Aqva Divina by Bvlgari

Opinions are divided, but I adore it from the very first spray. It’s my signature scent and I have two backups, though it’s not for everyone. Testing it on several women was a curious experiment: on many skins it becomes unpleasant, which doesn’t happen on mine; instead, it has brought me compliments and smells great for about six hours. I don’t know what some people buy or what’s happening with their pH, but clearly it’s a chameleon gem that behaves differently on each skin. It doesn’t make friends with just anyone, and for every nose there is a whole world. I love it for being so different.

I absolutely love this scent, especially the magnolia, though on my skin the quince takes centre stage with a touch of ginger and the magnolia battling for attention. In my case, the fragrance doesn’t evolve; it simply fades in intensity until it disappears after a couple of hours.

I believe this perfume does everything right: externally, internally, and conceptually. If the gold box is already beautiful, what can one say about the format and tone that evokes a pearl (except the 25ml bottle, which remains exquisite). This association with what the water offers recalls Botticelli’s freshness and is encapsulated in the name. Upon smelling it, we are faced with a water fit for the deities. It is a scent that transports us to the sea, but not to a hot, daytime beach, rather to a fresh marine zone, of a sun that is neither fully rising nor setting. It is the smell of salty air announcing that an immeasurable expanse of water is very close. It is the only one of Bulgari’s Aqvas that is ‘feminine’, although for me it is totally unisex. It has a salty and citrus opening with bergamot; the saltiness lingers with spicy ginger notes that later soften with a soft magnolia. It settles into a woody base with a waxy hint and minimally honeyed. A truly beautiful symphony. It has moderate sillage and longevity; it isn’t an overwhelming powerhouse, but if you already know it, it is very recognisable. In these days of extremely sweet perfumes, smelling something like this is unique and addictive. A respite, an olfactory vacation that combines perfectly with the beach.

Aqua Divina failed to define itself and paid the price with its discontinuation. When the aim is to satisfy the public and it falls short, it is labelled a failure. Its lack of sales does not denote its quality. They say it is neither sweet nor salty, and that is incorrect; it is both, dancing like tango partners in La Boca, dodging tourists. The female public will resist because it is sweet without being sweet, floral without being floral, fresh without being fresh. It falls into a voracious synergy where women accustomed to cloying or piercing citrus fragrances feel unfulfilled. And the unconstructed male public, how does he use a women’s perfume? After all, appearances matter! 1+1=2 and mathematics do not lie. What a shame that prejudice prevents them from enjoying this gem! The velvet, rustic opening, a salty quince and at times woody, can be disconcerting. The citrus dry-down hides quickly. The non-aquatic marine takes you to a dusty beach, if such a thing exists; if not, this fragrance creates it. That girl, strolling full of leisure on the rough sand, now aged, remains in her agony of not knowing the sea. Morillas says it has a connection with the Mediterranean because she was born in Seville, reminding me of my connection to Charlemagne; both of us were born men. It suggests a flower emerging from the tide, and there I got lost. I accept a misunderstood fragrance, not a lie. The aquatic yin demanded of a beach yang simply does not appear. If it were born in a niche house as unisex, it would be an object of cult. But it was born in the wrong gender, at the wrong time. Bulgari Aqua Divina, thank you for so much, forgive me for so little.

I have liked it very much because it is so rare. In the opening it smells like grass after rain, you feel quite a bit of salt and I think of the sea. I imagine a rainy morning walking on the grass with bare feet. It is not typically feminine and could be unisex. I would use it in mornings and evenings; it gives me security. It seems to me a very fine aroma due to the magnolia, wood, and beeswax. I recommend trying it because it is not for everyone, but it has absolutely shot me. I am sure no one else will use it at any event. Also, I liked the packaging: the opaque white bottle evoking mother-of-pearl and the gold box. A fine touch.

It is a perfume different from all others, it does not smell like any other. I do not feel it is fresh; I find it extremely salty and woody with a clear base of beeswax, almost masculine. I think the women who use Aqua Divina are very secure in their identity. It is not for anyone, it is understandable: you either love it or hate it, there is no middle ground. Definitely not for the day nor for summer despite the salt; perhaps for a summer night by the sea. It does not have good longevity, it lasts me a maximum of 2-3 hours.

Another perfume I’m sorry to say it feels more unisex than feminine. I suppose it’s discontinued because it’s so different from the current gourmand trend. The notes I detect most are salt quince ginger beeswax and a shy magnolia. It has an air of Womanity but it only lasts half an hour. It’s delicate distinguished and summery; the opening is very unisex then it mutates and the star becomes a salty quince with beeswax very Mediterranean and original. I liked it for summer but since I tested it in winter I’ll wait for the heat to feel its evolution.

I find it a bit citrusy and aquatic. I like it quite a lot and it’s very elegant.

This perfume drives my receptors wild; it’s like a party for the nose; the chords go up and down like bugle calls, hahaha. Said in the best tone. On the opening, the salty contribution is unmistakable. It has that marine thing related to Aqva Marine from the house or Womanity (due to the slight algae effect of Aqva Divina) or Jardin Après la Mousson (due to the ginger). A few minutes later, it became sweeter on my skin, sprouting amber with something of quince and beeswax. After a while, amidst that sweetness, I perceived a floral contribution that must be the magnolia; it brought to mind Magnolia Sensuel. Now, I don’t know how much later, perhaps 40-60 minutes, a very interesting sweet-salty combination settled. It’s fresher and more luminous. But every time I lean in to smell it, I find garlands of different combinations, like sparkles: candied quince, ginger, magnolia, brine… If I press my nose to my arm and smell slowly, I feel a wax base providing support. At 2-3 hours, the waxy base gains ground and becomes softly creamy. It’s not a classic aroma. It’s not that one says ‘if it’s called Divine Water it will be luxurious and exuberant’ – or at least that’s not what I perceive. It’s a super sophisticated perfume, complex, with many twists and nuances, but it doesn’t fit the classic definitions of ‘divinity’. Aqva Divina is vital, mobile, an atmosphere charged with energy, boiling like a primordial bowl of water from the gods. And the bottle is designed perfectly with the aroma: a high-quality marine pearl, notched with an imperfection that at first glance seems disposable, but which makes it more precious and unique, radiating luminosity; it recalls parsimonious ornaments and rituals, like tiaras or golden headdresses. I’m fascinated when perfumes express so much. When I can, this jewel will join my collection.

Aqva Divina is a different fragrance, nothing conventional; one could say ‘quirky’, but at the same time elegant and delicate. It reminds me of the sea breeze. I feel the ginger and quince in harmony with honey. I also feel the jasmine with the bergamot, the woody note, and the amber, but there is an aroma that closes this perfect circle: sea salt. I wondered why this note is so well accentuated, knowing that salt doesn’t smell to anything… and reading a column on this site I rescued that basically it is said that in addition to accentuating and exalting aromas and flavours, salt combined with other notes isolates a marine accord (Fragrantica notes for salt). Amazing! Good fixation and excellent trail. A real pity it has been discontinued; however, I thank my cousin @Jimblue for introducing me to this elixir.

I had the pleasure of trying it before almost buying it blindly because it was on discount at my go-to perfumerie. I must say it felt extremely fresh salty and unisex on my skin. The salt note is very prominent and it makes me a bit dizzy. But I commend its originality and as soon as I can I’ll give it another chance. I love men’s perfumes and I don’t have any for personal use so I say yes to this fragrance. Soon it will be part of my small collection.

Beautiful perfume the salty note is very marked (personally I love it) it’s very Mediterranean beachy and fresh. It’s true it can be a bit unisex but this fragrance is very well done. It’s a pity the trail isn’t a bit stronger and its lasting power isn’t the best. But it’s a perfume totally for everyday use.

It is very different. The woman who wears it goes free, confident in her femininity without needing to shout it. I love the quince. The longevity and trail are moderate. It brings me to the sea, to the scent of the beach at dusk. It is different from everything I know, which is why it is a gem. As befits, it lives in my dressing table and does not leave.

Today I’m wearing Aqva Divina courtesy of Casablanca77, and it’s one of those feminine perfumes that, although delicate and tender, have that subtle woody touch that allows a man to wear it without problems. It’s a refined, fresh, and delicate fragrance, nothing invasive, extremely refreshing and relaxing. For me, the protagonists are the ginger and quince over a slight ambered woody background, with very nice floral and salty nuances. Generally, it’s this aroma, except that on the opening the bergamot adds an extra touch of momentary freshness, light and that lasts a sigh. Then, in the final dry-down, the ambered woods take more prominence. Otherwise, it’s a fresh, juicy, tender quince, slightly spicy from the ginger, with a slight floral aura, exquisite, all of this over a subtle bed of warm, ambered, and slightly sweet woods, truly precious. You can feel Morillas’ hand, the master of the subtle. Performance is moderate; it’s not a bomb, but it’s fulfilling and very fresh for this heat. A very good option to wear during the day in warm and temperate seasons. It’s not the typical black-and-white unisex; its feminine execution is noticeable, but if you have an open mind, it’s an easy aroma to wear. That said, not every man will like it, but that’s how it is with tastes. If you have it handy and want to try it, go ahead; it’s a very good option to try new things and break the routine.

Ziggy 🙂 Correct, it is exactly the same as a beach day. Coming with the scent of salt and bronzed skin (without being red, but well-bronzed and showering with cold water and Pravia Hay gel). After trying strong perfumes, my nose has rediscovered it as a very good perfume for summer; at first, it impacted me too much. Yes, it has a masculine calyx, but it is beautiful. Summer woody perfumes usually resemble masculine ones, but the quality of the pink ginger and the combination of salt in just the right measure make it a gem when I rediscover it. It seems it did not have the acceptance it could have expected from a Morillas, but I think that is mistaken. The perfumer wanted to evoke directly the scent of our land, and it would have been complicated without wet and salty woods. I am glad you also rediscover it; I am not the only one who gives opportunities to a fragrance that, as you rightly say, may have been relegated by summer citrus or fruity feminine styles. If appreciated, it is very singular, which is why it is worth trying.