Missoni Acqua (2007)
by Missoni

I love Tocade so tried (and loved) Missoni, feeling at this point I was on a roll & anything Maurice Roucel created would be my sort of thing in a big way I hunted this one out and tried it - oh dear, NOT for me.

18th July, 2010.

Notes: Bergamot, melon, grapefruit, narcissus, violet, peony, freesia, muguet, iris, jasmine, and “solar notes” (whatever those are).

The top notes actually seem to partake of the same fruit and chocolate combination perfumer Maurice Roucel employed in his earlier Missoni eau de parfum, though here the fruit leans more toward the watery cucumber-melon variety you’d expect in an “aquatic” flanker. Where it goes from there is an herbaceous green floral arrangement with a prominent soapy muguet reconstruction, a fresh jasmine, and an occasional whiff of peony. It’s a very bright and clean, but also a little bit harsh on the nose. A soft iris note swoops in during the ensuing hour to effect a dramatic nick-of-time rescue from the potential ruin this harshness might have caused.

The herbaceous notes persist as Missoni Aqua drifts from green florals to crisp woody violet in a seamless transition to its drydown. The base notes are mostly powdery woods with a trace of violets and lingering echoes of aquatic aromachemicals. While by no means as appealing or original as Missoni EdP, this is still nicer than most aquatic fragrances I’ve tried. It’s not terribly long-lasting on the skin, but I do think it’s relatively gender-neutral, and would make a fine alternative to some of the cruder masculine aquatics.

28th May, 2010. (Last Edited: 29th May, 2010.)

The opening is bright and fresh, with the Bergamot creating a slightly sharp herbaceous aroma. The grapefruit is actual very subtle, unusual since it often over powers the other notes in fragrance. In Acqua it provides balance and sweetness to an otherwise herbal opening. There is a faint whiff of melon, I smell something akin to Honeydew. Soon after the opening Acqua cools down to an oceanic floral where fresh freesia meets something green and blue. It might sound silly to compare a scent with colour but Acqua really does live up to it's name by transporting the wearer to a cool, Mediterranean resort. When I wear Acqua I can almost feel the coolness of mosaic tiles beneath my feet and smell the salty air breeze of the ocean at a distance. There is a mingling of soft flowers and water but all the time Acqua remains refreshing and relaxed. It is certainly a weekend perfume for me and a perfect choice for hot days.

My issue with Acqua is the staying power, or complete lack thereof. It disappears faster than a glass of chilled water on a scorching day. If you want to dabble with Acqua you need to be prepared to re-spray several times throughout the day. Since those hot days back i November Missoni has been a frequent feature in my life. I wore it last week and was stopped by two ladies who wanted to know what my perfume was, so Acqua's silage is better than might be expected. For a perfume that I had such low expectations of' I am actually very happy that I have it in my collection now.

20th December, 2009. (Last Edited: 15th January, 2010.)

An aquatic fruity/ floral. If you like fruity/ florals, it is a nice fresh summer scent. It is a clean melon note that is perfect for a day on the beach. When I first sprayed my sample of Missoni Acqua, I got a blast of watermelon, canteloupe, and bubble gum which lasted about 5 minutes. The dry down was much nicer with a light, some what sweet fruity/ floral scent. Very interesting and mellow on my skin. I like it, but not enough to purchase a full bottle.....maybe another sample.

28th March, 2009.

You know, what aquatics are for men, fruity-florals are for women. Which means aquatics can be appreciated from a woman's perspective, without all the snobs falling on top of each other!

I like this scent on a friend of mine. We did some wicked stuff together last summer (not what you think though. No, really ;) ) and I haven't smelled this scent on anyone else except on her. I love it on her.

The scent was designed by Trudi Loren, VP at Estee Lauder. Sanchez/Turin bestow 4 stars on this aquatic. I have to agree from my subjective point of view. It's delicious on the right person.

4th March, 2009.

When I sniffed this at the department store I loved it, but after taking a sample home and spraying it here, the magic is somewhat diminished for me. When you first spray it a rush of juicy melon can be detected, but the melon dissapears almost instantly leaving behind a fairly generic flowery smell. It isn't bad, but it's not exciting either. I wish the melon would stay longer, because it is the best part of the fragrance as far as I'm concerned. The floral leftovers seem like they would give me a headache after a while, and I don't want to stick around to find out. If you like very flowery smells, this one might be for you, don't get me wrong it is not at all bad, just not my style. Worth a sniff.

12nd June, 2008.