Mediterranean Escapades

Evocative both of freshness and of sun-drenched vacations under blue skies, the Mediterranean seems to offer fragrance houses an inexhaustible source of inspiration.

With Blu Mediterraneo, Acqua di Parma dedicated a full line of fragrances to the ‘Deep Blue Sea’, while American brand Elizabeth Arden interpreted the Mediterranean as a luminous woodsy-floral. In more recent launches, several designers were inspired by cities from the Mediterranean basin: Palermo (Byredo), Ibiza (Playboy) and Carthage, town. The Tunisian coastal city inspired both a fragrance from the Cinq Mondes brand (Jardins de Carthage), and a pomegranate-based skin-care product from Diptyque. But the Mediterranean can also be redolent of sun-drenched escapes from it all, like Lancôme’s latest fresh eau, Ô d’Azur, a shout-out to one of tourists’ favorite regions in France: the Côte d’Azur, or French Riviera.

--- Italian sunshine ---

Unisex scent
Bergamotto di Calabria (Acqua di Parma)
The latest volume in the Blu Mediterraneo collection pays tribute to the luminous landscapes of Calabria. The fragrance is composed around the region’s celebrated fruit: bergamot.

--- latin lover ---

Men’s scent
Playboy Ibiza (Playboy)
After Malibu and Las Vegas, Playboy invites men to discover Ibiza, THE destination for partying and pleasure. The blue juice reveals a refreshing blend of aromatic herbs and juicy fruits from the Mediterranean region.

--- French Riviera ---

Women’s scent
O d’Azur (Lancôme)
Lancôme invites us on a summery escape to the Côte d’Azur. All sweetness and light, peonies and roses intertwine with a gourmet, fruity lemon-caviar accord.

--- Untamed coastline ---

Unisex scent
Calanques (Acqua di Parma)
The Calanques are a series of lovely little steep coves bathed by the Mediterranean near Marseille. L’Occitane has devoted a unisex scent with marine, solar and slightly woody notes to this unique spot.