„According to the legend, Venus lost her necklace during a sea bath and the pearls scattered in the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It created a beautiful string of islands with Elba as the most beautiful of its jewels.” – Acqua dell’Elba
This August I visited the island of Elba, during our summer road trip to Tuscany.
Here we go again, my son said in Piombino when we boarded a ferry: “Here we go again, a ferry&an island”. Because we have a summer cottage on the island of Brac, Croatia and his all childhood memories of summer vacations are tied mostly to that island, which he loves deeply. There are many similarities between the two! I felt at home. Yes, I am in love with seas, yes, my soul anchors in seas, and yes! I need a vitamin sea often!
During the ride, I mostly enjoyed the scent of the Tyrrhenian sea. On your way, you pass the island Palmaiola…it’s a beauty!
Upon arrival in Portoferraio, we started to explore the island, ancient and rich in history.
The legend says that Argonauts rested here, pirates invaded it now and then, it has had many rulers throughout its history. Napoleon was exiled to Elba in 1814. He fell in love with it and carried many reforms to improve the quality of life on the island. He did escape after 300 days spent there…This is a view from the outer wall of the garden of his former residence:
Every island is predetermined by the sea that surrounds it. The scent of the sea is ever-present and changing, it is not the same in the mornings, evenings, or nights, it is not the same in January or August, it is not the same depending on from which direction the wind blows. The scent of the sea mingles with flora on the island, fragrances of sunbathed low plants in the noon, fig-trees respiring in hot summer evenings, eucalyptus trees murmuring in the wind, citruses protruding every here and there…
When I walked the streets of Portoferraio after an afternoon spent on the beach, I searched for Acqua dell’Elba stores, knowing these perfumes are the only possible souvenirs I will take home with me.
Not only did I enjoy these perfumes in situ, but I also bring you a short interview with one of the owners. I was so fascinated with their effort that I just had to find out more!
The heart of Acqua dell’Elba is in the laboratory in Marciana Marina, where the owners, Chiara, Fabio, and Marco have worked since 2000. Together with master craftsmen who gave life to their perfumes. It was also here that the first Acqua dell’ Elba shop was born. The story of how the company has been born is interesting as well: the three owners went sailing in their boat. They reached Paolina’s cliff, where an ancient ivory statue kept the secret of the essence in its top. So they decided to recreate that fragrance, the scent of the sea surrounding Elba…you can find more details on their web page, but this is what they told me, Q and A’s.
Q: Is there a difference between Italian and French perfumery?
A: The only difference in our sector is between mass and niche products. Even if we’re trying to expand our markets and enlarge the number of people how to know and appreciate Acqua dell’Elba, we are a still small company, operating in a niche, who shares with other niche companies the same values: authenticity, passions, uniqueness.
Q: How would you describe the style of your creations?
A: Acqua dell’Elba is the Essence of the Sea. Its uniqueness lies in the creation of artisan fragrances inspired by the sea in one of the most beautiful islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Each product is created by expert Tuscan craftsmen using natural raw materials of the highest quality.
Q: What do you think is the biggest challenge in perfume production today?
A: Being authentic, meaning by that the capacity to maintain a link with your roots, your territory, and your background. As for the wine sector, the perfumery industry should work much more on the concept of “terroir”.
Q: Which one is your favorite in the collection?
A: As a man who likes nature and a wooden tone, my favorite is Arcipelago Uomo. (An aromatic and flowery fragrance for him with notes of -Spices: sage, pepper, and rosemary -Flowers: lily-of-the-valley and jasmine -Woods: Mediterranean shrubs, cedarwood, and cypress)
Q: Which one would you say represents the very soul of Elba?
A: All Acqua dell’Elba’s products bring to people a piece of Elba: The elegance of the landscapes with Classica; the adventure of nature with Arcipelago; the deep of the sea with Blu; the energy of the wind with Sport; the essence of an island with Acqua, Smeraldo, and Altrove.
Q: I recently purchased three different Acqua dell’Elba perfumes. While visiting Elba I went for a swim on Portoferraio city beach and after that, sea salt still in my hair, I walked into one of your shops. Smeraldo was my first choice because my afternoon smelled just like that. Which one is for you is the scent of a romantic evening on Elba?
A: Acqua, the perfume for the couple, the perfume of love… (A fragrance for ladies and gentlemen with notes of – Fruits and Spices: citrus fruits, myrtle berries, and sea salt -Flowers: marine algae, sea moss, myrtle, and jasmine – Woods: cedarwood)
The perfume of love. For the sea…A sea lover I am and I find that simply beautiful. Now I have a dream: I would love to work on the creation of a perfume speaking in olfactory language about the island of Brac as well!
The Plum Girl
Photos: ThePlumGirl private collection and Acqua dell’ Elba
Perfume notes: as stated by Acqua dell’Elba
3 Comments
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Hi Elena and thank you for the wonderful article and interview. I am a fan of citrus and seaside-infused fragrances and recently read about this line in a Fragrantica article. I was quite interested and impressed with the overwhelmingly positive reviews of the several Acqua dell’ Elba fragrances on that site…not to mention the nice backstory of the founders and that the line is not well-known in the fragrance world. A bit more searching led me to their actual American website (a beautifully laid out one, by the way) where they take orders from the US. I have placed an order for their ‘Discovery Box’ with samples of their main scents for myself and my wife. Can’t wait to try them! We plan to visit Italy for the first time next year and are leaning heavily to focusing on Tuscany….and it seems we may have to consider visiting Elba if time permits.
Oh, do try to visit Elba while in Tuscany! It’s beautiful! Once you are there, the whole line will make absolute sense.
Thank you for your wonderful comment!