Aqva Amara by Bvlgari

As its name suggests, it smells of slightly bitter oranges and stays that way. I really like its dry-down. I’ve had it for over a year and wear it during the day, whether it’s hot or cool. On very hot or humid days, I use less as it becomes more intense. I wore it every day this week. On Friday, a colleague told me it smelled delicious. I asked if it was noticeable because I sprayed it at 7 am and it was already 2 pm; for me, it was no longer detectable. She said yes. I showed her the perfume, and after smelling it, she did something unexpected: she sprayed three times, saying it smelled different. There were three other girls nearby who saw what she did; they all came over, smelled it, and did the same. So, we all smelled like Aqva Amara. The opening was a bit sharp but pleasant, and for the rest of the afternoon, I could feel the dry-down trail on them, which was very pleasant. In my opinion, it’s a good fragrance that takes citrus into a different, more challenging context. When you wear it, bring out your extroverted and playful side. It has character, and there may be days when our mood isn’t up to it. It’s also interesting that it’s not very well known in my circle. It has become scarce in large perfumeries, so when I found it in a small shop, I didn’t hesitate to buy it. Worth it.

Finally, I was able to try this perfume thanks to my good friend Iván. So much has been said about it that my first impression was somewhat disappointing; perhaps I expected something different from what I found on the first spray. Not spectacular, just different. The truth is, my perception has changed with use. It is truly a lovely perfume with a certain original touch. You can clearly smell that note of tangerine or orange taking a bath in salt water. Those aquatic notes seem to be shamelessly loaded with tons of ambroxan, giving it character, depth, and a longevity beyond expectations. In its last traces, a woody patchouli and something green can be perceived, which doesn’t quite hold back the power of the sea but rather pushes it forward. I insist, I was surprised by its longevity, a performance of 6 hours that feels effortless, probably aided by the office air conditioning. A rich, tasty aroma, ideal for going out to a terrace in summer, even better by the beach to feel clean and confident. I would even say it is attractive. I bet it is the best in the Aqva series for most people and also to my personal taste. It’s a pity that fewer units remain and at elevated prices.

Aqva Amara is beautiful. The bitter citrus and water notes in the opening can be strong, but I love them as they are my favourite fruits. It then becomes linear, with a floral neroli that contrasts beautifully with the bitter water; this duality is its charm. There’s a herbal touch from coriander and patchouli that makes it very masculine. It’s casual, semi-formal, and perfect for spring and summer. The performance is exceptional: five sprays give five hours of projection and up to 14 hours of longevity. The best part is that it reacts incredibly well with sweat, as if you’ve just applied it. It really delivers. Suitable for daily wear, outings, or sport, though best for informal meetings and avoiding strong-smelling environments. It never fades. What a shame they’ve discontinued it. I understand you either love it or hate it, regardless of performance. It’s one of those fragrances designers often avoid because it’s so polarising. And that’s why Atlantiqve attacked.

I’ve just smelled this fragrance and must say, respecting the other reviews, that in a humorous tone it reminded me of green juice with celery. Upon analysis, I note that the neroli predominates quite a bit along with the mandarin, and underneath those notes is the incense, which makes it, as its name says, ‘Amara’, bitter. It’s very strong for my taste. If you plan to buy it blind, don’t, because not everyone will like it or find it projects the same way. I had high expectations regarding the citrus aromas, but they are too strong. I still think it has celery, or perhaps it’s the bitterness of the neroli, because it’s like when you squeeze an orange leaf and the scent comes out, very similar but intense. I repeat, it’s not bad but it’s not one of my favourites. They mention it’s similar to Clinique Happy and well, nothing to do with it; Happy is much softer. If you like aromas that aren’t so common, this is the fragrance for you.

It has taken my breath away, little to add: it’s exotic and leaves no one indifferent. The tangerine is well executed, smelling of the inner part of the peel with floral nuances and green vegetation mixed with sea salt. At first it doesn’t seem interesting, but then the neroli appears, giving it sweetness and floral body, blending with that salty and green note that makes it polarising. If you like citrus and salty scents, you’ll love it; if not, better to abstain. I don’t perceive the patchouli or incense as such, but the fixative and projection are good; it projects for about 3 hours then drops but stays for 8 hours. I don’t see it for daily use, it’s more casual or for parties depending on the context. I wore it to university and women loved it. Regarding Aqva Pour Homme, it’s more ‘earthy’ but retains the salty and green DNA; it’s a good flanker, although Pour Homme remains my favourite.

Well, another excellent perfume that inexplicably has been discontinued. Its opening is very sharp, with a predominant bitter orange that gradually sweetens and blends with the aquatic and, above all, floral notes, giving a fresh and clean sensation once dry that lasts until the end. A daytime perfume, ideal for spring/summer, different from what most people usually wear. Its longevity and trail are notable, above average for this type of ‘fresh’ perfume. I’ve read here that it’s similar to Terre d’Hermès, and honestly, they do share certain similarities in the opening (especially the bitter orange), but after a short while they take different paths. For me, a very good option; as long as it can be found at a reasonable price, it will always be in my collection. Note: 9 out of 10.

I just bought this gem blind and, luckily, found a lady with an Original Tester of 100 ml. I was looking for it, but it’s discontinued and no longer sold in my country. It was love at first sniff, nothing I’d smelled before. A scent of oranges mixed with earth and sea, fresh but strong and characterful. It doesn’t seem like an Aqua or a summer fragrance because, although it’s fresh, its longevity and trail are admirable on my skin. Perhaps I’ve found my personal fragrance after trying nearly 30 perfumes; I still have much to explore, but this Aqva Amara hasn’t left me indifferent. What a pity they’ve discontinued it; you’ll surely receive many compliments and create a pleasant memory effect in those around you. I recommend it widely.

After reading many positive reviews, I decided to buy it blind. I was worried it might be too mature, but after trying it on my skin, it’s spectacular. It’s not a youthful scent, but it’s not for older men either; I’d wear it from age 25 onwards. Normally I’m not passionate about fresh perfumes, but that dirty, spicy, and bitter touch won me over. It reminds me of tangerine peel, leaves, and that bitter scent that lingers on your hands after pulling fruit from the tree. It smells bitter and very good. It reminds me of Dior Sauvage, but with that sharp tangerine note always in the foreground. Longevity and projection are incredible for such a fresh scent. The bottle is one of the best in my collection. Final note: 9/10.

I searched a lot for the rarity they claim, but I don’t see it as rare. It opens citrusy, just orange peel, nothing special at first. Then it evolves into interesting marine notes and yes, it made me want to wear it in the office. I consider it unisex; in fact, the seller showed it to me as a women’s fragrance. The dry-down delighted me, that light patchouli perfuming the air. I could wear it every day as a signature. It is the poor cousin of Terre d’Hermès. If you like this, wear Amara daily and Terre for special occasions.

Don’t be disappointed on first spray: at first it smells like dishwasher detergent with an orange scent, but the dry-down is magical and beautiful. It turns bitter, smoky, fresh aquatic, and floral; I love that balsamic touch. I bought two 100ml bottles for $57 on Notino, although it’s discontinued and may appear online. It happens to me that when the bottle is full it smells different, but as the contents decrease it gets better; the top notes and dry-down smell much better, very elegant.

To be honest, it’s a very flat and simple fragrance, yet not common. The opening is good, reminiscent of the orange in Terre d’Hermès but without the earthiness. I feel the opening dominates the entire life of the perfume. Good projection, longevity and trail. It’s not my favourite in the Aqva line; I think Marine is much better. If it’s a good fragrance objectively, it’s a shame that its discontinuation will disappoint lovers of this scent.

Finally, I’ve managed to get this perfume after months of searching. I don’t understand how they could discontinue it; it’s exquisite. Upon application, it smells of delicious bitter orange with very fresh aquatic notes. It reminds me of summer, a rocky beach. Perfect for spring and summer. The longevity and trail are extraordinary for an aquatic: around 12 hours on skin and a metre-long trail.

Today I tried this perfume after searching for it for several days since it’s discontinued; it wasn’t easy to find. I had high hopes that it would be different from the other Bvlgari Aquas, but on my skin, it wasn’t. It smells the same from start to finish and has a note that smells bad on my skin: the aquatic notes give me a headache. I’m sorry it’s not for me.

To my nose, the olfactory family is incorrect. It seems more Citric Floral Aquatic. It is perfectly unisex. Longevity and sillage are brutal, excellent for summer and also for spring. Take care with over-application, especially in small, enclosed spaces.

I just applied it for the first time and it fascinated me. That exuberant blend of tangerine, olibanum, and the fresh floral touch of neroli transports me to the Mediterranean coast: rocky, damp, and warm. A Bvlgari jewel.