Maison Francis Kurdjian created Aqua Cologne Forte as the obvious in-between of the cologne and the forte, with its initial drop Aqua Universalis, Aqua Vitae, and Aqua Celestia in fresher and enriched versions.
A new and apt addition to the collection is Aqua Media, which, while may not be the final touch, we feel completes the cologne forte story. It’s a sparkling, citrus, aromatic green scent–fresh and electric with bergamot and verbena, and botanical with sweet fennel, green moss, aniseed, a base of woody musks, a hint of patchouli, and matcha tea somewhere (a whiff reminiscent of a fave green tea perfume of yesteryears which Kurkdjian also created).
This is “the embodiment of balance and harmony,” according to MFK. “This eau de parfum opens a window to an infinite, boundlessly fresh, idyllic landscape, where the wind in the wildgrass seems to engage in a dialog with the murmuring of serene white water.” We say Aqua Media is true to its references.
As with the rest in the Cologne Forte line, Aqua Media is impressive for its longevity and complexity. We personally think this line is perfect for our weather, being a lot less dense than the fortes but lasting longer on the skin than the colognes. Bergamot (a key note in agua de colognes) is at the heart of these fragrances being in the Aqua line, but each provides a distinct character perfect for anyone obsessed with clean scents.
But no one can describe the difference of Cologne Forte better than its maker, Francis Kurkdjian himself. “Imagine a musical composition played on the piano, then imagine the same composition played by a symphony orchestra. The melody stays the same but you feel the composition more intensely, it becomes more emotional because it fills up more space. The same principle applies to these fragrances whose concentration has been increased so as to find the right balance between freshness and a long-lasting trail. I think the result is more refined and asserts the olfactory signature of each inspiration,” he shares.
This is the modern, long-lasting cologne of our dreams. Made possible by the greatest nose of his generation—Francis Kurkdjian.
Now at Rustan’s.
