Acqua di Parma's new Ligurian-inspired scent proves the best things come in small packages

The latest iteration of its Blu Mediterraneo range, Acqua di Parma’s new Chinotto di Liguria – like its predecessors – takes its cue from a spellbinding Italian region, this time the verdant coastal region of Liguria and its local speciality, the chinotto. You’d be forgiven for never having heard of it; it’s particular to the region but little heard of outside of Italy.

“Nobody has heard of it,” says Acqua di Parma’s CEO Laura Burdese, “which is exactly why we chose it. We were looking for something different. It brings a sweetness and a bitterness at the same time.”

The tiny fruit – think of an orange in lychee proportions – comes with an aromatic, citrus scent, offset with cardamom and rosemary. It’s a fresh, salty, heady arrangement, and joins a veritable map of spellbinding Italian locations that inspire the Blu Mediterraneo range, from the Amalfi coast to Sardinia, Taormina to Capri.

“Italy is at the essence of what we do,” says Burdese, of the brand that began as a cologne used by tailoring emporiums in Parma over 100 years ago, when Carlo Magnani, inspired by London’s gentlemanly barbers, launched a scent for tailors to spritz on their well-heeled clients as a final flourish.

“That beautiful lifestyle has always been ingrained in our scents. We grew as a brand thanks to the world of tailoring, so we were already part of the most refined areas of Italian life. It’s about an easy, sophisticated, understated Italian elegance.”

Liguria was chosen not just for the chinotto, says Burdese, but for the wild, verdant ruggedness of its mountains and dramatic coast, away from the more polite environs of Portofino. Just add some of the local pesto Genovese and you’re practically an honorary Ligurian.

Chinotto di Liguria, ￡66, acquadiparma.com