This is a new spring fragrance that has just come out on the market. I chose to review it based on the interesting history of Acqua di Biella and their ability to combine fragrances into complex scents that appeal to most ladies in the market. The perfume is not yet a brand leader but I think that it has set a very good foundation for further grown given the fact that the initial response from the target market was really positive.

The Brand

Acqua di Biella is an Old Italian fashion brand that specializes in creating fragrance through unique combinations that are meant to capture the senses of the user. They have a long tradition in this area and I am not surprised by the quality of the perfume that they are producing in Janca. The only surprise perhaps, if I were to be really picky, is the relative modernity of the tones within the perfume. Generally with Acqua di Biella you expect quality and normally you are not disappointed.

The Fragrance

 The fragrance is quite complicated with a variety of mixed scents that are typical of the Acqua di Biella brand.  We start off with Florentine iris which descends into peach. There is a hint of tamarind and mandarin. If you really smell the scent you will also notice some linden accompanied by osmanthus and magnolia. At the very top of the perfume are cardamom, musk and cedar. They claim that there is patchouli but most reviewers agree that this is so faint as to become insignificant. As you can tell from the list, this is not a simple perfume but a very complex product that is meant to intrigue and please the customer.

The Packaging

I really hate to say this but the packing is all over the place. I wonder why they decided to get a plain glass bottle and then top it with black. This is normally a good combination but they spoilt everything by sticking a great huge red label on top. What you then get is a bottle that looks cheap and does not do justice to the perfume that it is meant to be selling. The perfume is greatly let down by the packaging in my opinion.

General Customer Feedback

The customers who were mostly ladies are absolutely delighted with the perfume. They thought that it was just floral enough to be feminine without overpowering them or causing them to feel sickly. However most of them commented that some of the elements listed in the scent list were not coming out properly.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Acca Kappa is well known for cosmetic brushes and other grooming products but not for perfumes. In Calycanthus they have created a floral tribute to the calycanthus flowers. This is a relatively new perfume but it is already causing a stir among the public. I am delighted to be able to review it.  I dig the fact that a feminine perfume is not afraid to announce its presence to the world and wait for the customers to fall on their feet. This is a great confidence that is displayed by the designers.

The Brand

Acca Kappa is known within fashion stakes as people who are particularly good at making brushes and the associated cosmetic products. This is an old fashion house that has been in existence since the nineteenth century. They will therefore have a pretty good idea of the kinds of things that appeal to the lady. I presume that they wanted to transfer some of their expertise away from the brushes onto something new and I think that they are pretty successful with this perfume.

The Fragrance

 This perfume is definitely of the floral kind. The calycanthus flower is an obvious basic scent within the fragrance but then it opens up into other aspects which can be quite intriguing for the new user.  For example there are hints of Jasmine which simmers into honey or musk. For a feminine perfume this is quite a complex structure but I definitely like it because it refuses to be stuck in floral mendacity but rather explores some masculine undertones to give the impression of a deep and wonderful perfume.

The Packaging

The packaging is clean to the point of almost looking clinical. The golden lines are rarely punctuated except to provide the basic information about the price and contents of the perfume. The bottle is angular and clear but not so cold as to make you want to put the perfume away. I believe that this simple way of presenting the perfume ensures that we are only concentrating on the fragrance and not the packaging.

General Customer Feedback

The customer feedback was quite positive with people particularly pleased with the new take on the old floral theme. Everyone who had a chance to use the perfume was fully complementary about its merits. There was an area of contention because the perfume did not seem to be available in all parts of the world. There were particular supply issues in Italy and France.

Popularity: 8% [?]