Aqua Motu / Motu (1992)
by Comptoir Sud Pacifique

I must preface this by saying I am going through extreme discomfort writing this review. This is the fourth time I have worn this, and every single time I have gotten nauseous. This is the first time that I've ever experienced this phenomenon, and I'm trying my best to be "subjectively objective", but damn this makes me want to vomit.
Aqua Motu might not be considered "niche", but I definately think this occupies an extremely succinct and certain "niche" in lifestyle and desired outward projection. This is not your everyday aquatic, in fact, this is not your any day aquatic. There is no inherent ocean, there is no inherent lake, there is no inherent retention pond... this is BEACH... This is the smell of tourists toting cheap plastic chairs down to the sand, as far away from the water as they can get while still feeling as if they're on vacation. This is a family of four smiling in a picture, with their kids wrapped up in swimmies and inner tubes, sunburnt faces reflecting the concrete and pvc piping of a landlocked waterpark. Is it sweet? yes, very much synthetically so... Is it salty? yes, but more inspired by the smell of sweatglands pushing moisture through a layer of 50 spf sunblock than the smell of still-drying brine on the skin of a tanned woman in the islands. There is absolutely no way that I can relate to the note pyramid, as either 1) this is such a "beautifully crafted?" fragrance that I cannot detect any of the individual notes, or 2) the synthetics used are of such poor quality that they don't resemble anything close to the natural elements. I can't give this a thumbs down due solely due to the nausea induced when I wear this, but I can't honestly give a thumbs up when all I really want to do is wash this off and replace it with the soothing Bulgari Aqua (IMHO the one aquatic that really feels like the ocean). My deepest apologies to all that enjoy this, but I have to put my thumb at 90 degrees.

Aqua Motu is my first summer choice. I have to mention that I possess about 30 summer scents in my collection. Should I say anything more? I should? OK...
Top: Gummy. Middle: Heavenly. Base: Salty. All in all, it’s very authentic, very interesting.
Aqua Motu didn’t made to be someone’s signature scent. It isn’t sexy or mysterious. No, that’s not its mission, but it is extra fresh (it sounds like a commercial for some bubble gum or tooth paste) and “you smell very pleasant“ scent.
Please imagine this: It’s very, very hot summer day. You are wearing Aqua Motu… and the passers-by, some people at the station where you wait for your bus, your colleagues, a lift-boy… they all are looking at you very thankful for that breath of fresh air you’re giving to them. Not an unpleasant picture, isn’t it?
Just once, in my whole “scent collector’s career” I regretted because I purchased 50 instead of 100 ml bottle. Of course, I’m talking about Aqua Motu.

Aqua Motu starts out smelling like "just another cucumber aquatic" on my skin. Given some time it evolves into a minty-fresh wood and citrus scent, with a healthy dash of seaweed and iodine thrown in. It reminds me very much of Beth Terry's Mare, only a little bit less lush and sweet. In fact, the two are close enough that I couldn't justify owning both.

Pleasant, but not worth the rash it gives me when I wear it.

I completely agree with meonbn ...this is the beach in a bottle, but does not bode well as a "signature" scent, at least, not IMO. This is for occasional use only. Use sparingly or risk a sinus headache. This scent is very fresh. I like it for a room scent, myself and though I own it, I rarely wear it. It's very intense and perhaps you really need to be in a tropical setting to take advantage of what it has to offer. Still, it delivers what it promises, capturing the smells of island beaches in a way no perfume house has ever been able to accomplish before.

I bought this scent today and it works so nice in the summertime. It reminds me, when i walking on the beach...the Montale Sandflowers is also nice, but Aqua Motu for that price...it is ok.
Fresh seawater, hot sand...it smells like the beach...very nice for a young man...

Aqua Motu is the beach…bottled. It’s the warm sand, the fresh ocean breeze, and the golden sun setting across the horizon…think Southern California shoreline. As interesting and realistic as this fragrance is, it is more a novelty than a daily-wearing scent. Still, it is absolutely fascinating, and it makes me smile every time I wear it.