Aqua Imperi

Another freshie in their cologne series. A bit more aggressive in the opening than Aqua Minimes, but feels very natural and uplifting. I like it a lot, though Minimes may be my favorite.

Overall I like this but I'm not sure it's for me yet. The opening smells like an upmarket lemon wipe, if such a thing even exists. As more of the lavender comes in though, it turns into a really pretty smell, sophisticated and subtle, not too perfumed. I'm not sure what Myrtle is supposed to smell like so it's hard to comment on that note, but the scent does keep on developing as the hours go by and it interacts with my own chemistry. By the end of the day it actually started reminding me of Azzaro Chrome a little. Indeed, don't confuse the fact that it's pretty soft with a lack of longevity, this easily lasts over half a day on my skin, and until the next morning on my shirt collar and watch band.

This is excellent. It starts off with a bitter blast (to me this is a plus) of lavender and citrus, and gradually mellows down but without losing that lavender top. It's an aqua, yet longevity is about 6 hours, and you can easily sense it's there. Myrtle is difficult to describe, but think of something akin to vetiver. I would even venture to describe this (yes, a generalization of sorts) as Terre d'Hermes with lavender. I think there's something really special about this one. From the official website: Top note : Bergamot Heart note : Lavandin Base note : Myrtle

Vegan! A nice cologne (more for man) for all year. I smell Lavender and Myrthe in fact, very natural and modern. Simple but efficient. Before to going to bed, too masculine for me: I gave it to my husband. It is a cologne for the longevity is not so good. Sillage is moderate. 5/10

On blotter in winter. The herbal character - fresh yet medicinal - reminds me of camphor or borneol. So this is the myrtle claimed in the list. The lavender is tamed and lost its personaliry. Lemony sourness will step forward after 0.5h with a powdery shadow. On skin, the initial pungent and bright aromas smells like snapping the pedicle of a tangerine or a citrus branch, only less astringent. The pungent and bright aromas quicly dininish, giving way to a powdery and vague note and leaving a hint of minty coolness (now I see it's the myrtle). Longevity is much worse on skin than on blotter. Quite strange but may be an ideal summer cologne.

The website mentions lavandin and myrtle as the main notes, and the lavandin is briefly noticeable in the opening, but it goes very bitter and citric from there on. Perhaps a hefty dose of bitter orange or bigarade is added as well. Definitely more masculine than some of the other offerings. After some time it's your run of the mill citrus fragrance with maybe a light herbal undertone due to the lavandin. Nice, but nothing special. 6/10

Aqua Imperi smells like an early 1970s Chanel. A Chanel cologne. Simplified, and no galbanum, but chic and green, crisp and dry, and grown up. Masculine. I think only a perfumer could identify the modern molecules. It smells vintage and honest to me.