Aqua Vitae Forte

Aqua Vitae Forte opens with lemon - the same lemon in Aqua Universalis Forte that I just don't seem to get along with. It is more of a sweet, candied lemon rind rather than the brightness of zest or the tartness of juice. The lemon rind is mixed with a touch of sweet, juicy mandarin and baking spices. I find it hard to smell anything beyond the candied lemon peel for a few hours. Still, to me this is an improvement from Aqua Universalis Forte. The ylang ylang and orange blossom aren't too strong or indolic here, and provide a light, yellow floral fragrance. The spiciness of the sandalwood and benzoin contribute to a pleasantly warming, almost vanillic base for the citrus and florals. Most citrus scents are bright and effervescent, but this is different - it is a warmer citrus scent, reminiscent of a hot herbal tea made with lots of lemon and spices. A cozy citrus, which is special.

Projection is moderate, and lasts for 3 hours or so, and the scent lasts on my skin for around 9-10 hours. Very good performance.

This grew on me the longer I wore it, and the more the strong lemon note wore off. The dry down is a very pleasant creamy sandalwood, benzoin, vanilla and vetiver. It is unisex and would work for both warm and cooler weather into the fall, so it is quite versatile. I'd give it a 5.75/10. Not enough to make it into my permanent collection, but I will use up my sample.