Aquaman by Rochas

I’m not sure if it’s still in production; it’s an aqua-colored cologne that amused me at the time. What I disliked most was the heart phase, a mess of grapefruit and coriander that brought out smoldering depilatory wax notes I hate, and sometimes juniper, that smell of boiled egg also found in Miyake’s Aqua Blue and the Essenza version of Acqua di Giò. Aquaman was a tame aquatic; instead of going for a pure clone, it let in herbal and mountainous facets with a nice sweetness. I loved the drydown: the laundry-basket-scented grapefruit faded to leave a calm, slow, aromatic water sweetness. That ultra-cliché scent I love—others find banal, but here it was delicious thanks to its floral and herbal finish from sage, cardamom, and cedar. The eucalyptus was also delicious without being sharp or smelling like fluorine. Aquaman gave a sense of calm, tranquil, comforting water. It’s a perfect example of perfumes you either hate or love; if you don’t like this genre of men’s lotions, you’ll see it as repetitive and unnecessary. I’m a fan of these waters, so for me, Aquaman was a must-have representative. PS: I remember the duration was quite acceptable.

2017 was, from a perfumery perspective, a year of searching for discontinued creations; they’ve been my focus for a long time, even regardless of their performance. My motivation perhaps has to do with reminiscing about better (but much better) times in my life, during which these perfumes were present. Aquaman by Rochas was my last (re)incorporation of a vintage scent; while browsing many perfumeries in Bogotá, Colombia, I found it at a very comfortable price, with the absolute prior conviction that I would have it among my new acquisitions. It holds special memory because my mom gifted it to me over 11 years ago for my university graduation. A very autumnal perfume; it smells exactly like my first bottle: an opening with a melancholic freshness and a dry sweetness, very vegetal, contrasted by a bitter accord, both resulting from the blend of grapefruit, eucalyptus, and cypress; the scent gradually fades to the skin, where woody notes appear along with amber, a non-intrusive cardamom, and cilantro. The color of the liquid seems beautiful, just like its slender bottle. I like its aroma much more than before; it’s full of sophistication and dignity. It’s generally a rare scent, but with very pleasant and striking elements. It presents moderate projection and longevity far superior to what I remembered; I can clearly feel it 11 hours after application. Undoubtedly a magnificent creation by Jacques Cavallier. I wish perfumes were time machines, so we could rewind, return to better times, and amend decisions and circumstances related to them, always thinking about what’s best for us. May everyone have an excellent year in 2018.

Totally agree: pleasant, fresh, marine, and herbal. I see it more as a daily wear for summer and winter days. Longevity is about two hours, requiring reapplication and making it a costly fragrance since you go through it in less than a month.