WHAT I SMELL: Herbal Aquatica opens with fresh warmed bergamot that’s surrounded by a bouquet of herbs with mint front and center. It’s so light, fresh and airy which makes for an instant spritz of joy on the skin. In not too long, a magnolia note (the notes say lotus) brings in a creaminess that is like a river of satin that wraps the wearer in a sheen of lotion. Along with the florals comes a a sweetened and lightly confectioned glaze that seems to grow with every intake of the perfume. At this point, Herbal Aquatica moves from the more floral to the gourmand and the perfume takes on a sugared hue. I have to admit that I’m a bit worried at this point because the perfume started off so promising as a gentle wrap to the wearer. But with the sugar it’s turning the perfume from a lovely whisper to a bit more of a shout. Thankfully, after some time, Herbal Aquatica begins to even out and settle down and the florals along with a sandalwood help to bring to bring the perfume back to the edge of the garden.
From the Montale Parfums website:
Herbal Aquatica is a unique and peaceful composition, herbaceous and woody, fresh and sweet, surprisingly sensual. Lotus flowers, Papyrus and Sage evoke a journey to the banks of the Nile where the sun, like an offering, lets us see its last luminous rays.
The freshness of an early evening where the slightly mentholated spray transports us to the heart of Ancient Egypt. Herbal Aquatica, an undeniable treasure.
Top Notes – Mint, Calabrian bergamot, Herbal Notes and Sage; Middle Notes – Lotus, Sea Notes, Green Tea, Papyrus and Caramel; Base Notes -Australian Sandalwood, Vanilla Sugar and Amber.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Cottonelle toilet paper. I don’t know about other parts of the world, but in Mexico we have toilet paper in scents of magnolia, vanilla and violet. This smells very much like the magnolia and vanilla and that’s not a bad thing.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE HERBAL AQUATICA: comforting, positive, creamy
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HERBAL AQUATICA: No written reviews found.
BOTTOM LINE: Herbal Aquatica is so wonderfully inviting at first spritz as its soft beauty is like a dream. Then the perfume moves to the more bold with an addition of caramel and vanilla which takes the softness away, while still remaining delightful. I like Herbal Aquatica and given the right time for wearing it along with a gentle spray it may just move from a like to more of a love.
P.S.: After many wears, I will say that a gentle spray really is the key to making this perfume a joy to wear.
- Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $170 for 100 ml eau de parfum. Also available in 50 ml.
Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary.
WHAT I SMELL: Cockatiel opens with a combination of muted fruit and tangy champagne which quickly moves to a warmed powder. It’s lightly sweet and lightly candied as if it was concocted from an old confectioner of years past that can now only be found in tourist centric candy stores in mid-America. As Cockatiel flaps its wings, an undercurrent of musk pushes out from the center to the bottom of the perfume. It has a bit of a dull feel accentuated by a woody vanilla. Here, the perfume smells a bit like wet socks that have been sprinkled with powder. But that quickly dissipates and turns wholly to a soured spicy powder. Cockatiel is different, but I’m not sure if different in this case is a good thing.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Ye Olde Candy Shoppe.
WHAT I SMELL: APEX opens with a combination of muted bergamot and citrus…it’s fresh and not sweet and it’s as if it’s wrapped in a pineapple and amber cocoon of warmth. After this wonderful introduction, this masculine leaning perfume moves quickly to the sensual with a mix of amber tinged green notes. There’s no way to distinguish one note from another and instead the perfume invokes more of a sense of feeling and being. The greenish amber feels secure and with the addition of some incense creates for a sensation of being centered and right with the world. As APEX settles further, you are met with a vetivered sandalwood as the perfume becomes ever so slightly soapy. But in the end, APEX is less about the notes and instead is like an aura that surrounds you with a warmed leather-lite amber that seems to mix with your own persona to create a one-of-a kind perfume that’s just for you.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: meditation
The Scented Hound 