Puig honours its heritage with new Colonias Absolutas collection

The Spanish fashion and beauty group is honouring its roots with a new launch. Puig has unveiled Colonias Absolutas, a collection of fragrances that pays tribute to its founder, Antonio Puig, and the group’s family heritage. Inspired by Mediterranean olfactory culture, the collection reinterprets the essence of eaux de cologne through a contemporary lens.

“We thought it was honest and right to stay true to our origins and honour what we have inherited,” said Manuel Puig, vice-chairman and a third-generation family member.

The concept is based on the premise of a return to essentials. “The idea was not to make it a fashion product… What matters is the emotion it evokes,” added Jean-Claude Ellena, the master perfumer behind the creation.

The collection, comprising four signature colognes created by Ellena, is now available through the company’s e-commerce platform, priced at €180 per bottle. Each fragrance comes in a bottle inspired by Balearic jars, a design originally created by André Ricard in 1962, and is housed in a terracotta-coloured case that evokes the earth and Mediterranean warmth.

One of the collection’s standout fragrances is a reinterpretation of the classic Agua Brava, which retains its aromatic character while evolving towards more woody notes, while Agua Lavanda Iris revisits the historic 1940 launch, combining lavender with iris. Agua Noble is inspired by a conversation between Ellena and Puig and evokes Andalusian leather with hints of citrus and white musk. Finally, Agua Mediterránea is presented as an entirely new creation, centred on the fig leaf as a symbol of the Mediterranean, alongside mastic, wild mint and cedar.

Founded in Barcelona in 1914, the family-owned company, which spans fashion, fragrances, make-up and skincare, is present in more than 150 countries and has its own offices in 32 markets.

In its 2024 financial year, Puig posted record net revenue of €4.79 billion, up 11.3% on the previous year. Continuing this trend, the company’s net sales reached €2.299 billion in the first half, representing an increase of 7.6% on a like-for-like basis (LFL, at constant scope and exchange rates) and 5.9% in reported terms, outpacing the premium beauty market.