Hi there Posse! Aqua Celestia by Francis Kurkdjian came as a GWP when I bought some travels of Baccarat Rouge 540 and Oud Satin Mood. The travels are great because you can buy and split the travels between three of you and everyone gets 10ml. Seriously, who among us really needs more than 10ml of ANYTHING anymore?
There’s been loads of interest about the Maison Francis Kurkdjian line since it was sold to LVMH with both excitement and warnings of doom & gloom. I am ambivalent. On one hand it means the house will remain a contender. I also love that Mr Kurkdjian and his crew have been able to build something so left of centre that is still considered a sensible business proposition by the multinational sharks. Part of me worries though that they may move to eradicate some of the more fun and challenging scents leaving only the easy wear, department store styles with excellent ingredients and continue in this vein ad infinitum (just as a side note, why do I say ad infinitum?).
Aqua Celestia by Francis Kurkdjian for Maison Francis Kurkdjian 2017
Maison Francis Kurkdjian gives these featured accords:
Lime from Mexico, Cool Mint (Mitcham), Blackcurrant bud absolute from Burgundy, Mimosa absolute from Provence, Musk accord
Everything I have read about Aqua Celestia is true. It’s arctic freshness is a jolt through the heat. Interestingly while it is icy cold there also manages to be a creamy smoothness that keeps the whole fragrance from sliding into Malle’s Geranium Pour Monsieur territory. I know there’s no pepper in the notes list but my nose smells a white pepper and I love how the musk is like a puffer jacket agains the snowlike feeling the rest of the fragrance creates.
Slightly challenging, this sparkling diamond will be a stunner to beat the sultry summer humidity. It will be like opening the fridge door and stepping inside. Smells great, lasts well and has this wonderful odd mineral note that keeps me coming back to sniff myself again and again. It’s almost the smell of imminent snow. I bet Loral Gilmore would get what I mean.
From Francis Kurkdjian: Aqua Celestia forms a seamless bond between the blue of the sky and the blue of the sea, forging a path toward absolute serenity. A heavenly freshness tinted with lime, cool mint and blackcurrant, softened by the generous fullness of mimosa blossoms from Provence. A celestial, musk-scented escape.
Further reading: Candy Perfume Boy and Perfume Posse
Maison Francis Kurkdjian has €130/70ml
Surrender To Chance has samples from $5.70/ml
I know you have an MFK favourite. which one and why?
Portia xx
If you have enjoyed this then please pop over to Australian Perfume Junkies and continue the scented conversation.
We love visitors, say HI while you’re there.
“The smell of imminent snow”—-I love that!
Hi KateE,
Excellent. Glad someone got me there.
Portia xx
I’m insane for Ciel de Gum and Rose Oud — not sure what I think of mint as a perfume note. Is it very minty?
Hi there HeidiC,
Pretty minty but not like toothpaste, more like Mojito.
Like neither really but you know what I mean?
Portia xx
My favorite is Baccarat Rouge 540. I didn’t care for it the first time I sampled it, and then one year later tried it again and found it interesting. The more I wore it, the more I loved it. Interesting, it’s the fragrance that I get the most compliments on.
Hey Kathleen,
I love Baccarat Rouge 540 too. Like jelly snakes crushed up with musk sticks. MMMMMM
Portia xx
Aqua Vitae is my favourite. I was hoping the “Forte” version would be more intense, but it is too powdery. I agree with you that 10 ml would be good enough for a start and I’m actually spying on ebay. Maybe I’ll get lucky.
Good luck on eBay Neva.
Portia xx
Sounds like another superb MFK. Hope it remains MFK with the move to LVMH.
The name will remain Fragroom,
Fingers crossed for the rest. I bet the less popular stuff gets the axe.
Portia xx
Not having spent much time with MFK, I don’t have a favorite. I would have passed on Celestia but the thought of smelling imminent snow in July made me add it to my next sample buy list. I so wish 10ml, or even 15ml, sizes were more readily available. I’d be buying MORE perfume if that was the case. Larger bottles take up too much space and I don’t have enough years left in my lifetime to finish them.
Hey Tiara,
It’s true. I wish MFK would do Mix & Match Travel Sets but even as they are if you are on the FaceBook perfume boards you could easily share your travel set out.
Portia xx
My favourite is Absolue pour le Soir. I also have Cologne pour le Soir and a decant of Oud Satin Mood and Oud.
Hey TaraC,
Yep, I have both the Soirs too. Aren’t they To Die For?
Portia xx
754. I wish I had a vat of it.
10 ml splits so smart for all of this line I want to try. Now to find folks to split with 🙂
Sarah,
the Travels are perfect for splitting with a couple of mates. That’s what I do with ones I know I’ll never use a large amount of.
Portia xx
MFK is not for me. I should have really liked the ones I tried but I did not. It seems that Kurkdjjian is known for having a heavy hand with white musk and that ruins his perfumes for me. At least I was able to take MFK off the never-ending list of perfumes, perfume houses, and perfumers that I still want to try. 🙂
That’s good and bad news Maya,
I TOTALLY get the good news of having a house not to look at.
Portia x
I love MFK. My favorite is Aqua Vitae.
Nice choice Santa,
I have a few bottles around here. Both Pour Le Soirs, Lumiere Noire Man and some travels. Of the aqua range so far Celeste is my fave but I’m willing to be convinced, maybe some more skin time…
Portia xx
I’ve never tried any of MFK’s offerings. But what is up with all these perfumers being bought out by Estee Lauder and LVMH? The buying companies might say that they won’t interfere with the creative process but I’m not buying it.
Hi Eldarwen22,
I think a lot of these niche brands are at a point where they are losing market share, visibility and their edge. Great time to see your company on as it’s just going over the hill.
MFK seems to have been created to be sold. Smart move too.
Yeah, we will await the outcomes.
Portia xx