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MeTeoR – :
I’d swear I’d smelled this before–sadly, I never have sniffed the genuine article straight from the source, so I cannot comment on its realness-to-life. Ah, it’s another Demeter; two, in fact! This is the love child of Thunderstorm and Wet Garden: cool, damp earth, teeming with tiny pale green sprouts, and an inanimate, minereal twang. I think a more accurate name would be “Garden of Eden”.
VeniaminBartsov – :
OMG I love this! I think it’s smells like Rome, like cold stone and like leather – all at once and so fresh! (and maybe a bit of wood?)
I will definately purchase this unusual scent, and I love the quirky name. Well done Demeter.
dimon.mordan – :
No it doesn’t smell exactly like holy water, but it’s a very subtle herbal and musky fragrance that simply brings to mind holy water. It certainly made me think of the fonts of holy water I used to dip my fingers in at the end of mass.
I remember as a kid smelling my fingers after dipping them in the holy water. It had a slight musty smell to it, and that’s what this fragrance has. It smells like a musty, leathery musk blended with faint herbs, all watered down significantly. Any stronger than this, and it would defeat the point of calling it “Holy Water”.
It’s a good scent that blends well with the natural scent of your skin. It’s not something I’d wear, but it’s a good fragrance. Don’t worry, no one walking by you will think, “Hm, that person smells like a baptismal font.”
MY RATING: 7/10
wan133 – :
Holy Water by Demeter. Let’s see, there is no note pyramid for this fragrance. I can tell you one thing, the holy water in my church does not smell like this. I wish it did. All I can say is that it smells really nice, like summer freshness in a bottle. I don’t like to compare fragrances BUT it smells like a lighter version of Pleasures for men by Estee Lauder. All in all it is a very safe fragrance.
hugof – :
It was done NOT by Francis Kurkdjian but by Christopher Brosius. I asked Mark Crames, the CEO of Demeter Fragrance Library myself (he was visiting Moscow).
OlegS75 – :
This is less a review than a question that other reviewers may be able to help with: I’m getting suspicious that something is wrong with my sense of smell and this perfume is an example. Just got a brand new authentic bottle. The first nose was sharp alcohol and a strong melon note–the effect was much like Midori Liqueur if you’ve ever had that. It has now settled into a definite coolish aquatic with what may be a lily note. I’m not getting any wax, any incense or any wood. Is this just a different (mildly disappointed) take on the scent or am I losing my ability to smell accurately? (6 months ago I could distinguish between cherry and almond so this is/was a well-trained nose.)
Misha26 – :
I’m just going to ignore the fact that this is called holy water. If Francis Kurkdjian goes to a chruch where the holy water smells like this it wouldn’t surprise me in the least. In pictures he’s always surrounded by beautiful things. This is actually a very quiet fragrance with a lot going on, beautiful woods and subtle florals with an clean, aquatic element that are combined in a sophisticated and modern way. The fragrance doesn’t last very long but it’s inexpensive. It’s an amazing little find when you consider the fact it’s sold in Duane Reade. For $15 you can pick up a tiny bottle of heaven. I think the room spray or the diffuser oil is probably the ideal way to go here with this beautiful scent.
Legion14 – :
I guess my decant must have been from an old formulation because it did smell a little aquatic. But it smelled like marble and old wood. It just smelled cool and calm if that makes sense. Cool and secure like an old sanctuary near pretty Italian women with their heads covered in black lace. Quiet, serene, cool. Give it a try. It’s a trip. I don’t know how the new formulation compares but I really liked how calming mine was 🙂
HoverCrasher – :
I loved the original Brosius formulation of this fragrance. Yes, it was ephemeral and aquatic (before aquatics were en vogue), but it had an almost subliminal effect of cool marble, soft lilies, fresh water and faint myrrh incense. It was very good for warm weather.
The current formulation smells nasty, heavy, and not a bit aquatic. With all of the notes amped up to 11, presumably to enhance longevity, the freshness has gone and all of the harsh synthetic qualities are laid bare, especially the prominent synthetic lily. Even with light application, I no longer find this frag wearable. Maybe I will try cutting it with diluent before I toss the remainder of my 4 oz. bottles.
lukinih-80 – :
A great friend gave me a bottle of this; she found herself not wearing it because it’s a bit oily. I don’t know if my nose is off or what, but for me, this fragrance registers as LEATHER, just a great leather scent.
Bass_x – :
Since actual holy water doesn’t have a smell, this doesn’t smell like holy water. It reminds me of the smell of scented candles that go by names like “ocean breeze” or “seaside”. Soft and sweet and flowery. It’s gone before you can figure out what it smells like.
NeksEffem – :
I wanted to like this simply for the name alone! It was just way too cloyingly floral for me, though, and gave me a banger of a headache.
vov4990 – :
All the below reveiws are very accurate and indeed for once I have nothing to add I have simply liked all the below reveiws 🙂
Like many of the demeter range I find the staying power of this scent fleeting 🙂
ENIN – :
Perfumed myrrh and a watery sense of maybe lilies, like a floral incense. It’s okay, though doesn’t resemble holy water in any way. Rather a nice light fragrance for day wear, with the usual caveat that the Demeter scents seldom last long or have much sillage.
a-bulganin – :
I love church and all its fragrant glory. I love the lighting, the incense, the candles, the wax, the cool marble, and the holy water. Can not wait to test this one and have a feeling I will really like it. Excited!