Sel Marin
by Heeley

Heeley masterfully recreates the proximity of ocean water and beyond that a reminder of countless coastal excursions. To produce this effect without a bucket load of calone is admirable, and in living up to its title, it most certainly succeeds.

The opening is a flat; zest free citrus experience, a shade sour, but at the same time fragile and slight. In time it does acquire density, and soon there is real warmth to enjoy, almost as if the sun were beating down on a freshly ebbed tide. As with Fleur de Sel by Miller Harris, I can admire the alchemy required to fulfil the brief, it's just that I am not exactly sure I want to smell this way. Although it interests me greatly, it does not move me. A thumbs up for the chemistry though.

3rd January, 2012.

This one opens up with dominant citrus chord guaranteed by bergamot and lemon, without leaving behind a very salty smell resembling perfectly a bright sea breeze aroma. A very linear fragrance perfectly made for hot days. Even tough I don't love (but I like) the juice, I will give a thumbs up because among aquatic fragrances, this is the best so far, capturing perfectly the sea aroma.

25th September, 2011.

Essence of ocean in a bottle, enough said!

25th August, 2011.

This fragrance does 2 things very well: 1. It is an amazing fragrance that captures the natural smell of oceanic breeze mixed with sea-weed and sea-salt. Not many people might not find this type of scent attractive but I give high props to fragrance house which has worked on such an amazing concept which in thise is Heeley. 2. This scent has an amazing lasting power on high tempratures (100F and above). Again, this scent will stay on your skin in extreme conditions for 8-10 hours.

25th June, 2011.

Modern, uncluttered, sheer, translucent, elegant. Utterly lovely. Light, too light, too expensive.
I was in my favourite wee perfume shop in Italy on a toasty hot day but nothing was tickling my fancy. I think I was too hot. I had a hankering for lemons and cedar, something cool and airy. Then the proprietor suggested Sel Marin. It seemed perfect. Cool, minimal, airy, very stylish. To me it is a linear fragrance, light lemon, cedar, vetiver a definate sea breeze continue throughout. It really is lovely. However.... The Heeley fragrances are Eau De Parfum, and priced accordingly, but I really do find Sel Marin to be so light, so sheer that you may as well spray it in the sea air. It is wonderfully refreshing and uplifting, it is lovely to use as you would a cologne, particularly on a hot day but don't expect to be able to enjoy it for long.
It did whet my appetite for marine fragrances though and on that note, an alternative may be Gianfranco Ferre Bergamotto Marino. No, it is not the same, but it is the same genre and it is also very nice, AND, it calls itself Eau De Cologne and it is around one third of the price.

Edit 04/01/2012.
The neutral rating is based only on issues around sillage, projection and longevity for a fragrance which is classified as an Eau De Parfum. Otherwise this is a beautiful example of modern perfumery.

18th June, 2011. (Last Edited: 4th January, 2012.)

Sampling this one was quite a surprising experience.

First because it is quite faithful, which I doubted it would be, to its salty-acquatic inspiration.

Second, because in doing so, it behaves smoothly and naturally, thus avoiding the synthetic notes that make almost all aquatic scents unbearable to me.

Finally because, while it is obviously a light scent, it still has decent longevity.

My preference for stronger scents prevents me from buying a full bottle but I'd definitely recommend trying this if you're a fan of this genre..and even if you're not..

10th June, 2011.