Acqua Santa / Holy Water
AbdesSalaam Attar Profumo

Sublime. No other word is necessary to describe the beauty of this perfume. Fittingly, sublimation and subliminality seem to be its themes. The message here is so crystal clear and the quality of the ingredients of such a degree that it causes a pang in one’s heart. It reminded me of a certain almost-forgotten quote from a series I watched years ago – “It’s the beauty that hearts you most, son, not the ugly.”

I read some reviews of it that mentioned it being too fleeting of a scent. My own experience could not be more different - if it were any stronger, I would have a hard time keeping my feet in contact with the ground. It makes me feel like I could walk on air, not just water. Perhaps to some Acqua Santa will smell only like rose, or like incense, neroli etc.; but to those in whom a certain sense of wonderment is present, it will smell like something beyond this world, out of reach yet always present. Applying a rather moderate amount, I am carried by clouds of rose throughout the day. It is uncanny how the scent seems to keep fading out and back in, completely surprising me every time with its irresistible force.

As for the scent itself – while I can readily find all listed notes within it, the totality of the scent is to me a “character study” of rose, illuminating it from so many angles one loses count of all the facets witnessed. Joyful citric elements, potent and heart-warming tea aspects, delightful musky accents as pure as freshly-fallen snow, sharp and fittingly bitter notes of a certain mysterious greenness… Truly, a rose to lose oneself in.

A simple but by no means simplistic composition, Holy Water delivers on its intangible promises. The sandalwood and frankincense create a sublime airy, spicy accord, enriched by the rose and uplifted by the orange blossom. Where many frankincense fragrances evoke a cathedral, this one evokes the great outdoors *as* a cathedral. There is, close to the skin, a subtle animalic component as well—another ingredient, or perhaps an aspect of the stated notes that I've not noticed before. In any case, it serves to give the fragrance (and perhaps the wearer) just enough weight to keep from floating away on the wind.

Flowers- a fresh rose and a sweet, tender orange blossoms note- introduce a beautiful, mineral, slightly sour accord of citrus and incense. I' m sort of short of words in describing this scent further- despite my steering clear from any kind of mysticism, I do feel a powerful sense of peace, coolness and focus while wearing Holy Water.
Beautiful in the easy and straightforward way some things are- balance, grace and quiet wonder stem from simplicity and precision of the composition.
On a more worldly level, I guess this fragrance could prove perfect in hot weather, succeeding in anchoring the fleeting citrus notes in the resinous base and yelding a persistent sense of coolness.

Fruit, rose, wood, incense is what I get immediately. The rose is clear green and fresh. There seems to be orange blossom in the mix as well. The fruit is orange, juicy and lively. There is an aromatic note (sage?), and the frankincense is light, dry and dusty. The wood is in the background and does not dominate or weigh down this zingy composition. The combination of the whole is minty, fresh and lively. Mild + projection only. Gentle, uplifting, discrete. Thumbs up.

Yes, Acqua Santa is simply divine, one of the best aqueous/hesperidic and dusty frankincense renditions of the olfactory panorama, a totally natural aroma absolutely "ambiental", eucharistic, averagely fresh yet at the same time comforting, somehow silent and sinister with its "ascetic" accord of spicy citrus oil, rose, aromatic odours and frankincense. The latter (with its Eau d'Italie's vague conjurations) is immediately detectable in its rosey oily and spicy fluidity, so aqueous and sharp, so shadowy and meditative. I detect by soon bergamot, orange blossoms, may be oregano, probably pepper immediately followed by nutmeg and sharp floral notes all diluted in a tea-like immediately notable liquid frankincense over a dry woody base. Simply impeccable and with a sheer liturgic woody/lemony final undertone.

Good but not for me While I give this 5 stars, it's really not for me. It was different in the tester vial, and perhaps this is due to the fact that I was using smaller amounts when testing it. Anyway, it's just a bit too much orange for me. I have consequently decided to sell my bottle.Pros: lasts longer than people thinkCons: too much orange for me"