Aqva Amara

I'm new to the fragrance community and my nose isn't trained so take this with a grain of salt. Consider it the perspective of someone who isn't very familiar with what is out there... kind of like most people out in society. This is not as intensely or brightly orange as Light Blue eau intense for men in the opening, but the orange stays around longer, is that the Neroli? Whatever it is, it sticks around after the opening has deteriorated and it's divine. The orange is also darker, dryer, and more masculine, and there is something in here that reminds me of Y edp by YSL but without the typical blue notes. Although I wonder if I don't perceive this to be blue because of the orange packaging. Would love to see if people consider this to be a "blue" fragrance in a double blind testing environment. I also smell a bit of very light smokyness similar to a toned down version of the smokyness in Afnan supremacy silver, but without the pineapple signature of Aventus clones. This might be what is giving me the impression of dirty, dry, or dark orange. It is also distinctly floral to my nose in the best way possible. This belies the common perception of florals being naturally feminine, and although I generally eschew notions of gender specific notes, these smell like "manly" flowers. Orange is my favorite citrus, so it is no surprise that I adore this fragrance. However, I do usually lean toward sweet fall and winter scents with more notes like spice, tobacco, leather, amber, incense, birch tar, sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, Carmel, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, frankincense, cinnamon, clove, almond, and berries. This is in no way sweet, so the fact that I instantly liked this freshie is remarkable in that regard. Perfectly acceptable for the office and the beach, inside or outside, during the hot days of spring and summer. Bvlgari simply MUST bring this back, I can't belive this was discontinued in the first place. At the 2.5 hour mark it is unsurprisingly still strong. I'll update this throughout the day with more notes on performance. Got a compliment from a female coworker around the 3.5 to 4 hour mark. Still good at the five hour mark. Six hour mark, either I'm anosmic or it's a skin scent at this point - I can smell it when I put my nose to my wrist or collar.

I absolutely adore this scent. Very artistic and what a cool release from the house, I’m saddened they discontinued it, but I understand why and I’m happy it exists and to own a couple bottles. Clearly not everyone appreciates this one and that’s ok. In a world full of ambroxin bombs, blue scents, sweet aquatics and gourmands, this one stands in a line of its own. Those looking for something different and who aren’t heavily influenced by trends or the negative reviews of others you may love this, if you can find it. Although I feel this one could be more trendy now than ever since more men’s florals are being released and unisex fragrances are rapidly becoming the direction of the industry. What I get primarily are lovely white florals (neroli) mixed with a tart mandarin, white incense and earthy patchouli. Simply beautiful. If I didn’t know this was marketed as an aquatic I never would have never guessed, but it is fresh and clean. Not exactly soapy clean, but maybe, I suppose there could be a soap out there with familiarities to this scent. This does have natural elements to it, like the smell of flowers in the summer air, of course this isn’t a very masculine scent, but this isn’t feminine, either. I think it’s unisex. This is very different from it’s flankers, which to my nose are clearly aquatics, the OG having deep sea mineral vibes, Marine having sweet and salty beach vibes, and Atlantique being a more aquatic typical blue scent. This is more inland IMO but can easily be worn poolside or along the beach. Better yet, the boardwalk. All versatile in their own right. Although this is a unique scent on its own, I believe it can be thrown into the mix of scents like MFK Aqua Vitae Forte, Amyris Homme Extrait, 1 Million Parfum, BDK Citrus Riviera, Reflection Man, maybe even Dunhill Icon or Terre D’Hermes. Love those and love this. Performance is excellent. I get a full wearing from it every time and pick up awesome whiffs of it throughout the wearing. It projects within an arms length for the first few hours then comes in closer which is to be expected. I’ve never had a problem wearing this on the hottest of summer days but find this to be exceptional warm spring days and mild summer days/evenings. Casual.

Bvlgari Aqva Amara (2014): "Let's try it again....." In 2019 I had what was then the #3 ranked review overall for Aqva Amara on this site. Unfortunately, a year or so later in an attempt to edit it just a bit, I inadvertently hit a wrong key and somehow deleted it ALL in a nanosecond!.....never recreating it. In the past 30+ years in fragrance, AA is in my top (3) men's fragrances of all time and my #1 Spring/Summer fragrance ever. That said, I wanted to take another opportunity to convey to those who may have never experienced this discontinued, quite unique, and highly memorable composition, the "special essence" of it---and how I specifically described it those years ago (and to this day): "Aqva Amara is a one-of-a-kind masculine experience of dominant bitter-sweet Sicilian mandarin, amber, patchouli and incense, perfectly integrated together with the distinctive smell of salty ocean waves crashing on coastline rocks, nearby a field of neroli." (as if located in a seaside town off the Amalfi Coast of Italy). Maybe not quite that dramatic, but all of the elements are definitely there. You'll want to sample AA first, since it's not recommended as a blind-buy fragrance for (3) reasons: 1) It's relatively bold smelling---yet easily regularly wearable if it fits you. 2) Based on various comments here it would seem to be constructed with "calone"--a fragrance compound sometimes used to create the aquatic effect--which for a small minority comes off as the smell of rotten eggs, or otherwise something less than tolerable. And third, the price is relatively high (being discontinued). Overall performance is generally above average to well above average for the majority---impressive considering it's a spring/ summer scent. How good was this fragrance in its heyday? For a solid 5+ year stretch it seemed to be in countless YouTube fragrance reviewer's top-ten spring/ summer lists, with many regularly putting it at the #1 spot.....Ultimately fitting for a spring/summer aquatic masterpiece.

Having tried the original and all of the flankers I can say for certain that this one is way too overhyped. And every Youtube fragrance channel is guilty for pushing this one. Don't get me wrong its good,but it was probably discontinued for a reason. If a scent is a good performer in the market it usually hangs around for at least 5-10 years so Bvlgari pulling this one says a lot. Without the Youtube hype this thing would have faded to obscurity long ago. I would put this behind the Marine and Atlantique flankers on my list. To my nose its a slightly less sweeter and slightly better performing version of of the Aqua Marine version. Marine has about an 8 hour performance on me while Amara clocked in at 10 hours. Amara is also doesn't have that mass apealing type scent that I pick up from the Aqva Marine flanker. I would advise you to get a sample or decant of this one or the Atlantique flanker as that sea note can be off putting. I also see that the neroli note is also giving people issues so keep that in mind. So if you try a sample and want to get a bottle I say go for it,but don't overpay. If the bottle costs more than anything in the Aqva line I say pass. I have seen this thing go as high as 60-70 bucks for the 1.7ml version and that's outrageous and this was on some discounters website. I think 40-50 bucks should be the top that anyone should pay for this stuff. And again if you can't find Amara anywhere please give Aqva Marine a try or Azzaro Chrome Pure which is also extremly close to the citrus sea notes found in Amara. So is this a good fragrance that you should buy? Yes,but please don't let the hype make you overpay for something when you can get just as good or better elsewhere. Also since it has been discontinued and likely not being manufactured anymore be careful that you don't get a bottle that is outdated. I have seen several reviews of people that just purchased bottles and the serial number is from batches from a couple of years ago

After using Clinique Happy For Men for several years, I tried this perfume because people recommended this one for a better projection and sillage. And they are right, this is a very strong and citric perfume, very hard to find everywhere else. It is natural, like pure orange oil. The citrics are backed up with a very sharp mineral note, like iodine floating on the sea mist. Yes, it smells like kelp and ocean, and that's why I love it because I was raised in the beach side and the ocean smells wonderful to me. Maybe, if you are not used to the real smell of the ocean, maybe you will hate this fragrance. It really smells like the beach, and the fragrance gives you a sense of individuality because it is a perfume that no one else is using. It was discontinued by the manufacturer, so no one else will have it in the future. The first time I applied this perfume on my skin it felt so powerful and distracting. I was able to feel the sweet oranges and sea notes all day long while I was working under the summer heat. After a while you get used to it, like with every other fragrance. But you really know the fragrance is there with you. That is important to know, because sometimes when using any other fragrance, your brain tricks you thinking that the smells disappeared and got weak. That is not true, it happens with any other fragrance, even with this one that is the strongest citrical EDT on the market. I used this fragrance for a long corporative charity mountain hike under Colorado's killer summer, and the perfume followed me everywhere for several hours. Refreshing. For me, after some hours this fragrance smells exactly like CH Men Sport, with those sweet mango terpenes and mineral notes. You can only use it if you have a powerful personality and after a very deep shower with clean clothes, otherwise it will make you smell like laundry water. Unisex, my mom uses this fragrance too.

Ok please let me start with THIS IS GOLD. I just got my hands on this gem and all I can say is that this perfume is incredible despite the little notes of the composition. What is all about is the quality of the material used and the blend. In particular, I am referring to the quality of the Sicilian mandarin which is very different from the others with its bitter peel and unique flavor. I read this perfume is described as ocean water hit the rocks, well it could be a right description for some. To me is just brings back memories of my summer days as a teen when I used to spend the day at the beach in the South of Italy and return home at the sunset my skin had the taste of the sea salt and the Mediterranean breeze dry up my hair. But please don't misunderstand me this is not a fragrance for teenager, is more for a grown man or woman, both genders can wear this easily. I found to be also a very versatile fragrance can be weared on daytime or evening. I just spray on these winter days but I believe in late spring/summer this beauty can express more. I had the change to smell also a tester from a newer batch and I can confirm that is another level fragrance. STAY OUT from anything made after the 2015. The replace the sicilian mandarin peel with generic orange/citrus and the difference is huge. I know, nowdays it's not easy to get this bottle but if you have the chance to put your hands on a old bottle don't miss it. Seriously. I have spent days researching and there is nothing out there that get close to this among both designer and niche perfumes. Chapeu Mr Cavallier.

Wow! A Bulgari Aqua fragrance that doesn't svck nor smell like all the other Bulgari Aqua fragrances. Aqva Amara is a very nice, fresh-aqvatic that also has a bit of smokey/dirtiness to it. Although they're not listed, I do sense a bit of an amber-musk accord in Amara. I really like this one! Moreover, Amara is a unique scent that doesn't disappear on my skin in 2-3 hours like the other redundant Bulgari Aqva duplicates; it projects moderately and last 6+ hours on my skin. Is it good/unique enough to warranty the $90 retail price for a 100ml bottle? Perhaps, but I did wound-up buying this one at a discount house more than year ago and it has been one of my most complimented summertime fragrances- from both guys and gals. It is the best Bvlgari Aqva fragrance, by far; a terrific summertime fragrance with a bit of character, spunk and masculine charm. Definitely worth checking-out if you generally abhor those gut-wrenching aquatic fragrances and/or have testicles. Sadly, most people on this site cannot analyse what they're smelling nor appropriately describe it. True! To correctly my lesser, more confused members, the frankincense is much more pronounced and the white floral and water notes much more subtle. I don't like correcting people (bad behavior and assorted idiocy)...not because they don't need to be corrected, but because their parents are doing such a poor job. Sad, but true.

A very creative and unique fragrance. Anyone saying designer brands never come up with anything new has clearly not smelled Aqva Amara. Writing a review for it is complicated by the fact it is difficult to compare it to anything mainstream. It's based off sour citruses and aquatic notes, but in a good way. I find it invigorating and energizing. Definitely a fan! Unlike many summertime citrus fragrances, this one actually is pretty strong on the performance, so don't overspray. I bought it back in the day and it used to go for a very fair price compared to the creative and strong formulation you were getting. Then, at one point, apparently it got discontinued. You can still find it, but as you might have guessed, the prices have shot way up. Am very glad I bought some back when I did. Recommending it at scalper prices is considerably more difficult. Moreover, though most people definitely like this one, some don't and between that and the price - it ain't blind buy safe. If you have the opportunity to try it - definitely don't miss out. I've heard that some clone houses have already cloned it, so you could try those as well. I hope they bring it back into production one day, this guy doesn't deserve to be discontinued!

I bought this thinking it was unisex, as I found it in the women's Marshall's clearance section. The reviews are good, so I grabbed it thinking if I didn't want to wear it, my husband would. It's fantastic! It's definitely male (as stated above-- I just didn't read carefully). It's fresh and clean, but the orange peeks out from the background, and I just want to keep smelling the test swatch. I am a fan of fresh scents, citrus, and neroli in general. It's not sweet, but there's just a touch there to tone down the sharpness. It's really wonderful. What I have is a body spray in a can, but for $10, I'll take it and douse my husband in it! This is really good stuff, and if he likes it as well as I do, I will totally try to track down a more concentrated version of this. It's clean and inoffensive, so I think it's a safe blind buy, but it's still a very interesting scent. I think it could be worn year round despite the citrus but probably suits warmer weather best. UPDATE: It’s even better on the skin! It reminds me of Tom Ford Mandarino di Amalfi, except it’s a bit warmer, more woody, and more spicy. It has the same orange undertone and smooth, fresh, expensive smell. Off to track down a full bottle!

As one of the top ten in my designers collection, I personally thought this scent profile is unique, one of those that I was looking for and I am glad I own it. I have two brand new sealed 1.7 ml bottles as well, and that's how I love this fragrance. My first bottle is the one that I have been using on rotation this summer time and I bought two more since some YT reviewers mentioned it's been discontinued, although that news started circulating since 2017. But if you check Bulgari's official website, its not there anymore. I didn't see any of the aqua lines. After my wife smelled this on me, she tried to wear it and since then, it became one of her favorites and to think she's a little critical when it comes to scents. I find this fragrance versatile as well. If you love this fragrance, you better buy your back up bottles now while they're still out there and the prices are still within the reasonable range. Performance wise, this one is pretty decent in all department so I would give this wonderful juice a 10/10 “Let us spread the scents of peace and kindness. The two most beautiful fragrance in the world that will cost you nothing and will get you a totally different kind of compliments” 🙏

First off I wish J-remy never hyped this up cause it drove the price into a stupid territory, even for a discontinued fragrance. I kinda love this one, and this is at a time when I getting sick of calone and aquatics. I am very into Terre D'Hermes and that DNA and the different takes on it. I just think it's an essential gentleman's scent profile that should be in every male collectors closet. Aqva Amara is Terre D'hermes translated into an aquatic DNA. That orange with the watery notes, freshness from the neroli and slight incense floating in the background. This performs great for an EDT, better then some EDP's. The price? $80 to $100 for a 50ml, is pushing it. Im fighting myself not to buy this. This is a love and is probably worth $60 for a 50ml, up to $110 for a 100ml. If it wasn't so costly Id say it's an easy buy for someone that loves TDH and is into aquatics = Amara. I endorse sampling this, or picking up a 5 to 10ml to enjoy for summer. *Don't dig you face into it or you will pick up on the egg smell. It's performs enough for you to spray it on and smell it in the air. It's there but only when you try to snort it like an addict.

A fresh fragrance with personality and uniqueness. This edt was hyped by Jeremy fragrance and he was right. Aqua amara is one of the best summer scents i ever come across. The mix of marine notes, mandarin and patchouli is very appealing and bold and makes this fragrance something quite special. It reminds a walk on the beach next to the sea. It's not boring at all and it's good when u want something invigorating with a unique fresh smell. The performance is also very good for a freshie. For 25 and up, for every situation, better for spring and summer. Sadly discontinued. Grab it if you can! Bulgari Aqua amara è uno dei migliori profumi estivi che abbia mai provato. La combinazione di note marine, mandarino e patchouli offre una profumazione rinvigorente, fresca e piuttosto unica. Difficile da comparare con altri edt, aqua amara è ideale per chi vuole un profumo fresco che sia anche non banale. Essendo fuori produzione consiglio di procurarlo prima che sparisca del tutto. Scent-9 Longevity -8 Sillage-8,5 Versatility - 8,5 Uniqueness-8, 5 Presentation-7 Compliment factor-8,5 Backup bottle? Yes My vote-9 In one word- beach

I heard it was discontinued, so I thought I missed the boat. I found a 100 ml tester at a discounter, shit am I glad I got this gem. How Bvlgari discontinued this, I’ll never know. Sharp citrus with a floral touch in the opening. Gets more aquatic and dark (from the patchouli) the more it dries down. Somehow earthy yet watery to my nose, quite impressive. Even though I only get 1 true transition on my skin, the scent is beautiful. I’ve had a couple of compliments from my friends saying it smells good. It’s different, but still mass appealing. If you want a slightly dark take on an aquatic fragrance, blind buy this, especially because it’s discontinued. Personally, I wouldn’t pay more than $75 for a 100 ml bottle, so I’m happy that I got my tester for nearly half that price. Brilliant for warmer weather with enough legs to be worn in more mild temperatures. More suited for the day, and works really well by a pool or at the beach. Also fantastic for an afternoon date or for an outdoors kind of date. On my skin, I get a solid 8-9 hours of longevity, with the first 2-3 hours projecting really well.

Actually I don't have plans in buying this fragrance because the first time I try it I feel sick. So it branded to my brain not to buy it, not till today. I was asking a sales lady to give me a sample of aqva original and then she recommends to try the amara, I was like no way but I gave it a try. (I was expecting that im gonna feel sick) But when she spray it on the piece of paper the smell is different, as in totally different, the opening note is citrus of course and then as it dries down you can smell the aquatic scent which I love the most. Honestly it's my first time to smell the combination of citrus and aquatic. IMO the best. So i was wondering what happen to me when I smell it for the very first time, I reckon it is because I smelled dozens of fragrances before I tried it so the scents mixes everything to the point I couldn't distinguished the good, the better and the best. IMO this is the best! Longevity- very good! Sillage- About 4 feet Overall 10/10... this is how much I love this fragrance.

I had caught word of an Aquatic fragrance unlike anything else being sold on the market, something So satisfyingly Bitter/Astringent yet undeniably Watery and fresh that it had left every nose that caught it's scent longing for more. Bvlgari Aqva Amara Is an Anomaly in the world of Aquatics as it delivers its freshness in a more mature almost "dry" manor, as Amara has this has this pencil shavings-esque tinge along side the Refreshing Mandarin orange and water notes. The typical mass appealing Aquatic fragrance this is not, but that being said you will get plenty of compliments wearing Aqva Amara. Really hoping Bvlgari Brings this Aquatic Masterpiece back from the Mariana trench that is Discontinuation 10/10 Uniqueness/memorability 8.5/10 Silliage 9/10 Longevity (I get 10 Hours but the Silliage starts to become more intimate around the 6 hour mark) Overall 9/10 Bvlgari Aqva Amara is a Stunningly unique Aquatic Gem in a League of its own. If you can manage to find a deal for 1$ an ML you won't regret it

Manly, zingy, sharp citrus. Metallic. Like salty and tangy orange juice, but in a good way. I bought one recently, thinking if i didnt like it i'd try to sell for profit. Bought a small decant and decided to open it for the upcoming summer, it's so good. Mine happened to be a 2012 batch, a pleasant surprise. Edit: as @williamsmell pointed out, I was mistaken. I didn’t realize when this came out! I put the batch code into checkfresh and it said 2012, but it must have been a mistake. I do have another bottle and it smells different, so I do think my first bottle is pre-reformulation, I’ll have to look it up again to confirm. Still my favorite scent ever though EDIT2: Yes its a 2014 batch, i entered in the wrong number before! Very different than the newer stuff, less briney. If you like the original aqva though, the newer one seems closer to it. The 2014 batch is just smoother, slightly more floral but just soooo good. I'm gonna use my newer batch more often and save the old one for special occasions

An EDT with Extrait performance! With all things taken into consideration still a very affordable discontinued masterpiece. I'd expect prices to skyrocket in the next 1-2 years, and stocks will probably have dried up soon after that. Regarding some reviewers mention of this smelling like eggs - I've tried and tried to pick up on any manner of eggy nuance, but I just don't get it - it smells heavenly, albeit very powerful. In the beginning it is a bright and zesty slightly sweet orange tree by the sea, early in the morning with the sun coming up and evaporating the savoury sea water dew from the ripe oranges and verdant leaves - this is a very long opening, at least 2 hours and it keeps providing! After this time, the orange, patchouli, and aromatic woods and resins interplay perfectly - this remains until you have a shower or wash your clothes. It is a powerful beast, which is very very unique for such a fresh and summery fragrance

This line has always been one of my favorites. I like them all in a different way, though. The OG pour homme and Marine are so underrated it's criminal. I see none as redundant. These are actually better to my nose than his work with LV. Having said that, Amara is a unique standout in the line, for its 'dirtiness'. But, I love it. It isn't a run-of-the-mill summer aquatic, and I've actually worn this in the cold many times. Wearing it sparingly these days. I am running low and should probably try and source another bottle of this and Atlantique. Worthy of noting that I also own Aqua Wood from Mancera. Despite what has been said previously, I don't find it too close to Amara. It shares slight similarity in the opening for the first 20 minutes or so, then the two diverge significantly. Edit: Got a sealed bottle on Rescented. Thank goodness for that app, lots of discontinued goodies to replenish my favs

This is the first fragrance I ever bought (before I only got fragrances as gifts). I must say that I absolutely love this fragrance. I feel it should be worn when you are in the "don't f*** with me" mood. A strong guy that knows what he wants and wants it now. It can be slightly aggressive in the beginning but if you are confident you will absolutely love it. A black t-shirt will perfectly match with this fragrance. The best time for wearing it is summer daytime (but you can also use it in the night time) but it can also be worn in warm spring days and theoretically even year-round since it has a very good longevity. It is very versatile. One time I got to work before everyone else and the first person who came said ... I knew you were somewhere around, I smelled your fragrance. I heard it is discontinued so if you have a chance to get it somewhere don't lose your time. :)

Bvlgari Aqva Amara is a fragrance that takes the brightness of Mediterranean citrus and twists it into something far more intriguing. It opens with an orange note that feels both corrupted and luminous—a sun-kissed fruit touched by something darker, saltier, and more mysterious. This duality gives the scent an immediate edge, setting it apart from the typical fresh summer aquatics. As it evolves, the mineral and aquatic facets rise to the surface, evoking the shimmer of bronze sunlight on water. There’s a soft warmth underneath, almost smoldering, which transforms the fragrance from a simple fresh scent into something sensual and captivating. Aqva Amara is perfect for cool summer evenings—nights when the air is crisp and refreshing, yet the atmosphere is charged with heat and inflamed by passion. It’s the kind of scent that feels both clean and dangerously enticing.