Aqua Celestia Maison Francis Kurkdjian 2017

New MFK fragrance = celebration! Thanks to the always very generous and lovely Parfumaholic, I had the pleasure of enjoying a sample of the "heavenly" substance...big thanks for that!
Due to the fragrance notes, my expectations were not exactly exuberant, as they pointed too much towards a rather feminine scent. But the hope and the ever-present belief that MFK would somehow create something truly special from it remained.
For once, I don't want to ramble on for too long (as I usually do), but rather get straight to the point. Aqua Celeste has become a very beautiful fragrance. Extremely authentic and juicy-sparkling lime meets a tolerable amount of mint; Menthe Fraiche was, for example, way too much for me, here it is much better dosed. One almost gets a "Schweppes face" from the real sourness...and I mean that very positively. In the background lurks a nice, soft musk, which somehow lacks something special. After a certain wearing time, I also realized why the fragrance doesn't quite excite and grab me. It is the strong resemblance to Aqua Universalis/Forte, Aqua Vitae/Forte. I discover this "vibe" and the basic structure (base) of these fragrances in Celeste. Because of this repetition of the main theme, my rating is not as exuberant as usual. A) I find fragrance repetitions or only slight variations of an already existing scent or theme like Nasomatto/Parisi or Montale, where only the top note module and the decoration have been exchanged, never particularly impressive, and B) it then simply isn't a new fragrance experience anymore. The result can still be good, but it just doesn't click anymore.
My enthusiasm was also dampened by the fact that all the fragrances mentioned above have a quite pronounced feminine touch, while I am looking for or evaluating a fragrance for myself. Therefore, Celeste is also out for me. Even if one reduces Celeste to a fresh or summer scent, I would prefer the more beautiful and unisex Petit Matin. Because in Celeste, only the top note refreshes me, as Celeste and also the Fortes from MFK become creamy, sultry, and slightly powdery-sweet towards the end. This freshness fades from Celeste hour by hour. From a man's perspective and suitable for men, I rate the fragrance at 75%, while for women, I would rate it at 85%. For those who are not yet familiar with the other MFK fragrances, there is certainly room for a higher rating and enthusiasm.

Conclusion: Unfortunately not for me, very good longevity with 6-7 hours, with decent sillage, to be categorized somewhere in the "clean bear scent," for the asking price there are certainly much cheaper alternatives. Nice but not nice enough...and for me also not distinctly masculine enough. I am sure that in the next 12-18 months there will be a "Forte" of this...even if Celeste is already "forte" enough.