Sacred Water

Don’t judge this one by the pyramid, my expectations were way off based on it! This loosely reminds me a little of Creed’s Acqua Fiorentina but a little more aquatic, slightly ambery, less citrus, and a lot more unisex wearing. Gorgeous opening - gingery, aquatic, fresh and magnolia. As it develops there is a slight indolic aspect which actually makes it quite interesting and adds depth. The pyramid mentions an animalic accord which to me is a scary word, but I interpret this as indolic which I guess could be interchangeable depending on the sniffer! I’m relieved that neither the indoles or animalicness scares me off at all, and I really really enjoy this fragrance. I need to test it a little more but it could be FBW!!

This is a seaweed scent done well. "Calm" is the right word to describe what feeling it evokes. When I smell it, I picture a cloudy day at the seaside. Marine aromatic. Wearable to the office. Unisex. One of my top 4 fragrances from this brand.

I'd been curious about this fragrance for a while, having read wildly disparate impressions. It exceeded my expectations. It's water redolent with minerals - rock and salt with traces of weedy plant life. I typically avoid fragrances described as smelling like "fresh air" since it usually indicates a highly artificial, dryer-sheet-adjacent mess of aromachemicals. This, however, really does evoke brisk air by a body of water. It would be easy enough to break down its components - some florals, lots of ambergris, a large does of mint - but that minimizes the magic of this composition. I think it achieves a kind of alchemy. This smells like something La Curie would make if they waded into aquatic territories - just an uncanny evocation of nature. Harmonist fragrances are pricy, and that can be fine, but here’s my tip: I like to buy the refills and decant them into my own bottles. Harmonist’s presentation is beautiful, but I personally don't love their bulbous bottles enough to spend the extra money on them when I can transfer the juice into a slimmer profile that better suits both my aesthetic and budget.

This fragrance is unique. It’s not your average bright/marine summer fragrance. It’s ozonic. You get a rather earthy, humid, damp greenery by a natural spring scent profile. There is a zen like quality to this. It immediately transfers you to somewhere quiet, in nature, solo with nothing but the sound of running water clashing on pebbles.

Wonderfully light and fresh + feminine for summer! I also have Bright Crystal Absolu, and did not think about the similarity at first but did after reading other reviews. I think this is formulated more intentionally; it’s more delicate but also lasts a long time! Great sillage.

Green, airy, and wet. Reminiscent of fog or mist on the grass, not rainy or petrichor but more like damp earth with a hint of crisp air. Leans slightly masculine with the earthy plant tones, but still fairly clean and non offensive. Not my favorite but it’s nice for what it is.

I'm testing the Harmonist discovery set blind. I haven't looked up anything about them: names, notes, etc. Starting with the white caps, this is the fourth one. In the air I get fresh wet greens, sweet rose, other florals, and maybe oxidizing tea. On my skin I'm getting a more musky rose, but initially a little crisp, like walking into the cooler at the florist. I get bubble gum here and there, but it's hit or miss, and I assume it's my own limit of familiarity with slightly sweet powdery notes. After a few minutes a more prominent rose dominates, like a rosy powder. This seems to reflect the heart of this fragrance. A few hours later it reads as a warmer, muskier rose. While it was long lasting, it lost most of its rosiness, but retained its musky shadow. If this doesn't have rose as a main note, I'm going to majorly scoff! At times I felt there's something mixed in, almost like cocoa or light chocolate. Looking at the name and notes now I'm perplexed once again. What? No rose, seriously. I'm confused. I get the ozonic and spicy mint that keep the fragrance cool and fresh, and the amber and woody notes providing a warm base (and explains the oily musky ending), but the sea notes and seaweed is lost on me. I have seahorse by Zoologist, and some other tropical sea fragrances to compare, and I'm just not getting the sea all that much at all. Nothing in the way of seaweed. I wonder what the notes would be if everyone voted blind. The fragrance came off quite feminine to me, whether you're a man or a woman, but others suggest differently. It's a nice fragrance whatever your interpretation. Will have to return to it after some time with a fresh nose for another take.

Most often, marketing and branding agencies stretch the imagination with fantastical descriptions of fragrances. Not The Harmonists - their description of this is spot-on: “A contrasting fragrance that both invigorates and calms...fresh marine notes collide with the mineral strength of granite and limestone, while peppermint, aquatic mosses and grey amber provide a calming undercurrent. Confident and comforting, a scent that both stimulates and settles.” Unique, calming and almost melancholic. Like a a house of worship perched on a seaside cliff under cloudy skies. Edit March 2022: This is written re: the original formula, which has been discontinued. Sacred Water has been changed to a completely new formula, and it’s nothing like the original. (The new formula includes floral notes and ginger)

Just a friendly reminder, when Harmonist originally launched Sacred Water, it was completely different from what it’s been reformulated to today. The original scent was aldehyde, peppermint, Iodine, seaweed, ambergris, cedar and algae. I mention this because people below have noted how uninspired or generic the new “water” version smells. And, well, they aren’t wrong. The original formula didn’t sell, so they replaced it with an uninspired, safer alternative. In fact, if you scroll far enough down in the comments here, you’ll see the initial reviews up until about 2020 were to the original - including my own.

Calm marine aquatic. Caramelized seaweed. Smells like Sprite. Nicely done. Appreciate the touch of minty ginger. On par with Guiding Water but more airy with less fruit. Doesn’t resonate very well. Not a safe blind buy unless you want to subtly smell like a wet gust of wind brushing up against crystallized amber 🌬️ Lasts 1-2 hours, until it turns into a fresh, clean aquatic skin scent.

Was hoping for something much more gentle and dreamy, instead it is screechy and in your face.

Sacred Water was the perfume The Harmonist website found as my element. I love this line - the Feng shui elements, the beautiful bottles... unfortunately I don't love this perfume. I wish they specified what notes are in this - their website describes it as a citrus, marine, floral scent. Upon application I believe there is some Tuberose on the top, and on me it's a pungent one with a really unpleasant bitterness to it. Tuberose is my nemesis. It overshadows anything else I might have smelled. There wasn't a hint of citrus. The marine was more noticeable after about 15 minutes in and was pleasant, but not even close to being worth the dreadful opening. If not for that, I really would have liked this one. For some reason a lot of reviews I've read about some of my all time favorite perfumes use the word melancholy in their description. I find that interesting, as it's not a word I've ever thought to describe a fragrance. But on the right person, this would be fitting to that in a most divine way.

I've really given this one a good try, but I'm fantastically underwhelmed. I'm wearing it on my skin for the third time and I don't have much to say about how it smells. It doesn't warrant adjectives. The composition suggests little creative vision coupled with lazy execution. It's even harder to take this seriously when the price tag is taken into consideration. I've smelled countless thousands of perfumes over more than two decades and that has given me a nose for BS. It comes across like a release--and brand, for that matter--that relies more on marketing psychology, absurd pricing (which strongly influences people's impression of its quality), and branding more than making something special. This is a situation that has become extremely common over the last few years and deserves to be called out. I'm calling this one out because to do otherwise would be dishonest.

I had high hopes for this one. Based on the notes, I was expecting something dark and a little salty, yet still fresh. But at least to my nose this just smells like cheap fruity shampoo. It's also incredibly tenacious, I washed the spot where I applied it multiple times, and it's still overpowering the other scents I'm currently testing. My experience of this is so different from the other reviews that I'm starting to wonder if my sample was mislabeled. I don't think it came directly from The Harmonist (it was in one of the forum traveling sample boxes), so maaaybe?

I really wish I had the opportunity to try the original formulation because this isn’t good at all. It’s so harsh and synthetic and has an overarching screechy accord that reminds me of the smell of all the perfumes in a department store melding together and lingering in the air. There are no distinctive notes, just a hot mess and possible migraine on the way.L’eau d’Issey smells way better. I see it’s being compared but I don’t recall L’eau d’Issey smelling anything like this.

Sacred Water is a very strong perfume. It has fresh aquatic notes but they are very intense. This smells like a typical masculine fragrance. It is isn't terrible but it's not anything special either. I thought that I would give it a go on a 98 degree humid summer day. However, the ambergris and seaweed notes were way too overpowering in the heat. I much prefer The Harmonist Guiding Water over this one.

Based on the notes and reviews here, I blindly purchased this fragrance and was very eagerly waiting for it. I was thinking of a sea breeze with a seaweed essence, like on a boat near the shore. I thought it would be perfect for summer days... BUT. It's just a headache! The only scent I can smell is almost white musk and aldehydes... Very nauseating and very disappointing :(

Not nearly as terrible as I thought it would be looking at the nightmare notes (in my mind). It smells like minty salty ocean air on a base of soft leather. It's okay. I wouldn't claim to like or enjoy it, and I wouldn't wear it, but it's nice to smell something so different from my usual taste. It's nice. Worth a test if you like ambergris and mint.

Aquatic, best for warmer months. Skin scent after an hour. Reminds me of Nautilus with the acqautic. This is not one I would wear.

Can you say urinal cakes and lemon Lysol?! Because this is exactly how it smells. Nothing like the name indicates. I should’ve known from the gimmicky concept of Yin and Yang that this house would be crap. I don’t necessarily mind when people borrow from my culture and execute well. This is an insult, a pure “well I know nothing about this and just liked the sound of it teehee” packaged up in cute minimalist boxes. Warning, this house is a terrible ripoff. The bottles are ugly, the scents worse, and there is no craftsmanship here. I am sorry to myself for being curious and buying samples. Slather yourself with lemon disinfectant and pee on yourself a little for the same effect as this “fragrance.”

The old formulation of this fragrance was a 10/10 for me and one of my most worn scents. It was a very unique aquatic that captured the essence of water, not in a bright or marine way, but in more of a deep, humid, spa-like way. Nothing added or taken away. No sense of florals, citruses, or synthetics - just zen. Very sadly, the new formulation isn't even a distant cousin of the original. I really enjoy The Harmonist as a brand, but I haven't been this disappointed in a reformulation - well, ever. As for the new formulation, it's just meh. You can easily get a similar designer aquatic for a third of price. Not as much bad as hugely disappointing compared to the original.

It's nice but I think you have to be really keen on finding details you like for it to rise above other aquatic scents. The drydown is like a squeaky clean plastic floral aroma with hints of pool water. The magnolia note makes sense here. The blending is really nice otherwise- it feels remarkably good at creating a sense of water. Somewhat crystalline and ozonic, with a deep sea-like muskiness that doesn't turn dirty or too fish-like. The seaweed note is subtle. I wouldn't be surprised to find lily of the valley or some calone in here, as it feels slightly soapy in that classic 90s aquatic fashion. I think what makes it better is just the mild grassy, aromatic, seawater vibe it has. A little bit of humid density like others have said as well- maybe the amyris brings a little sweetness, and a little piney-citrus touch. In fact after a few more hours I think the amyris is contributing a lot, but I've only clearly sensed the note in maybe 1-2 other perfumes before. Overall I like this the more I smell it actually. Worth sampling if you like Issey Miyake, or want an easier to wear, more aquatic version of White Whale by Masque Milano (very niche example but I really think it shares a lot of intent/inspiration).

First impression: This is compared to Montale Sand Flowers which is very very similar to Comptoir Sud De Pacific, and I can confirm it has nothing to do with either of those. I haven't tried the issey miyake so I can't speak for that comparison. It smells nothing like Nicolai Perfumer Patchouli Intense either. Opening I get an ozonic vibe along with with a bit of seaweed before the ambergris arrives. Suprisingly, the fragrance itself is not salty, but carries an herbal quality. The ambergris material doesn't smell like the real ambergris I have in my other fragrances or genuine ambergris I've smelled. It has an animalic quality to it that may be off-putting up close as it slightly resembles halitosis. Overall, I'd say it's okay. Not bad, but also not great. I'll update my thoughts after further testing.

Aquatic and aldehydes are some of my least least favorite notes, so I am surprised how much I like this. Right off the bat this reminds me of Squid by Zoologist and Tom Ford Oud Minerale, but I like this better. This is an ambergris fragrance that hints of fresh air, wet beach wood, cloudy skies and sea spray. Cold and clinical this somewhat fresh smelling but ambergris keeps this earthy, like how a beach would smell on a cold overcast morning. Clean but a little dank too, i would not try this in hot weather as it might turn gross if mixed with sweat. I get very little mint. Unisex as you really can't assign a gender to this. Somber and serious, I wouldn't call this frilly or fun to wear. Not pretty but beautifully made and well put together. My first experience with Harmonist and I am intrigued

very beautiful. picture a scene of a hilltop, possibly overlooking a bay. fresh, but cloudy, spring air caresses your face. the juice from the orange you just ate slightly lingers on your salty fingertips. wet grass and moss slips underneath you. when sprayed, it smells strongly of citrus, but it relaxes into a magnolia foward, breezy scent, with an earthy undertone. it's a very gentle, grounding smell. earthy, fresh, aquatic, and calm. so, so pleasant and soft. i have never been complimented on my perfume before, but i received two compliments from strangers on this frangrance :)

Something in this reminds me of a yellow/white but more yellow floral in the opening with the marine ozonix note. The first 2-4 minutes smell feminine to me, for some reason. This, strangely, gives me similar vibes, of the Fragrancenet exclusive, Monet's Palette, perfumed by Natalie Lorson, Chanel's Gardenia and Montblanc's, take on Invictus Acqua 2016, without the sweetness. Definitely not the best out of the Yang collection because Golden Wood and Velvet Fire are sooooooo much better.... 3.5 out of 5, IMO

I really am not a fan of this. The citron and magnolia is really overpowering on my skin, and the seaweed scent is just not a favorite of mine at all. The salty marine vibe is also not something I normally gravitate towards, and I think it's done particularly noxiously in this scent. There's kind of a chemically, lab coat quality that gives me a horrible headache upon first spray. The worst part is, the longevity is actually really impressive.

Wow, I’ve loved this scent and have been back and forth with getting a full bottle. It’s bright, fresh, and juicy. It smelt super familiar but I couldn’t put my finger on it but it truly is bright crystal absolu! Nothing at all like Issey miyake that’s aaaall melon. This is bright, slightly sharp, and has a little cologne feeling to it. Very pretty but save some bucks and get the Versace.

Sprayed this in store on a blotter and I loved it. I left wanting to get a decant to try it futher. Took the blotter home and 12ish hours later all I get from the drydown is URINE. I read through a few comments and at least one other person had a similar experience. I have not tried on skin and maybe it would behave diffenrently, sadly I don’t even want to find out.

This scent is supposed to be oceanic, but rather than open sea this smells to me like a small pool of water in a forest. There is some nice cooling water, but the pool has been stagnant and it's got algae in it and it's just starting to smell. I must be picking up the seaweed more than anything.

Completely unremarkable in every way. I am unable to pick up on the oceanic air or whatever it is that these types of aquatic and marine fragrances - L'eau d'Issey included - are supposed to convey, they usually just come across as hyper synthetic or like a good quality household disinfectant.

I have the discovery kit and I’ve been testing em out over the course of 2 months and I couldn’t tell you if I’m underwhelmed or overwhelmed that they all smell pretty much the same Edit: after some time, I do enjoy many of The Harmonist creations. Grounding, feel-good vibes

Ozonic, aquatic, sensuous perfume. It has a calming effect on me. I often apply before going to bed. Performance is weak to moderate. Sillage is moderate at best. I really enjoy it, but you should sample it first because it’s very unique and not for everyone.

Defo just smells like a screechy aquatic moment - kinda like you took the tarpaulin off a pool you haven’t touched in 30 years. sprayed this on my clothes and got whiffs of urine so theres that too 🙏

An arctic fragrance. True seal skin leather scent with ozone and a slight woody backbone. These aromas strengthen in the drydown. Not overpowering, relatively restrained.

A very generic, sweet, headache inducing scent typical of the gazillions of amateur dupes out there. What a waste of skin space. Hard pass

This fragrance reminds me of Happy by Clinique but in an earthy way. Wouldn’t know when and wear to wear a fragrance like this.

Smells like hairspray. Absolutely unpleasant.