Francis Kurkdjian is kind of a big deal in perfumery, working for a number of the big houses. If you like your fragrance to be luminous, he’s your man. Within his own stable he’s produced a series of Aqua releases and Celestia might be the best yet. Drawing on the old school – like 17th century – idea of eau de cologne as a health-giving tonic, Aqua Celestia magically melds sea and sky in a way that inspires peace of mind. Sparkling and fresh and Greek Island-aquatic in its opening (there’s mint and hints of juicy lime in there), Celestia captures a happy yellow sun in its centre: mimosa, AKA wattle flower, with its fuzzy, slightly dizzying floralcy.
That’s where you get to truly appreciate Kurkdjian’s magical powers of bright-bringing; the melding of cool fresh mint and warm pure mimosa is pretty breathtaking. Celestia uses the same complex blend of different musks as the other fragrances in the Aqua line, but adds the tiniest touch of tart blackcurrant that develops as the scent is worn on the skin, adding an over-the-sea sunrise to that fluffy white cloud-lit, sparkling sky.
Joyful.
