimmed beards, but also pampered them with a service that was quite novel at the time. After shaving, there were steaming towels for the face, hands were manicured, and the first self-developed products catered to the discerning gentleman. Do you know the late jewelry expert from the TV show "Kunst und Krempel," who always had enviably shiny polished and lacquered nails? That's how I imagine the result and a truly elegant and snobbish gentleman. Logically, the shop also became a kind of communication and information hub where business and world affairs were discussed. From the 1960s onward, the shop was run by Mr. Mantovanini and the newly hired Franco Bompieri, who is said to have learned the barbering trade at the tender age of 9 and is regarded as a master of his craft. Since 2010, the daughter Francesca has been carrying the family legacy from the past into the modern era, significantly revamping the marketing and creating a new, modern, yet very tradition-conscious image. The daughter seems quite determined and, for the company's 111th anniversary in 2015, offered the fragrances "Colonia N°1, Colonia N°9," Colonia N°0 to Colonia N°4 for the first time in open sale. Previously, the fragrances were used exclusively in the shop. Each of the fragrances carries one of the digits of the founding year 1904.
Now to Colonia N°0:
The scent starts citrusy with a juicy bergamot and gains depth and a bright spiciness through birch and green-herbaceous juniper wood. The bitter, slightly sweet, and very aromatic artemisia is already present at the beginning and dominates the fragrance progression. You should already like artemisia/wormwood. A moderate base with light vetiver, aromatic-spicy oakmoss, and delicate hints of cedarwood adds a bit of volume and strength to the fragrance. The sillage is moderate and the longevity is decent.
An pleasantly unobtrusive, calm, and friendly daily companion.
I will continue to spray my sample and enjoy this fragrance!
PS: This is my first comment and I ask for leniency!
I generally don’t care whether a fragrance is designed for women or men or for anyone else, but I must admit that I initially overlooked the actual fragrance direction (me and a Barbershop scent?!). It could have been easily inferred from the brand. But my eagerness to experiment and love for fragrance once again led me quite subtly astray.
Therefore, I was very surprised and perplexed during the first test spray. I was greeted with a timelessly elegant, very Italian, citrus-woody scent and a vibrant company history. I want to take you on a little nostalgic journey.
The shop Antica Barbieria Colla was founded in 1904 by Dino Colla in Milan. Dino Colla not only cut the hair of his exclusively male clientele, shaved and trimmed beards, but also pampered them with a service that was quite novel at the time. After shaving, there were steaming towels for the face, hands were manicured, and the first self-developed products catered to the discerning gentleman. Do you know the late jewelry expert from the TV show "Kunst und Krempel," who always had enviably shiny polished and lacquered nails? That's how I imagine the result and a truly elegant and snobbish gentleman. Logically, the shop also became a kind of communication and information hub where business and world affairs were discussed. From the 1960s onward, the shop was run by Mr. Mantovanini and the newly hired Franco Bompieri, who is said to have learned the barbering trade at the tender age of 9 and is regarded as a master of his craft. Since 2010, the daughter Francesca has been carrying the family legacy from the past into the modern era, significantly revamping the marketing and creating a new, modern, yet very tradition-conscious image. The daughter seems quite determined and, for the company's 111th anniversary in 2015, offered the fragrances "Colonia N°1, Colonia N°9," Colonia N°0 to Colonia N°4 for the first time in open sale. Previously, the fragrances were used exclusively in the shop. Each of the fragrances carries one of the digits of the founding year 1904.
Now to Colonia N°0:
The scent starts citrusy with a juicy bergamot and gains depth and a bright spiciness through birch and green-herbaceous juniper wood. The bitter, slightly sweet, and very aromatic artemisia is already present at the beginning and dominates the fragrance progression. You should already like artemisia/wormwood. A moderate base with light vetiver, aromatic-spicy oakmoss, and delicate hints of cedarwood adds a bit of volume and strength to the fragrance. The sillage is moderate and the longevity is decent.
An pleasantly unobtrusive, calm, and friendly daily companion.
I will continue to spray my sample and enjoy this fragrance!
PS: This is my first comment and I ask for leniency!
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6 Comments
And when the trains are running again, I'll stop by Signore Colla in Milan for some pampering in 1904 ;-)
So, no consideration or leniency: Thank you for this excellent contribution!