Alba in Asia

This is my third absolute favourite from L`erbolario. (along with their Queen of Meadows and Lily of the Valley.) This one is just so perfectly aquatic and floral that I have to say that at this point it is quite hard for me to decide between their Queen of Meadows, Lily of the Valley and this one. I would mark these as my perfect trio :) For me, it has moderate sillage and good longevity - about 6-7 hours, depending on the season (I`ve been wearing it since March and it stays longer on skin when it is not scorching hot and humid). On clothes it stays for 2-3 days for sure, my wardrobe has this gorgeous scent all summer as I keep wearing this fragrance all the time during summer season. In my personal opinion, I find Alba in Asia to be dreamy, meditative, aquatic-floral. Very ethereal, very soft, nothing sharp nor provoking in it in any way. It indeed evokes that calmness and serenity of clear water and fresh lotus flowers (if you ever had the pleasure of sensing the real flower - they have gorgeous scent in real life, and here is a very realistic lotus note in this aquatic composition). I do not find citrus notes offending in any way (I`m not a fan of any citruses) but here citrus is not that noticeable at all, and it disappears in few seconds. Notes that I find the most dominant here, and these work so gorgeously with my personal skin chemistry are Watery notes, Lotus and Cedar, and a hint of white musk which gives it that woody-warm, slightly, just tiny powdery dry-out. (not a fan of powdery notes either but this one is not powdery in that sense). Very, very, dreamy and meditative. I layer it with my own diy lily and rose oil perfumes, and this creates such an ethereal effect that I constantly get asked about what I wear. When I compare it to my Lily of The Valley, which is heavy on lily, and hence cold scent, this one is definitely warm, like Queen of meadows is, so if you like dreamy queen of meadows, but would like to try something more serene and aquatic, this may be it. This is not a sexy, vibrant, provocative type of scent which screams "notice me". It is also not your romantic nor seducing type of fragrance either (check their Rose ones for romantic options). It is not cold, nor sharp, nor green like Mughetto (which I also adore but it is different than this one). This one is dreamy, calm, meditative, soothing, serene, and warm aquatic-floral. I absolutely love it ! As with all L ̇erbolario fragrances, I would not recommend blind-buying anything from them. I personally tried some that I extremely dislike, like their Iris one, (which I hate due to being extremely powdery), but now I have 3 that are very in the sphere of what I prefer, and have become my top 3 favourite fragrances. So test it first if you can !

This is the only perfume that actually brings back the pure feeling (and elation) of walking around the Japanese Zen garden early in the morning. Its moderate projection is so in line with the subtlety of outer expression traditionally cultivated in Japan. it is an extremely mauvais ton to wear strong perfumes in Japan. This is such a delightful and unexpected accord of warmth, coolness, touch of distant bloom and pure enchantment that the presence of the lotus grants wherever it appears. I find that this perfume recreates the mood of the misty Zen garden with its serenity, stillness, comforting embrace and spaciousness perfectly! Finally a perfume that bypasses tea and cherry blossom staples in this genre. I find myself reaching out for it in summer, winter and everything it between. It a perfect daytime, inoffensive, intimate and casual perfume which is elegant, dreamy and elating. My husband always compliments me when I wear it. Bravo!

Honestly, this scent is the closest I’ll ever get to sitting beside a lotus lake on a random Tuesday morning. They call it aquatic, and it truly is, but not in that sharp, citrusy way. It’s calm, fresh, and quiet. Think of still water, and a bit of green around you. It’s a mild, gentle fragrance that feels like peace in a bottle. I love it to hell and back. The only downside is that it fades fast, so keeping a small decant with you is a must. It’s not a show-stopper or something that leaves a strong trail. It’s more of a quiet presence. The kind of scent I imagine on the quiet college girl reading in the park: thoughtful, serene, and at ease with the world.

Tip: Layer with fragrance with Idole Lancome or a clone of this fragrance. You will thank me for it!

I really like this fragrance! It’s fresh, clean, and not overpowering - exactly what I was looking for. It doesn’t feel heavy or nauseating, just a nice, light scent that’s perfect for everyday wear. It’s also non-offensive, so great for any occasion! I have the roll-on now, but I’m definitely getting a bigger bottle at some point, because it's soooo good!!!