Acqua di Selva (1949)
by Visconti di Modrone

Wonderful and i underline it. It's a bracing, clean, conservative and old-school  woodsy cologne. This is a jump back in the tradition. What can i say? I tested it from a decrepit and dusty tobacconist's shop and i was at once teleported back in the time of my childwood when i used to walk for the streets of the town with my grandfather and the brother of him. This is an astringent and conservative fougere with its citrus-oakmoss-lavender central chord. There is a piney note not so dominant, bergamot and lemon, the main aromatic and edible greens (basil, clary sage, rosemary and thyme) that on the side of aromatic conifers produce the illusion of mint and finally a very woodsy dry down without amber. I don't detect soapiness while i catch the note of vetiver since the first minute on the side of bergamot and pine. A touch of floral sweetness coming from the most astringent carnation and geranium is counterbalanced by bitter tonka. The balance is stiff and the craftsmanship is old school. May be i was lucky to smell an old bottle but i did't inhale a synthetic smell. I'm thinking to come back nearby that old shop to buy a bottle for the upcoming moments i will be in the mood to wear it at morning. The bottle is wonderful, the smell is close to the skin and the longevity is proper of a cologne. Inexpensive.

28th November, 2011.

Acqua di Selva is a very special fragrance, only for poets, lovers, nostalgics. I love it!

10th October, 2011.

Fresh, clean and pleasant notes when opening and drying; smooth and reasonable lasting fragance.

10th October, 2011.

I can see why people like this earthy, green fragrance, but I tried and tried and just don't like it. It's not that I don't like green scents, it's just that this one is a bit too pine-y. I think maybe it smells a bit cheap, not sure I can put my finger on it. But I can see why some people would like this type of fragrance.

8th October, 2011.

Acqua di Selva is a quintessential old guard fragrance. "Dated" doesn't apply: it is not at all modern yet I don't find it anachronistic either. Timeless may be a better term.

It opens with a blast of lemon oil (see YSL Pour Homme) which shouts above the crowd like Mario Savio at a '60s rally. Shortly thereafter the moss blankets the proceedings like Bay Area fog. I can't verify that AdS is faithful to the original 1949 aroma, but this mossiness seems period-correct. I can imagine Porfirio Rubirosa or David Niven sporting this. The moss and the herbs give it a very green and very Italian character.

This is still available Stateside and at a bargain to boot. Recommended to any man looking for a nostalgic dose of midcentury perfumery.

13rd July, 2011. (Last Edited: 1st September, 2011.)

I was only able to sample this once, and I was sampling a few that day, so I'd really need to sample this again to be sure of my impression, which was basically minty mouthwash. Later on, I think it became a little soapy, with a bit of pine. I don't know if I could endure the harsh, "synthetic" minty opening, though, even if the drydown isn't bad. I'll give this a neutral until I can sample it again and give it my full attention. Until then, I suggest trying to get Green Jeans instead.

12nd February, 2011.