Acqua Viva

Created in 2006 ‘Acqua Viva’ is a woody, aromatic fragrance bursting with punchy lemon zest. At first spray, I’m absolutely blown away. ‘Acqua Viva’ is mouth-wateringly delicious! I usually turn citrus notes sour against my skin, but this, the lemon is bouncing around me like energised sunshine. The lemon never falters in its exuberance and stays uplifting and fresh throughout. I’ve never experienced a citrus dominant fragrance that’s so stunningly amazing.

The Amalfi lemons bring a sharp, clean, sunshine-yellow juicy zest. The cypress adds a fresh, pine-like resinous forestry. The Virginia cedar doesn’t bring wood, but juniper, with its fresh but bitter sap. Once combined with the lemon, the Virginia cedar has a refreshing gin and tonic element. It surrounds you in a soothing and refreshing ambiance. I imagine this is good to spray if you’re feeling nauseous from travel sickness or simply tired but need pepping-up.

Finally we come to the laburnum. I’m excited by the use of laburnum as I always remember its use in Daphne Du Maurier’s ‘My Cousin Rachel’ where (without giving away the plot) it’s infused in a tea as it’s said to be poisonous. When the laburnum tree flowers in spring, the sweetly fragrant, hanging yellow blooms, give off a pleasing woodsy scent that’s reminiscent of violas. Some people are very allergic to laburnum trees simply growing near them. All parts of the tree are indeed poisonous, as it contains the alkaloid toxin ‘cytisine’. It caused nationwide hysteria in the 1970’s when children were eating the laburnum pods (since they looked like peas) and were accidentally poisoning themselves. So just don’t make a habit of drinking your fragrances – especially at £225 for a 100ml bottle.

The bottom line is; ‘Acqua Viva’ is THE GREATEST and most impressive lemon fragrance EVER. It would be the best layering fragrance to infuse a citrus zing into absolutely anything. My recommended combo: ‘Acqua Viva’ layered with ‘Acqua Di Sale’ – its salty, herbaceous, marine-like accords combined with the fresh citrus makes you feel like you’re drinking sun-kissed limoncello in the breath-taking Amalfi coast. When life gives you lemons, Profumum Roma made a lemon masterpiece.

NOTES – Amalfi Lemon, Cypress, Virginia Cedar, Laburnum