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.

I really like this one and feel like it holds its own compared to other acquatic marine frags from niche houses. The marine portion isn't strong or challenging. Minerals and light salt; no ambergris funk or seaweed (which I like) but still interesting. This also has no citrus whatsoever which is different from all others I've tried except for Penhaligon's Blasted Heath and Acqua Motu by comptior suds de pacific. The coconut here smells natural and unsweetened, and the skin accord gives a feeling of light, expensive sunscreen 🧴 Longevity is above average and projection is a little less than average. But overall, I think this can hang with Virgin Island Water, Erolfa, Millisime Imperial, Sel Marin and others that I like. But for 200 retail I think it's a bit overpriced because you have to use ten sprays to get acceptable performance imo. I'd only pay 100 to 125 for this juice. Scent 8/10 Longevity 7/10 Projection 4/10

This fragrance has so much potential to smell like some kind of sunscreen, like a jaded pool-goer in August--accustomed to some beachy vacation smells permeating the air, perhaps to the point of exhaustion. Sydney Rock Pool smells like a dip in a beautiful salty rock pool, but the creamy jasmine coconut is strong enough to leave you asking yourself just why do you travel the same routes again and again? Out of comfort, or because you keep missing something? This juice is straightforward. Rounded aquatic woody, with a creamy and realistic coconut note. But most importantly, this is mineralic, not just salty. That mineralic smell is what makes this addictive. I love it, even if I am not sure just how much I would wear this compared to my other options. I am absolutely in love with Flor y Canto by Arquiste and I think The Architect's Club is very well done, so this would make me an Arquiste fan so far...

Another amazing photorealistic aquatic that avoids going into cheap Davidoff or Light Blue territory by omitting any sort of citrus or bergamot, which I applaud! This is very close to JHAG Vanilla Vibes in terms of minerality and saltyness but unlike JHAG it’s not a cold ocean air perfume. It’s a hot sunny day, the sandalwood is present from the beginning, and from the ambertonic note you get the vibe of hot sand and possibly even a bonfire or a grill nearby. For whatever reason in cold weather i found this warmth kind of off putting, almost smelling kind of burnt but in a warmer climate it’s beautiful and balanced by the salty and airy notes. This is another perfect summer frag that i imagine would mix very well with sweat and just project fresh from the pool or the beach vibe.

FABULOUS. FREAKING. AMAZING. SCENT. This scent. OMG. A day at the beach wearing a high end lightly scented coconut sun spray, sitting on a giant drift wood log, taking in the salty aquatic air of the ocean, marine mineral notes, subtle amber with just a hint of jasmine. WOW this scent is such a VIVID experience of that. LOVE. It is a very well blended, clean, oceanic, lightly woody, mineral notes... gawd they are good, solar, creamy, tropical, eyes roll back, scent. Lasting power of this is exceptional! (It has similar mineral notes as in Tom Ford Oud Minérale but with coconut and hint of jasmine. This fragrance is somewhat like Oud Minérale meets a tiny hint of Soleil Blanc or Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche...if that helps.)

(sample only) Okay, I don't think this fragrance is special in terms of depth or the journey. But, it seems to aim to do one thing and it does it well. It aims for pure watery summer and delivers. It's driftwood personified. I don't really get sweetness at all but maybe since coconut just smells milky to me. Either way, only freshness and a calmly woody undertone to the aquatic floral. Projection and longevity is fine, not outstanding. 9.5/10 - the price is high for a scent that only, imo, works for summer / holidays - but it does perform pretty darn well for that scent profile. It really is up there.

A very interesting scent with a coconut note that doesn't come close to sunscreen. We're in a natural pool surrounded by fresh blooming summer florals. Salty wet hair on dry, browning shoulders. Sipping a refreshing drink with sand covered feet. But we're not on vacation. We live in this paradise. The soft, casual comfort of being just where you belong. Drying salty skin with a plush luxury towel. This seems to be blended really well. I can't pick out each note but I really love it as a whole. Arquiste scents are so transportive for me. I've yet to smell one I don't like.

This is my ultimate summer fragrance. It is smooth, salty, mineral, and a little floral. It smells like my fantasy of what I smell like after being at the beach all day. Not the actual acrid seaweed smell, but how I'd like to smell - salty skin, creamy sunscreen, and sun-baked sand. The scent lasts all day and I love it. At night I layer it with Cheirosa 62 by Sol de Janeiro for added sweetness. One time when I wore it, a coworker asked if I was wearing a men's cologne. So while some women may find it too masculine, I think it is perfect on me.

I think Arquiste is just my soul perfumer at this point...I swore The Architects Club was going to be my signature scent, but I absolutely adore this one too! A perfectly balanced, cool, metallic mineraly sea scent. It truly smells like cold rocks in the ocean. Also quite dry/woodier than expected but I actually think that’s what grounds it and makes it so unique for year round wear. Upgrading to a full size STAT!

Love love love it. Summery heaven, smells like the perfect day on the beach. The weather is warm and perfect, the water is nice, and you come home totally exhausted. Will definitely be buying a full bottle of this at some time. A little coconutty too, like suntan lotion. Tried it before I went to bed, woke up and could still smell it on me 9 hours later!

Rodrigo Flores-Roux is an absolute genius. This is by far the most realistic summer vacation scent I've ever smelled. This is being in a pool, by the ocean, with suntan lotion on and a Pina Colada in hand. Only issue, like most scents in this category, is longevity. For me, this lasts about 5 hours tops but is worth the price, every penny.

evokes my early 2000s miami summers spent in the pool or dave & busters. I almost find it to be indescribable as it summons a very specific memory of mine. it’s cold, sweet, melancholic. it’s the only woody scent I enjoy, the sunscreen has dissolved into your skin as a thin layer of sand sits atop it.

This is a gorgeous marine/aquatic/coastal scent that would smell amazing on a man as well as a woman. It's aquatic without having any overwhelming floral notes that are often off-putting to me and can be too overpowering. I will eventually repurchase this.

This is seaside Manchester starry night Sydney rock pool. Such a creative and whimsical composition. The amber here feels like a lightbulb and actually reads orange. Who could’ve thought sweet woody makes a great summer fragrance. 8/10

Very unique, and interesting in a good way. Not your typical boring summer scent. I love the mineral, coconut combo, it makes you stand out from the crowd. Solid performance too. Great for warmer climates. Super awesome overall.

Sometimes it’s sharp, sometimes it’s creamy. Love it when it’s creamy. Slightly sweet, soft, and creamy. Too bad it disappears within two hours but I’m thinking of getting the big bottle.