Holy water

7 reviews for Holy water

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   Luka – March 5, 2024

   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.

2. ThePerfumeChronicles – August 19, 2021

   The scent of holiness undimmed, of the clear angelic skies where cohorts of seraphims clothed with fire singing canticles to the Mighty praising the creation pure and untamed before the becoming of the dark. As the meadows are cloaked in white, as the sun sets behind a curtain of silver flakes, as the biting cold silences the cities caught in their winter torpour, there rises a clear smoke, a pure melopy of frankincense and rose. The procession of cherubim, the clear mind of a heart in prayer, the subtle lines of roman cathedrals, the gentle austerity of cistercian monks : thus is the message of Holy Water. Purified, glorified, enlightened, a crisp incense perfume far from the heavy burden of labdanum and myrrh, to soothe the body, to quiet the mind, to heal the soul.
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   Parfum du jour : Holy Water par @abdessalaamattar pour @laviadelprofumo L’odeur de sainteté dans sa gloire inviolée, des cieux angéliques baignés de clarté où des cohortes de séraphins aux ailes ardentes chantent leurs cantiques au Très-Haut, célébrant la pureté de la création avant l’avènement du Mal. Alors que les plaines se couvrent de blanc et que le soleil se cache derrière un voile de flacons d’argent, alors que le froid rend silencieuses les cités prisonnières de leur torpeur hivernale, il s’élève une fumée claire, une mélopée de pur encens et de rose. Une procession de chérubins, la paix d’un esprit en prière, les lignes subtiles des abbatiales romanes, la douce austérité des moines cisterciens : tel est le message de Holy Water. Purifié, glorifié, illuminé ; un encens craquant loin du fardeau collant de la myrrhe et du labdanum. Pour soigner le corps, pacifier l’esprit, et guérir les blessures de l’âme.

   First seen on Instagram
   ThePerfumeChronicles, Paris, France

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   Radovan – November 27, 2020

   When I first sniffed the Holy water, it reminded me immediately of two fragrances I have tried in the past (and loved both) – Oriza L. Legrand’s Relique d’Amour and Bogue Profumo’s Cologne Reloaded. While Relique d’Amour compliments the frankincense with lilly, it shares similar feature with Acqua Santa. It’s certain spirit of something very old and spiritual, almost ecclesiastical. That sounds quite off-putting to me, but somehow I find it surprisingly pleasant instead. However, Acqua Santa is a bit tamer in that regard compared to Relique d’Amour, I think it’s thanks to the santal.
   For some reason I smell a faint accord of pine or spruce needles in both of mentioned perfumes, which adds such a cold impression to the scents too.

   Cologne Reloaded shares an old-timey, cellar-esque mood with Acqua Santa, otherwise they are not that similar I guess – it’s been ten or more years I smelled Antonio Gardoni’s Cologne anyway, so please don’t take this comparison too seriously.

   Acqua Santa is an everyday perfume which is definitely not for everyone (isn’t exactly this what makes it so precious?). It will turn few heads, it’s uniqueness draws attention, although the sillage is moderate, so there’s no need to be afraid of too much attention.
   In a short, Acqua Santa is a jewel that is both straightforward and mystical, transparent and dark, and unsettling yet calming at the same time.

4. Rated 5 out of 5

   Isaiah – May 4, 2018

   This one is a keeper.

   A clear, crisp and pure incense very true to the resin which it comes from : citrusy, a tad peppery, slightly warmed by the sandalwood ; upon which the rose acts as a breeze opening up and lifting each molecule of frankincense.

   I would definitely not range this incense as the likes of Samharam, Larmes du Désert or the new Botafumeiro but I wouldn’t put it amongst the “church” incenses either. This one is clear but not clean, it is pure but not bleached. Gives one a sense of peace and clarity of mind, as if one were touched by an angel’s wings.

   Love, love it.

5. Rated 4 out of 5

   Michael Pomianek – July 30, 2015

   A bit of an odd combo of very tart limonene/orange citrus in a transparent, woody, medicinal incense base. Sharp and thin but entirely pleasant.

6. Rated 5 out of 5

   Michael – July 30, 2015

   It turned about to be what I wanted and more. It’s rich with Frankincense and has a very subtle tenderness to it also. Just what I wanted. I have sampled something similar (which is way too expensive) Amourage’s Epic Man. But yours is something special! It’s magical.

7. Rated 5 out of 5

   Jennifer – July 30, 2015

   My favorite so far. It has a very unusual and alluring smell. I am a big fan of Incense, Rose and Sandalwood so that makes sense!