Lifestyle report from Treviso, Italy-3: Acca Kappa: From 1869 to modernity
August 30, 2006 | 12:00am
A hundred new scents are created every year by perfumers worldwide. Only a few brands survive and make it to the list of all-time favorites that survive all the mercurial trends that have sprung up in the last century.
One of them is Acca Kappa. It started with a line of hairbrushes created by Hermann Krull in 1869 in Treviso, Italy. For more than a century, the company has been making bath and beauty-care products for men and women. Today, under the leadership of his great-granddaughter Elisa Gera, Acca Kappa soars with its White Moss scent.
What makes Acca Kappa White Moss so appealing ?
"I like it because it has that natural, refreshing scent that makes you feel like you’ve just stepped out of the shower," says a young Acca Kappa fanatic. "It is sooo not matron-ic. Nothing too strong or trying-hard about this scent."
"It goes with quiet elegance," explains a socialite. "This is the type of scent that goes with the classic black dress and pearls. Or with all-white glamour. I love it."
"The packaging speaks for itself – all white, clean, simple, sophisticated. It appeals to an intelligent market," says one of the country’s top architects.
"I am attracted to things with a patina of history. If something has endured the test of time, then it must be declared a classic," declares an artist.
"I trust only three beauty brands, and Acca Kappa is one of them. I would have more faith in a company that focuses only on personal-care products. I would perhaps not entrust my skin to a brand that sells its name to manufacturers just so it can produce everything from cosmetics to ashtrays."
"Acca Kappa is a brand that goes with refinement. It doesn’t scream. It’s not for the likes of Madonna. More for Grace Kelly types," suggests a top couturier.
Elisa Gera explains the success of Acca Kappa this way: "People like it because it symbolizes a return to quality, luxury and simplicity in beauty essentials for the body."
"We stick to three basic principles," says this Boston University-educated Italian heiress. "Simple design, high-quality production and natural materials." Natural ingredients include honey, wheat germ and plant extracts such as white mulberry and aloe.
In the Philippines, Acca Kappa is exclusively distributed by Rustan’s Essenses and is available at Rustan’s Essenses Makati, Rustan’sTower in Edsa Shangri-La, Alabang Town Center, Cebu Ayala, Robinsons Place Manila, Harrison Plaza and Gateway Mall Araneta Center.
This year, Elisa Gera is coming to Manila to open a new Acca Kappa boutique in Makati.
Bestsellers at Rustan’s Essenses include the following:
White Moss Acqua di Colonia – Created with essential oils of lavender and juniper, this fragrance evokes sweet, warm and sensual notes with a slight perfume of wood, amber and of course, moss. It is very light yet lasts throughout the whole day. "It is one of the few fragrances you can wear even in hot weather," says a user.
White Moss Hand Cream – Rich in vitamins A and E, karite butter and aloe vera, it nourishes the skin for a soft and velvety feel. It is also formulated with sweet almond oil to prevent excessive dryness, and enriched with allantoin to help speed up cell regeneration.
White Moss Body Lotion – It has a soft and creamy hydrating emulsion scented with white moss, plus lemon extract and pro-vitamin B5 for toning and treating the skin.
White Moss Shaving Cream – Developed with plant extracts to soften facial hair and provide a smooth and comfortable shave. Natural oils moisturize and nourish the skin, while glycerin creates a silky-smooth surface for shaving ease. It also contains coconut oil and alfa bisbolol, excellent for sensitive skin.
To commemorate its founding year, Acca Kappa has created a special line called 1869 for men:
1869 Acqua di Colonia – An elegant and distinctly masculine fragrance made fresh with cardamom, geranium, iris and violet leaves. Amber and vanilla add warmth and sensuality.
1869 Shampoo and Shower Gel – A dual-purpose gentle cleanser enriched with natural extracts of invigorating ginseng and green tea, an anti-aging antioxidant. It also contains pro-vitamin B5 to deeply hydrate, protect and moisturize skin and hair.
1869 Toilet Soap – This all-vegetable-based formula is rich, delicate and moisturizing. Ideal for all skin types.
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