The Art of Italian Perfumery in Acqua di Biella Fragrances

01/15/08 11:11:24

Acqua di Biella, Italian niche house with tradition over 130 years long, has recently launched a new fragrance, the fifth in the collection, Ca' Luna.

The house Acqua di Biella was established in 19th century by Luigi Cantono who in 1865 went Germany to study chemistry and there learned of the production of Eau de Cologne. Upon his return to Biella, he decided to start up a factory for production of fragrances and body care products. In 1871 he started to produce fragrant cologne which he named Acqua di Biella, named after the town of Biella situated in the heart of Piemonte, and renowned for its wool and fabrics production.

Beside the Acqua di Biella fragrance, his factory then placed in XX Settembre Street in Biella, was also producing other body care and fragrant products such as soaps, brilliantine, toothpastes, bear fat, castor oil, ‘flowers of Italy’ and violet ointments, rose juice lip creams, face powders, scented candles, etc.

In 1878 Reale Manifattura Luigi Cantono became the official supplier of the Savoia Royal household and for that was granted the Savoia coat of arms. Only two years after that Acqua di Biella becomes known and appreciated world-wide and received many prizes and medals.

At the beginning of the 20th century Reale Manifattura Luigi Cantono introduces new manufacturing activities and opens new and better equipped laboratories. The production of Acqua di Biella line continues to follow the same recipes and remains strictly handcrafted and based on the high quality raw materials.

Three women of the Cantono family played a significant role in development of the house, improvement of the brand. Luigi Cantono’s wife, Paola Corradi Cervi, a descendant of an aristocratic family of Parma introduced new fragrances with a bit of French flavor and gave the brand a new and elegant image.

Consuelo Cantono, the nose of the house, also expanded Acqua di Biella line by introducing new fragrances, the recipes for which she found in Reale Manifattura old recipe book. The third was Chiara Cantono, great-granddaughter of Luigi Cantono, who at the end of the 20th century decided to give her tribute to the family tradition and introduced a new line of fragrances which tell the stories of the Biella area and her family memories.

Following the texts on traditions and culture of Biella written by Alonso Sella, a friend of Chiara’s father and husband of her father’s sister, Consuelo and Chiara in honor of Alonso Sella, named the new fragrances with dialectical names Baraja, Janca and Bursch. Together with the great cologne named N°1 they create an extraordinary line of fragrances.

At the beginning of 21st century Aqua di Biella line got a new image and since 2003 it is again available in Italy and world wide through a selected network of specialized and niche stores.

With the new fragrance, Acqua di Biella line consist of five fragrances, starting with Acqua di Biella N°1, first produced in 1871 based on the 18th century convent formulae, still produced unchanged. Its composition is based on pure essential oils. Since it was first produced it won admiration of many royal and aristocracy members, as well as many other renowned persons.

N°1 is a citrus-floral fragrance which brings the essences of Mediterranean with the fresh notes of bergamot, aromatic notes of lavender, rosemary and mint in the top, followed by floral notes of petitgrain, jasmine and neroli in the heart, laid on the base of white musk.

The other fragrances of the collection are Baraja, Janca, Bursch and Ca’ Luna. All Acqua di Biella fragrances come in same, simply lined, but elegant 100ml (3.4 oz.fl.) bottles, and can be identified by different colors of labels which bear their names and, of course, the coat of Savoia.

Source and photos: acquadibiella.it

Author: noor_jehan
Fragrantica Member