Top Notes
Sicilian mandarin orange
Tunisian neroli
Heart Notes
Aquatic notes
Mineral notes
Base Notes
Indonesian patchouli
Frankincense
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Notes02/05/2022
Carlitos01
347 Reviews
Carlitos01
Helpful Review
10
A volcano by the Ionian Sea
I have always been attracted to volcanic landscapes, preferably combined with seashores. This passion has already led me to visit places like Haleakala, Mauna Loa and Kilauea in Hawaii, Pico in the Azores, Popocatépetl in Mexico, Vesuvio and Etna in Italy. Each place has its own beauty, but I was particularly taken by the beautiful landscapes of north-eastern Sicily around Mount Etna.
And then nearby you have the beautiful small town of Taormina. The views you get near the Greek Theatre are unforgettable. On one side you stare at the majestic Etna and on the other side the emerald blue of the Ionian Sea. Separating the two scenes stands the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient Greco-Roman theatre, where performances are still held. Close to the theatre, cliffs overlook the sea and form caves with sandy beaches. A tongue of sand connects to Isola Bella as if it was the final detail made by the brush of the artist who designed this stunning scenery.
In the midst of so much beauty, we feel compelled to pay attention to other senses too. The palate can be enchanted by a "Sicilian Tavola Calda", where I highlight the "arancina", the "cipolline" and the "cartocciate". The "arancina" is a ball of rice covered with crusty breadcrumbs, then fried in hot oil. Its filling can vary. The classic flavour is meat sauce, but the rice can also be stuffed with butter, spinach, pistachio, salmon, aubergine or ricotta. The typical Sicilian rotisserie offers us the pizzette "cipolline", which is made with onion leaves, tomato and ham. Finally, the "cartocciate" leaves plenty of room for creativity with the filling. The base of the "cartocciate" is always ham and mozzarella, and mushrooms, sausages, aubergines, spinach and tomatoes are added with skilful mastery. To accompany these delights becomes indispensable one glass, or perhaps two, of Etna Rosso, a red wine made from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grapes.
All that's left to do is satisfy your sense of smell. A long day well filled with bike rides through Etna and then down to the seaside, calls for something fresh, special, different and Italian. I can only think of Aqva Amara Eau de Toilette.
The name Aqva Amara, literally Bitter Water, fully portrays this perfume. On top we find sharp and tangy fresh mandarin peels slightly rounded by neroli. This initial freshness and sweetness are then soured by splashes of saltwater and mineral nuances. The citrus fruits and neroli acquire an unusual bittersweetness that reminds me of a very cold margarita, garnished with salt, but without tequila, of course! This heart of the fragrance is wet and salty allowing us to discover an unusual bitterness in mandarin and neroli notes. The patchouli at the base has the knack of transforming this bitter and salty freshness a bit, adding a soft nuance of base mint. A non-dominant note of lightly smoked incense prolongs the sense of bitter-salty freshness of the enduring mandarin.
As a whole, the fragrance is wonderfully different and very vigorous. The excesses of this day in Taormina called for a fresh essence full of personality that would survive the mountain air, the sea breeze, the strong sun of a cloudless atmosphere, and the distraction of the opulent smells of the "Sicilian Tavola Calda".
My rating for Aqva Amara Eau de Toilette:
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
- Opening: 9.0 (Sharp and tangy mandarin peels and Neroli smoothness under a salty and bitter veil)
- DryDown: 8.0 (The mandarin salty bittersweetness endures through the dryness - although fainter - where you notice also subtle smoke and menta nuances)
- Longevity: 8.0 (3 sprays last up to 7~8 hours; great for a fresh fragrance)
- Sillage: 7.0 (up to 5 feet of sillage and 2.0 hours of projection, with 3 sprays.)
- Uniqueness: 10.0 (Unique!)
- Wearability: 7.5 (Not suitable for mildly cold or cold weather; a summer fragrance)
- Versatility: 7.5 (A daytime fragrance suitable for the sea-side, open-air activities and gym)
- Praise: 9.0 (Above average amount of compliments)
- Quality: 8.5 (Above average quality impression, although some notes seem to be a bit artificial)
- Presentation: 9.0 (A love-hate flask shape. I like it very much)
- Price: 8.0 (This perfume price is quite variable depending on the shop where you buy it. It seems that it is becoming a bit rare and prices are rising up. My 100ml bottle cost me €35 a couple of years ago. Nowadays you are bound to find it at a more expensive price)
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Overall rating: 8.32 / 10.00
- between 7 and 8 = above average;
- between 8 and 9 = recommended;
- above 9 = definitely not to be missed;
My opinion: Currently it's not easy to find this perfume. Nevertheless, this perfume is so unique that I dare to advise you to buy it blindly if you spot a sample for a reasonable price. The bittersweetness citrusy accord and salty nuances do make a difference when comparing it with other fresh scents.
Music: Otis Redding - (Sitting' On) The Dock Of The Bay
And then nearby you have the beautiful small town of Taormina. The views you get near the Greek Theatre are unforgettable. On one side you stare at the majestic Etna and on the other side the emerald blue of the Ionian Sea. Separating the two scenes stands the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient Greco-Roman theatre, where performances are still held. Close to the theatre, cliffs overlook the sea and form caves with sandy beaches. A tongue of sand connects to Isola Bella as if it was the final detail made by the brush of the artist who designed this stunning scenery.
In the midst of so much beauty, we feel compelled to pay attention to other senses too. The palate can be enchanted by a "Sicilian Tavola Calda", where I highlight the "arancina", the "cipolline" and the "cartocciate". The "arancina" is a ball of rice covered with crusty breadcrumbs, then fried in hot oil. Its filling can vary. The classic flavour is meat sauce, but the rice can also be stuffed with butter, spinach, pistachio, salmon, aubergine or ricotta. The typical Sicilian rotisserie offers us the pizzette "cipolline", which is made with onion leaves, tomato and ham. Finally, the "cartocciate" leaves plenty of room for creativity with the filling. The base of the "cartocciate" is always ham and mozzarella, and mushrooms, sausages, aubergines, spinach and tomatoes are added with skilful mastery. To accompany these delights becomes indispensable one glass, or perhaps two, of Etna Rosso, a red wine made from Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grapes.
All that's left to do is satisfy your sense of smell. A long day well filled with bike rides through Etna and then down to the seaside, calls for something fresh, special, different and Italian. I can only think of Aqva Amara Eau de Toilette.
The name Aqva Amara, literally Bitter Water, fully portrays this perfume. On top we find sharp and tangy fresh mandarin peels slightly rounded by neroli. This initial freshness and sweetness are then soured by splashes of saltwater and mineral nuances. The citrus fruits and neroli acquire an unusual bittersweetness that reminds me of a very cold margarita, garnished with salt, but without tequila, of course! This heart of the fragrance is wet and salty allowing us to discover an unusual bitterness in mandarin and neroli notes. The patchouli at the base has the knack of transforming this bitter and salty freshness a bit, adding a soft nuance of base mint. A non-dominant note of lightly smoked incense prolongs the sense of bitter-salty freshness of the enduring mandarin.
As a whole, the fragrance is wonderfully different and very vigorous. The excesses of this day in Taormina called for a fresh essence full of personality that would survive the mountain air, the sea breeze, the strong sun of a cloudless atmosphere, and the distraction of the opulent smells of the "Sicilian Tavola Calda".
My rating for Aqva Amara Eau de Toilette:
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
- Opening: 9.0 (Sharp and tangy mandarin peels and Neroli smoothness under a salty and bitter veil)
- DryDown: 8.0 (The mandarin salty bittersweetness endures through the dryness - although fainter - where you notice also subtle smoke and menta nuances)
- Longevity: 8.0 (3 sprays last up to 7~8 hours; great for a fresh fragrance)
- Sillage: 7.0 (up to 5 feet of sillage and 2.0 hours of projection, with 3 sprays.)
- Uniqueness: 10.0 (Unique!)
- Wearability: 7.5 (Not suitable for mildly cold or cold weather; a summer fragrance)
- Versatility: 7.5 (A daytime fragrance suitable for the sea-side, open-air activities and gym)
- Praise: 9.0 (Above average amount of compliments)
- Quality: 8.5 (Above average quality impression, although some notes seem to be a bit artificial)
- Presentation: 9.0 (A love-hate flask shape. I like it very much)
- Price: 8.0 (This perfume price is quite variable depending on the shop where you buy it. It seems that it is becoming a bit rare and prices are rising up. My 100ml bottle cost me €35 a couple of years ago. Nowadays you are bound to find it at a more expensive price)
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Overall rating: 8.32 / 10.00
- between 7 and 8 = above average;
- between 8 and 9 = recommended;
- above 9 = definitely not to be missed;
My opinion: Currently it's not easy to find this perfume. Nevertheless, this perfume is so unique that I dare to advise you to buy it blindly if you spot a sample for a reasonable price. The bittersweetness citrusy accord and salty nuances do make a difference when comparing it with other fresh scents.
Music: Otis Redding - (Sitting' On) The Dock Of The Bay
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