Seafaring Man

Seafaring Man is pleasant on the test strip. The bergamot and yarrow peak out from behind dry woody notes. Applied to skin, it unfurls into a complex tapestry of interlocking accords that evoke the refreshing tang of a temperate sea breeze. The scent memory it summons for me is the smell of the lobby at the Palais de la Méditerranée on the Côte d'Azur. Entering the lobby, from sunny humidity to cool shade, was accompanied by the most incredible mood manipulation by a scent I have ever experienced. It simultaneously calmed and focused the mind. Irritation and negativity were shed at the threshold, like peeling off a sodden tee shirt. The effect was so subtle and ingenious it was several days before I realized that the scent was why I looked forward to returning to the hotel at the end of each day. Seafaring Man could be it's twin. I am enchanted.

This cologne from L’aromatica is one of my favorite aquatics. It incorporates all the categories of scent that make you feel like you are on the ocean. It has nice longevity and sillage. The Bergamot brings fresh citrus notes while the sea notes bring with it a brine radiation of smell and makes you feel like you are in the ocean tasting and smelling the saltwater. There are no traces of sweetness that some aquatics use to achieve the “fresh” moniker. There are spicier notes apparent in the opening spray that lessen after drying down. The dry down brings forth the sea notes but there is still a hint of spice and citrus that makes this more than a simple fragrance. Seafaring man is aptly titled and achieves exactly what it was designed for with its scent.

This is a beautiful take on the aquatic scent profile. I find that sometimes fragrances in this genre smell too much like the ocean, as if they overdid the ambergris or something. This one does have a hint of the funky seaside smell, but it isn't too dank. The bergamot note smells super fresh, which brightens this up a lot. The initial spray is a little zesty with an almost balsamic quality, and then it mellows out into a sort of sweet and salty amber. The price point is great for how high quality this smells and how long it lasts. I definitely recommend it if you want something a little aquatic but you don't want to smell like low tide.

Wow, this smells great. I'm definitely getting some sort of scent memory. Could it be from the beach itself? I don't think so. It's not as obvious as some beach perfumes are, with the heavy salt note. I do get a hint of seaweed but I can't identify much else. Probably some lavender although it's blended well. Some aromatics, and some citrus but again, it's hard to identify for sure because they are blended into one note. My package came quickly and was wrapped like a gift. You really can't beat the price, I would highly recommend a sample although I decided to blind by because the price was so Fair and the reviews are universally positive.

Opening is very herbal and spicy and evergreen and not at all what I was expecting. Most of the oceanic scents I’ve sampled have opened with citrus and sea notes and then dry down to something woody and / or more complex. Here the complexity starts upfront, and the lovely sea notes develop thereafter. A welcome change. Definitely a NoCal seaside forest vibe. Then on my skin dries down to just the faintest amber musk, while maintaining the herbal notes. Very nice. Wish it had a bit more projection and length. I usually require a bit more performance from a fragrance for full bottle purchase but this is tempting.