Aqua Vitae Cologne Forte

I love this fragrance as an everyday spring - summer scent. I'm not a fan of the opening which I find too rich, but it quickly settles into a fresh warm citrus, woody musky scent that I love. I wish they made this exact formula as a perfume, as the cologne does not last long enough in my opinion. I get 3-4 hours, after that it has almost disappeared unless someone sticks their nose into my neck. I haven't tried the other versions of this (Aqua vitae and Aqua vitae forte), but from the notes they seem different, but maybe some one here can help me compare them? I have a sample, and am considering buying a small bottle for this summer, it's simply the lasting power that keeps me back for taking the final decision. My husband feels like it's leaning a bit masculine, but I find it unisex leaning slightly feminine. But we do not share taste in womens perfumes (anymore), as my taste has moved a bit into less sweet/fruity and floral, but more warm and rounded fragrances, but not heavy. This perfume does it for me, though I don't find i sexy or intruding, which is why I can wear it to work etc. I have bought the sample set for women, and these samples are my first experiences with MFK, as they are not sold in my country, not even online. So far, that are not all for me, a couple of them are definitely too masculine for my taste, but I'm impressed with the formulas though, and I think many perfumes are different versions of the same, there are more unique in my opinion. I can see lots of you disagree, but maybe you know more fragrances than I do - I enjoy the good handwork behind these fragrances ;-)

A fragrance that will be a happy companion for hot summers, those of the evening, those where the end of the day, when the skin has been attacked by sun, creams, salt, and sun, will be delicately perfumed with a subtle mandarin and delicate floral, and a light wood supporting everything: without being sweet, while remaining in the citrus register (the playful sparkle of mandarin) but tender with warmth, bordering on sunscreen but without the chemical aspect. I don't know of any other perfumes like this one, with this feeling of being in Sicily and being able to wear a perfume that harmonizes with a vague idea of the very special delight of a "summer evening," which doesn't assault like stepping out of the shower and even possesses a slightly creamy tenderness. It is very balanced, for a refined nose, less so for a loud, showy scent. It's MFK, a general spectrum where everything seems weighed with care and delicacy, without ostentation.

Honestly, if you had to listen to the comments here, no one would ever buy this fragrance. But for me, this is one of the best perfumes for running errands, going to the grocery store, hitting a Pilates class, or even the gym. It lasts super long and projects beautifully on both my skin and clothes. I can really smell the citrus notes and the solar note, which feels bright and uplifting. The musk isn’t very strong to my nose, but it does have a sweet and very feminine touch, though I truly believe a man could pull it off too. I absolutely adore this fragrance. I only have samples for now, but I’m already saving up to buy the 70ml bottle. Pure love!

My favorite from all the Colognes by MFK. It makes me feel happy, puts a smile on my face. Like, everything is going to be alright, you know? It is very... abstract. Modern for sure. Not citrus-y at all, not to my nose. On me it is semi-sweet powdery lilly (NOT lilly of the valley!). Gets sweeter with time if applied to skin. There're some other abstract flowers and creamy woods in the background/drydown but 90% it's the lilly. I only wore it in summer and the performance was OK but not great. It lasted on skin maybe 2-3 hours (much longer on clothes but looses its sweetness), and it was creating a small bubble for the first hour or so.

This is my second review. After three years, I finally got my hands on a partial bottle from the first batch — and I couldn't be happier. I’ve always loved Aqua Vitae Forte, and this one feels like its fresher, brighter sibling. It’s sparkling, uplifting, and absolutely perfect for summer or that carefree vacation vibe. I especially enjoy the blend of citrus, cardamom, and ylang-ylang — it's both invigorating and elegant. For me, this is a true love. I honestly don't understand why it has such a low rating here — it deserves much more appreciation.