Good mood in a bottle by Francis Kurkdjian

Creative perfumer Francis Kurkdjian is a master at capturing freshness. Today, when humidity levels exceed 80 percent, wouldn’t you just love to take a dip in a turquoise lagoon in a rainforest?

This is the essence of Aqua Media, the latest and greenest in Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Cologne Forte line. With bergamot as its star, the line characterized by its crystal-clear bottles explore four types of freshness inspired by the essence of light. While we all know traditional eau de colognes are a welcome relief and alternative to the richness of perfume, this line shows cologne — typically simple and light — no longer has to do without the narratives of perfume while still giving that rejuvenating feeling.

It opens like stepping into a citrus grove, but not quite — you know it’s a Kurkdjian scent with its aniseed accord. The signature bergamot essence shimmers with the sun-kissed hedione flowers while sweet fennel gives it a chilled freshness. Verbena is the fragrance’s aromatic heart while the scent’s base is a woody musk, grounded by patchouli and green moss. It’s linear like the rest of the Cologne Forte line. It’s a true green fragrance with freshness at the heart of creation while balancing out a sense of vibrancy that’s very Kurkdjian. Unlike the usual colognes, it’s long-lasting with an intense trail carried by herbal citrus. It calls to mind the sun’s warming rays on your face as you name clouds in the sky — and there’s a stream nearby, carrying a cooling breeze, caressing your skin.

The French house cites "Mens sana in corporo sana," a Latin phrase meaning "a healthy mind is a healthy body," embodying the belief that the essence of joy lies in our olfactory senses and their profound influence on our disposition and even perception. I get that from just a whiff of Aqua Media. It’s a pick-me-upper, like a spray-on energy. It’s bottled summertime bliss — a good mood in a bottle.

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Maison Francis Kurkdjian is at Rustan’s The Beauty Source and Adora.