Salina Laboratorio Olfattivo 2013

We are in the year 1135 BC. A group of brave men, led by King Odysseus, sets out on the journey home after a bitter battle for Troy. Battle-scarred. The worst seemed to be behind them, yet dangers lay ahead that no one could foresee.

Well. My journey is not 3000 years old, and probably no one will write a book about it. So be it. Like in Homer's epic, I too was to be sent on a journey. A journey that was to last many years, seemed endless, and brought numerous uncertainties.

My journey was in search of the ultimate aquatic scent. Not so easy, considering how broadly this theme can be interpreted. I will largely limit myself to rough, salty sea fragrances and ignore classic summer scents.

With many fragrances in this category that I was able to test, one question kept coming up.

"Are these fragrances even wearable?" I ask, why not?
"Yes, brackish water smells interesting, but as a perfume?" Of course!

As long as I feel secure and the perfume allows me to indulge in memories - brings a smile to my face and with every spray ignites that youthful enthusiasm, as if it were Christmas morning and the presents were about to be opened.

But this was not to be the only adversity of my adventure.

I also encountered sirens.
In the form of eager perfume saleswomen who whispered all sorts of enchanting things in my ear. And for a moment, they managed to cloud my senses.

With Seathalasso, for example. But then I managed to free myself from the clutches of the beast and, stumbling out of the Douglas store, regained my senses. Algae, yes, but too synthetic, too citrusy, more industrial harbor. I'd rather set sail. Weigh anchor also meant for me with Toni Gard's Seaside. Sure, it was fresh and summery, but it didn't come close to meeting my expectations. And a bride in every port? Out of the question.

Continuing my voyage, a green coast lay before me. Green Irish Tweed. A brilliant companion for autumn, but it doesn't remind me of the beach. At some point, it will probably find its way into my own collection. There was land, but the wrong harbor. So back into the boat and away from Ireland.

I wanted to set sail, and what was missing? The wind! Acqua di Portofino's Sail can't change that much. A bit one-dimensional, and somehow the air was out.

I rowed out and had covered some miles on the open sea. Land was not in sight. I fished. Finally, there was some fish between the gills; I was exhausted, drained, almost starving. What species was on the menu? Sel Marin. Delicious, but not quite fresh, the fish.

Despite the snack, I temporarily lost my balance and fell overboard. When I hoisted myself back over the railing, a scent wafted into my nose; I smelled like Santa Eulalia's Marinis.

Logbook entry Day 452. I was stranded again, my God. Why me? Well. At least land. How the hell did I end up in the Caribbean? Virgin Island Water. Brilliant. Still, I repair my boat with coconut palm wood and throw myself back into the current. After all, I was not home.

The principle of chance threw me directly into the arms of Medusa. Medusa has many faces, and yet I avoided eye contact. Never look her in the eyes; you will turn to stone. One face of Medusa is Silver Mountain Water. If you don't stay vigilant, you get lost somewhere in the boredom between heart and base. I almost looked, then I closed the bag. No interest. I had a similar experience with the candidate from the far north - Shelter Island. Similar course, different base.

Then there was Poseidon. Poseidon simply refuses to disappear into the depths of the sea. No, Poseidon is omnipresent. Everyone must measure themselves against Poseidon, and Poseidon will be a constant companion. He always pulls you back into the sea, even when you want to stay dry.
His pseudonym? Acqua di Sale.

Speaking of dry. I was once again in the mood for landfall. Recharge. Restock supplies. And there I found it. An island I didn't want to leave. The island of the nymphs. They wanted to keep me there. They seduced me. The scents were so enchanting. Paradise has a name - Ichnusa.
But I left. I chose against this place. Maybe I'll return one day when the budget allows.

In the meantime, I could no longer count the days at sea. I think I got seasick. I must have seen 3000 sunrises, yet I never saw homeland. Morning dawned, a new day broke, and I was bracing for another disappointment. Am I dreaming?

*Salina by Laboratorio Olfattivo.*

Euphoria! Relief! I see land! I shout "Land ho!" No one hears it; I don't care. This is home! I was home.

The heart note reminds me of Acqua di Sale. Remember? Unlike the latter, Salina develops and dares to venture close to the coast. The opening is citrusy and somewhat biting, briefly wood in between. Then the pure seawater makes high waves, and in the base, soft vanilla pulses. Upon closer smelling, almost like sunscreen at the beach. The longevity is worse than PR's saltwater, and the sillage dissipates faster, but the scent is more balanced, not nearly as intrusive due to the variety, also more surprising, vacation-ready. Somehow contradictory. Almost like package tourism in St. Tropez. Expensive doesn't always seem better.

In principle, all the fragrances I've mentioned here have executed the theme very well, but until now, each has lacked magic. The magic of the beach. For me, Salina is that. Everything I have always sought.

And yet, the next adventure is already calling.
- During the odyssey, I also passed places that abruptly remained unexplored terrain. Montale's Sandflowers is among them, as is Louanges Profanes No. 19. Well, those are fragrances for another story. - No end in sight.