Acqua Tempesta No. 3

A huge thanks to Lengling for sending me all 7 fragrance samples in a beautifully packaged box. I had a wild guess I would love Acqua Tempesta after reading Miguel's article on this new niche brand and I was right! Will update my own review later, but from the link: ACQUA TEMPESTA LENG-Note: “Dangerous smoke” - Marihuana, Olibanum, Vetiver Haiti, Cedarwood LING-Note: “Fresh water” - Aquatic Notes, Hedion, Peppermint, Elemi "An interesting contrast between aquatic and smoky accords. Surprising and apparently a paradox. This is one of those ideas that shouldn't work but it does. A brilliant work that is always crossing the line between water and fire. And in the end, once we get used to the idea, it's not hard to wear at all. What starts cold and cerebral, ends in a spicy, sexy way. Marc vom Ende has made a truly remarkable composition here." Credit: fragranticaDOTcom/news/New-Bipolar-Perfumes-Lengling-Munich-7376.html#addReview

Of all the perfumes I own, this one is the most interesting and most compelling. It has this contradiction of smoke and salt water at its heart that’s really unique. It smells like you were smoking in the captain’s cabin when the boat sank, but you’ve clung to a piece of driftwood and survived your time lost at sea. This has emotional resonance for me as well—I bought it in Frankfurt last year after surviving my first business meeting in German (not my native language, but was good enough when put to the test!). I’d love to try more scents from this house.

The opening is very direct. It starts with a typical aquatic molecule accord—cool, transparent, and slightly salty. In the first second there is a damp metallic chill, like sea air hitting a metal surface. It is not a sweet aquatic style. Instead it feels closer to synthetic marine molecules with a touch of menthol-like freshness, creating a “clean air” effect. Within this layer you can also detect a trace of Hedione, which makes the opening lighter and more transparent. Soon the coolness gives way to something greener and more herbal, with a bitter vegetal tone. This stage is actually the most distinctive part of the fragrance. It smells like crushed leaves releasing their sharp green sap, mixed with a faint scorched nuance. The effect mainly comes from rosin and a light incense facet. At the molecular level these materials can carry a slightly oxidized resin character. On skin it can resemble the bitter smell of heated plant oils, or something close to herbal or mildly fermented notes. Later, vetiver and cedar stabilize the structure. The fragrance becomes drier and more clearly woody, but the underlying tone still keeps that faint salty and humid impression, while the smoky nuance remains present. This fragrance avoids the typical refreshing style of aquatic scents. Instead it deliberately introduces a subtle organic bitterness, making the scent feel more raw and realistic. Technically it is well composed, but how pleasant it feels will largely depend on how comfortable you are with that kind of vegetal bitterness. Not a safe blind buy.

This won't be for everyone I smell Sulphur. Not really pleasant.

I recently within the past 30 calendar days wore this while tranporting my human self to another geographical location. To my human self this scent smells clean with an ocean h20 element. To other humans of a similar species it tickles their nostrils. Interesting to see humans sneeze. Their reaction, less interaction, less germs. Once I transport to another location I will be wearing this on my human flesh again. I will report back later after next earliest wearing soon.