Sydney Rock Pool

I’m really enjoying discovering the fragrances of this brand, and Sydney Rock Pool is an underrated GEM. All lovers of the cuddlesome gamma nonalactone accord (present in Guerlain’s Terra Cotta, Olivine Atelier’s Amongst the Waves, and many others) that proffers the warm, milky wonderment of sun lotions, such as classic Coppertone, should be inundating this site with exclamations of adoration. Sydney Rock Pool is so good, I likely would have paid more for it, but let’s hope they don’t get greedy and raise their prices. Apart from affordability (comparatively, of course) it’s so refreshing to stumble upon a niche brand with a parfumier that knows their fixatives! I’ve found that many boutique-brand fragrances that are currently available fall apart in the dry-down stages. Whether ephemeral as a whole, or completely losing any semblance of their initial charm, I’ve recently been sorely disappointed with more than one hyped house (you may be able to ascertain the culprits by perusing my collection). However, I haven’t been disappointed in a single of Arquiste’s offerings, even if I don’t LOVE every one of them. This one really stands out though, proffering briny/umami accords, amber-warmed aquatics, flinty starkness, smooth woodiness, some of the dreamiest yellow florals, and lactonic creaminess, like bits of a few of my current & old favourites while still remaining in a class all its own. Superbly comforting and transportive, Sydney Rock Pool is ideal in colder weather, when we may be in close, warmed spaces with others, as it’s unobtrusive, and universally appealing, quietly sexy without dealing heavy blows of “Salaciousness!”. Nearly signature-worthy, really, it’s approachable enough for those who prefer subtlety in a fragrance, and unique enough to keep more risk-taking noses entertained for hours and hours. Fantastic!

God I love how this smells. It reminds me of a Hollister scent that clung to the one pair of pants I ever got there as a teen, that I didn't want to wash because I wanted to keep the intoxicating perfume they came with in the fabric. I have no idea if there are actually any similarities between the scents, but catching this on my sleeve makes me feel like I'm in my new pants in 10th grade geography class. Like my Hollister pants, this scent makes me feel cool but not really myself. It's intimate but something about it feels impersonal or aloof. It makes me feel very nostalgic for what I thought was fancy, effortless, and cool growing up in LA. It reminds me a plush, neutral toned living room of someone who's paid a designer a lot of money to make her home feel cozy. It smells like stepping out of your Mercedes G-Wagon in the Malibu Country Mart with a blowout and $300 jeans, and a Michael Stars t-shirt. I really think it's a fantastic fragrance. I LOVE the salt and mineral notes and that the coconut is prominent without the blend leaning sweet or gourmand. It reads slightly masculine to me, but in a playful, sporty, looks good in menswear button down way. I can see what others have meant about a "screamwood" problem, so it's not a safe blind buy, but I find that sharpness really enjoyable. On my skin the longevity is great. On clothes, it lasts forever. I am so absolutely in love with this scent but really don't know about buying a bottle, because it's not a fragrance that feels like it could be personal to me. Maybe a little more time with my tester will help me make up my mind.

A generous Fragrantican sent me a sample of this. I was initially skeptical, as I have a strong dislike for anything related to the ocean, and all fragrances I've tried with coconut notes have immediately turned to latex on my skin. I decided to give it a try anyway, because who says no to a free fragrance sample? The opening is fresh and salty, not too oceanic, with a nice hint of fresh, unsweetened coconut. I actually loved it, to my surprise. It wasn't Pina-Colada-sweet, which I think is the downfall of many coconut fragrances, and probably what rubberizes it on my skin. I went about my day, occasionally taking a whiff and seeing how it changed. Suddenly, I could have SWORN I was wearing Noir Exquis by L'Artisan Parfumeur with a smack of sea salt. The notes for these two fragrances are so different that I thought I was losing my mind. What about coconut, jasmine, and seaweed is remotely similar to coffee, maple, and chestnut?? Does anyone else smell the similarity or am I completely off my rocker? (Note: on my shirt the coconut stayed for the entire duration of the fragrance, but it disappeared on my skin, so maybe it's just my weird chemistry.) Regardless, this is a lovely fragrance! I just wish it stayed on my skin for longer than a few hours, especially at this price point. I'll stick with Noir Exquis for its better sillage and lasting power.

Fun in the Sun! Okay! So I got this in a 3 pack that I ordered in an online subscription.. The name, notes and even the bottle were intriguing to me.. At first sniff, I was immediately impressed.. How could I not be, this is the art of Rodrigo Flores-Roux.. I love the smell of this! Since I don’t have a bottle of this I can’t give a description for the presentation.. The main player in this juice is the coconut.. It comes off sweet in the opening and turns salty (almost sour) on my skin.. Nonetheless, it still smells amazing.. There is a bit of florals in the mid but not too heavy and I get this ambroxan feel as the sea salt stands out.. it lasts about 4 to 5 hours on my skin.. with great projection in the first 45 min.. This definitely leans a little more feminine on me but not in a bad way.. This is great for those hot days by the pool or beach.. The one knock I have on this is it’s price.. A 100 ML bottle for $195 seems a little steep in my opinion.. Its a great fragrance just a bit pricy.. If you get a sample of this and you like it.. I recommend u look at Batucada by L’artisan Parfumeur very similar.. Batucada is more green and leans more masculine.. And it’s very affordable.. Rating 9.5/10 If it was more affordable it would be a 10/10..

This is perfect for a vacation, the beach, the pool, or a "smells like you" scent plus something a little extra (like Glossier You). I love aquatics (just recently bought Yin Transformation) and coconuts, so when the store manager at Ministry of Scents in SF said it was his favorite, I took home a sample. Longevity is surprisingly long. Went through the whole sample on a girl's weekend, and received several compliments, which (of course), made me like it even more. There's something beautifully creamy-dreamy about this, like a luxury lotion, with the added benefit of ocean air saltiness, which transports you into vacation-mode even if you're at the office. This is a true unisex, and smelled amazing on the shopkeeper, my hubby and me. On the downside, it is definitely a little screechy when first sprayed, and does need a few minutes to settle. But once it does, the driftwood/sandalwood come alive and settle into something wonderfully comforting and soft.