Artik Sea Lorenzo Pazzaglia 2023

He had lived on the smallest Scottish Orkney island since his birth. And this for half a lifetime. An island full of legends. He knew all the myths and tales. But he did not believe in them! One evening, he left the pub in the village and just wanted to go home. He took the shortest path that led through the dunes along the rocky coast. The wind whipped against his face. It was as biting as a citrus cocktail made of limes, yuzu, and all the citrus fruits he knew. He smelled the icy air and also himself. The absinthe that clouded his mind still circled around him, like the said green fairy. He fought against the icy, oceanic storm gusts while he staggered through the dunes in cloudy moonlight. He just wanted to get home quickly..!

Then it happened! He stumbled over something that lay in the sand of the dunes. At first, he did not know what it was. But when he got back up and took it in his hands, he recognized it immediately. It was the gray, soft-silky fur of a seal. It smelled of the sea. But strangely also of delicate flowers. He took it and draped it over his shoulder. It was too beautiful to leave behind! And so he continued on. The icy wind calmed down, and the clouds before the full moon parted and opened up. The beach glowed in silvery-bright light. And then he saw HER..!

A solitary woman. She stood on a large dune. In her hands, she held a seagull, which she seemed to be petting. She stood with her back to him, looking at the moon in the icy cold, and her silhouette revealed that she was naked! She noticed him, turned around, and walked directly towards him. Slowly, almost stealthily and without fear. Until she finally stood before him. Her hair was wet and dripping, full of sea moss and resinous myrtle. And around her neck, the bladders of seaweed wrapped like an oceanic collar. The cold and icy air suddenly became a bit warmer around him. She smelled as her skin shimmered. Silvery and blue-violet, reminiscent of musky sweet wisteria and rough, bitter oak moss. She was intoxicatingly beautiful. Her eyes were as black and shiny, evoking longing like those of the seals or the darkest sea. She slightly lowered her head questioningly as she gently touched his face, caressing it while smiling silently. She gently took the fur from his hands and draped it around her bare shoulders. He felt as if crusts of salt crystals were growing where she touched his face. He could literally hear it crackle and could even smell it. He smelled the darkest, saltiest sea..!

She smiled tenderly at him, or so he believed. Then she went down to the beach. Wordlessly! He followed her as if in a trance. He was emotionally trapped like in a fisherman’s net. He wanted her to stay. But she kept going further and further into the icy waves until she completely disappeared beneath the rolling sea foam of the icy sea. And so he followed her as if in a daze. The seaweed and the kelp were already washing around his hips. Ultimately, around his neck. He lingered for a moment longer. He smelled the salty amber of the whales and even thought he could hear them. And he also smelled the shattered wood of the ships drifting around him. The last thing he heard was the howling song of the seals that seemed to be singing on the cliffs. Or perhaps it was a sad lament from crashing violins. Then he went under in the icy, roaring sea. Just like that and full of happiness. And was never seen again..!

Conclusion
For clarification! Selkies are Scottish mythical beings. They are seals that leave the icy sea at night. They shed their fur and wander around as humans. The sight of Selkie women in human form is intoxicating and beautiful! Personally, I am usually very skeptical of aquatic scents. It usually ends up feeling like bringing a Selkie into the house. With a downfall or drama. However, not here. At least not for me! Here is something included that I have not encountered in oceanic scents before. Namely wisteria. I love this sultry floral note very much! Artik Sea begins in the top note with a storm surge of all conceivable citrus notes. At the forefront are limes and yuzu. It has something of a cocktail or margarita with a salt rim. Slightly underlaid by sweet-herbaceous and green vermouth or better said absinthe, which softens the citrus spray a bit. The scent lingers in this state for quite a while before transitioning into the heart note. Floral notes touch the scent of musky sweet wisteria, powdery violets, and delicate floral roses. The scent constantly oscillates between warm and cold because of this. Cool, rough oak moss and resinous myrtle evoke with salty notes the impression of sea moss. Ultimately, the scent fades into warm-woody tones of earthy-warm patchouli, ambrette, amber, white musk, and salty-sweet seaweed. One is not at the sea here. One is deep in the sea. Very deep! Sometimes it is worth shedding your fur to explore and tread other terrains. Just like a Selkie itself.

Personally, I do not regret it at all..!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3ffKf3JEUk&list=RDN3ffKf3JEUk&index=2