Never doubt the power of perfume to travel through smell. It's fascinating how a scent can evoke sensations and places so easily. At this time of year, anyone who isn't at the beach is dreaming of it, and luckily there are a number of fragrances that take you straight to the seashore, recreating a peaceful sunny day on the sand or the freshness of waves crashing against the rocks.
To find this type of fragrance, we invite you to explore the aquatic olfactory subfamily and, although it is increasingly common to find unisex compositions, we can still observe a clear difference between the olfactory score of a feminine and a masculine perfume.
Feminine aquatic fragrances are characterised by their freshness and often evoke memories of the beach and the sea. They often use a combination of citrus, floral and marine notes for a revitalising and relaxing experience.
Men's fragrances tend to be more woody and spicy, with greater projection and longevity. The placid afternoon on the beach becomes a rough sea where salt, rocks and memories of a day at sea take centre stage.
Do you prefer to shy away from gender labels?
Rediscover a late nineties classic, Acqua di Sale by Profumum Roma, a juice that recreates a boat trip from Tuscany to Sardinia and captures an olfactory snapshot of the coast with notes of myrtle and salty, marine accords. Venture out to discover the energy of the open sea with Costarela by Carner Barcelona, a composition that radiates Mediterranean spirit with a fresh-warm contrast expressed through bergamot, a marine accord and a chord of sand, cedarwood and amber. If you prefer the untamed character of the British coast, let yourself be carried away by the energy of Un Air de Bretagne by L'Artisan Parfumeur, a fragrance for which perfumer Juliette Karagueuzoglou captured the essence of iodised oxygen to delicately evoke the sea foam, seaweed and greenery of northern European coastal landscapes.
Men's aquatic fragrances
Kenzo Homme Eau de Toilette Marine
Quentin Bisch gives shape to Kenzo Homme Eau de Toilette Marine, which the brand presented in 2023 and which aims to capture the sensuality of the skin when emerging from the sea. The top notes are a fresh marine accord of calypsone (a synthetic molecule developed by Givaudan), followed by a floral heart of ylang-ylang and a base of sandalwood and musk.
Issey Miyake, Le Sel d'Issey
Among the most recent launches, Le Sel d'Issey captures the essence of a journey from sea to land, with a vibrant aromatic profile centred on an intense salt accord. The fragrance opens with notes of ginger and salt, which evolve into a marine heart of seaweed and a dry blend of vetiver and sand, settling on a base of cedar and oakmoss for a woody touch. Quentin Bisch is the perfumer responsible for this combination which is designed to evoke the continuous freshness of the ocean.
Rabanne, Invictus Parfum
The latest addition to the Invictus family combines freshness and depth by Anne Flipo and Caroline Dumur. Aquatic, woody and aromatic, it unfolds with a fresh lavender note that meets a marine accord and contrasts with the heart of black soap, violet leaves and myrtle, culminating in a sensual base of sandalwood, musk and cashmere.
In 2018, Rabanne launched Invictus Aqua, which maximises its marine and refreshing facet. The brand announces on its website that it can still be found in airports and will be back in stock on 2 September, good news for fans of this version.
Aquatic, woody and aromatic, the new Invictus Parfum by Rabanne reveals a note of fresh lavender combined with a marine accord.
Davidoff, Cool Water
Every story has a beginning, and the story of aquatic perfumes for men began in 1988 with the launch of Cool Water by nose Pierre Bourdon, who marked a turning point in men's perfumery. The original fragrance opens with notes of lavender, mint and calone (a versatile synthetic molecule that evokes the essence of sea water) that merge with a floral heart of jasmine and neroli to a base of oakmoss, cedar and tobacco. An olfactory experience that transports you to the ocean and summer days.
Precisely in 2023, the brand presented a limited edition that can still be found in perfumeries and that highlights even more the marine character with a modern and revitalizing touch. It is Cool Water Oceanic Edition, which includes some additional notes such as mint to emphasise the freshness or amber in the base to add sensuality.
Feminine aquatic fragrances
Maison Margiela, Replica Beach Walk
Maison Margiela's fragrances are characterised by recreating specific moments through the sense of smell. In this case, Beach Walk aims to capture memories of strolling along the beach on a warm summer's day. To this end, Jacques Cavallier and Marie Salamagne have opted for a blend of bergamot and pink pepper at the top, which is the prelude to its creamy heart of coconut milk, ylang-ylang and heliotrope. The base notes of musk, benzoin and cedar add a warm, woody and sensual base.
Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne
The invigorating air of the British coast and the mineral scent of the rugged cliffs inspired Christine Nagel to develop this iconic eau de cologne. It is built with ambrette seeds at the top, followed by a heart of sea salt and a base of sage, providing an earthy, mineral freshness. It is perfect for use alone or combined with another signature fragrance such as Lime, Basil & Mandarin, which adds a sparkling citrus nuance, resulting in a summery composition.
Francesca Bianchi Sex and the Sea Neroli
This reinterpretation of the Sex and the Sea perfume adds the citrus freshness of neroli to the original olfactory score. The fragrance evolves from a top note of bergamot, petit-grain and honey, through a floral heart of neroli, mimosa, coconut, immortelle, rose and iris to a warm base of sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver, labdanum, benzoin and ambergris.
It is a tremendously sexy, hypnotic, refreshing and warm perfume extract, which Francesca Bianchi herself recommends using sparingly, as its 25% concentration gives it great longevity.
A'mmare by Carthusia
Gender-free is the proposal of the Carthusia perfume house, located in the heart of the beautiful island of Capri, which continues to focus on craftsmanship in all its processes. The paradisiacal beaches of this area of Italy inspire this creation by Luca Maffei, which begins with a combination of bergamot and rosemary with a touch of salt, followed by a marine and mint accord, which conveys the freshness of the salt water at the heart of the fragrance.
Base notes of cedar and guaiac add a woody base, which is tempered with musk and patchouli. A'mmare smells like a sunny day at the beach and is perfect for summer evenings because of its length and persistence.
Mancera, French Riviera
Pierre Montale's signature encapsulates the sophistication of the French Riviera in this fresh and elegant fragrance that conveys the serenity of a calm sea. In this unisex creation, notes of mandarin and lemon mingle with a spicy touch of ginger and pepper, while in the heart, marine notes merge with tiare, mimosa, vetiver and pine to evoke the coastal breeze. The base notes are amber, white musk and sea salt, an original combination that brings warmth and transports us to the landscapes of the Mediterranean.
Fresh, aquatic, with a hint of saltpetre and a breath of ocean breeze, aquatic fragrances are the perfect scent to feel the tingle of white beach sand between your toes without leaving your home.
Davidoff