Deep Aqua is Bath & Body Works' latest addition to its Signature Collection. It's an aquatic floral scent, described as "the pure and refreshing fragrance of ocean drenched flowers inspired by a beautiful world underwater." Its composition includes top notes of crisp melon, daffodil, violet leaves, and water blossoms; mid notes of spring daisy, cyclamen, dewy gardenia, and white hydrangeas; and base notes of musk captives and white woods.
Looking at that list of floral notes, you may not imagine anything oceanic at all, and you may wonder which seashore we're talking about. Violets at the beach? That being said, the fragrance itself is appropriately watery and breezy, with light hints of white flower petals. It also seems to "bloom" differently in each of the products I've sampled. The Skin Smoothing Shower Gelée, a limited-edition formula for summer, is a gently exfoliating, sudsy gel. (And doesn't the word "gelée" deserve to be brought back into wider circulation?). It smells as fresh and blue as it looks, but it also releases a more complex, musky note or two when it foams and mixes with the water and steam of a warm shower.
The Body Lotion was my least favorite of the three variations I tried; its fragrance develops a sharp ozonic note that bothers my nose slightly. That note flattens after a while, leaving fainter airy-watery traces behind, but the whole thing feels a bit cheap. (I also wish the Body Lotion formula didn't include so much petrolatum, but that's another issue.) On the other hand, I enjoyed the Cooling Body Soufflé, a pale green gel-cream that's fun to apply and actually does feel cool and tingly on the skin afterwards. In the Soufflé, the sea-breeze effect is softened with a floral note that reminds me of lilies. It's a very spring-like fragrance overall, and it lingers for a few hours. Fortunately, the melon note never materialized for me in any of these three products.
I don't own many aquatic-floral fragrances these days, having discovered my true scent-self in roses and carnations, so my reaction to Deep Aqua was primarily nostalgic: it reminded me of the mid-1990s. Looking back, I'm intrigued by the contrast between 90s fashion — the surly love child of grunge and heroin chic, plaid flannel and brownish lipstick, Kate Moss and Johnny Depp — versus the popular perfumes of the decade, which tended towards the clean and transparent. Calvin Klein's slouching, androgynous models were promoting the citrusy CK One; I, personally, was wearing Kenzo Parfum d'Ete and L'Eau d'Issey with my Doc Martens. Bath & Body Works probably isn't making a conscious gesture towards the emerging 1990s revival (a trend confirmed by a stylish younger friend of mine), but Deep Aqua does hark back to the iconic "fresh" scents of that decade. Nowadays, I'd pair these products with Creative Universe's Mare, the most oceanic fragrance in my current collection.
Lastly, there's the frequent situation of the not-quite-right name; just as Midnight Pomegranate and Black Amethyst weren't as dark and foreboding as their names suggested, Deep Aqua just isn't that, well, deep. It's more of a leisurely ride in a glass-bottomed boat than a scuba-diving adventure. It's scenic and refreshing, just not very mysterious. For hot weather, in my opinion, that's just fine. If you really despise ozone or water notes or dewy white florals, this line won't convert you, but if you're looking for something to cleanse and cool your summer skin, Deep Aqua is a worthwhile seasonal addition to your bathroom.
Bath & Body Works Deep Aqua Skin Smoothing Shower Gelée sells for $13 (8 oz); the Body Lotion is $10.50 (8 oz), and the Cooling Body Soufflé is $14 (6 oz). Deep Aqua is also available as a Shower Gel, Fragrance Mist, and Invigorating Cooling Mist.
Note: top image is Big, big underwater flowers by Shayan (USA) at flickr; some rights reserved.
I’d never had any experience in aquas until this Valentine’s Day, when I received my first. Now I’m a little intrigued by them. I think I’ll give this one a whirl! I’m all for a grunge revival, too. Maybe some halfway interesting rock music will come of it.
Sunnyfunny, The nostalgia cycle keeps getting quicker and quicker! Then again, B&BW was founded in 1990, so maybe they’re just getting back to their roots. 😉
They should bring back the original Freesia, in that case! I’d stockpile it. 😉 Magnolia Blossom, too, while they’re at it!
Yes, and Cardamon (sic) Ginger, and Chamomile!
My mom was crushed when they got rid of the original Honeysuckle (newer Wild Honeysuckle= sharp and gross). She literally went to every store in town and bought up every bottle of lotion they had- she must have ended up with at least a case by the end of it, that lasted for years. I think she’s settled for Country Apple now, but we both hope that someday it’ll come back…
I looooooved the original Freesia. Sheer Freesia is not at all the same.
I’m kind of a Bath and Body Works fangirl. For me, the jury is still out on this one, but this has made me a bit more anxious to try it. I think a candle in this scent might be really refreshing.
I actually prefer the PS I Love You Spring Fling flanker that was released in February, which is also an aquatic floral, to Deep Aqua.
Breathesgelatin, I agree, a candle or Wallflower option would be great! And I really enjoy the original P.S. I Love You, although Spring Fling was a bit of a miss for me.
The original PS I Love You is great! I have been lusting after the EDP in it, which is discontinued, but I’m hoping to pick up on clearance at an outlet or during the Semi-Annual sale in June.
Oh, no! I particularly liked the eau de parfum. It’s a bit higher-priced for B&BW, but it’s very good quality.
I think it was limited edition to begin with. It’s still available online at full price ($45). I just never intended to pay the full amount. I almost got it at January semi-annual for $11 but I passed at the last minute. Hoping it’ll show up in June or at the outlet, or maybe it’ll get discounted online.
That picture must have been taken before the oil well leak….
Oh dear! Bad timing, right? Maybe B&BW should dedicate some of the proceeds towards protecting and aiding underseas flora and fauna. 😉
Seems like an excellent opportunity for me to explore an inexpensive aquatic floral, thanks for the post! I’m curious to check this out the next time I’m near BBW. They carry a great moisturizing shower cream that soothes my dry skin (Lay It On Thick), but I’ve been steering well clear of their signature collection for a while. For me, the scents are just overpowering.
However, I do admit to liking PS I Love You as well. But you’re spot on with the experience of different products in a line, Jessica; PS I Love You body lotion turns pointed and, well…angry. I envisioned puffs of twisting red smoke emanating from my skin, thus, never wore it again.
Wondermelmo, Some of the Signature Collection scents really are too cloying or too fake, but this one is a nice cool choice for summer. And isn’t it weird, about scents seeming a little different in various products? I’m no chemist, so I don’t know why it happens, but it does. Not just with this company, either.
I’m kind of getting over my crush on BBW but that shower gelee sounds great. I just wish it would warm up enough here in SF to need something cooling! Actually my favorite summer scent from them is Water Blossom Ivy. There is definitely something nostalgic for me about that one, but I’ve never put my finger on it.
Hi Tama, I noticed in the store that they’re offering the exfoliating shower gel in a few different scents… it’s quite a nice formula, gently scrubby but not scratchy!
I agree, I think I’m going to pick it up just to experience the gelee formula, if nothing else!
Halimeade, I really like scrubs in tubes, rather than jars, so I was happy to find out about this one!
I happened to be at the Mall on Mother’s Day and BBW was offering their fragrances for $15! I’ve never purchased anything from them before, but couldn’t pass up the affordable opportunity to take a few bottles home. I’m not crazy about the dry down of either, but I sure have enjoyed the simplicity of the scents as it heats up here in So Cal. (White Citrus reminds me a lot of Serge’s L’eau – although WC is much more soapy grapefruit than clean musk) Funny, I didn’t see the Deep Aqua when I was there…….but I’m sure I could have missed it – there were so many things to smell. How often do they introduce new fragrances?
Hi, Marko — White Citrus seems really refreshing, based on my quick in-store testing, and I also liked Rain-Kissed Leaves for something simple and clean. Deep Aqua was released around May 10th. Not sure how many new-scent launches they do per year… about 3 or 4? and then there are flankers, limited editions for the summer and holidays, etc. They’re busy!
I’m a fan of White Citrus. I find it to be very refreshing; the shower gel is a lifesaver during a humid summer!
I can believe that! I don’t wear many citrus perfumes, but I love having a citrus shower gel and body gel/lotion on hand for hot weather.
Outstanding image — is that a photo?
Dissed, Isn’t it great? I came across it on Flickr, so it must be a photo (credit line above)… maybe the person used a special filter or process?
… and here is a link with the Flickr user’s information about the image, in case anyone is curious:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ssanyal/363175273/meta/
Uh-oh. Aquatic flowers + RusticDove = nauseating scrubber. But I had to smile regarding your gelee comment. My mom had been looking everywhere for her favorite Bain de Soleil Orange Gelee with no luck [she’s lucky and can still lay out in the sun], so I went online and ordered some tubes for her. You would think it was the best thing I ever did for her she was so thrilled. 🙂
Ah, Bain de Soleil! That must have been the memory in the back of my mind. Or Vitabath Gelee.
Bain de Soleil Orange Gelee is amazing! I wear a slightly higher SPF thatn I did back in my high school/college days wehn I wore that, so haven’t used it in ages. I should get some just for the smell!
Please excuse my horrid spelling this morning! Must be in need of some more caffeine!
I love the way it makes skin look too. Unfortunately, I can’t lay in the sun anymore. 🙁 My mom got the Cherokee complexion and I got the Irish & English complexion! LOL
I also wore lots of marine/fresh fragrances back in the 90s (with my brown lipstick and flannel shirts)! L’eau D’Issey, ck one, Escape, Escada Ocean Blue, Acqua di Gio, Byblos and Seaspray was one of my favorite from B&BW (along with the Freesia, of course, Junper Breeze, Honeysuckle, and several others).
Although I don’t use their stuff much anymore, the Green Clover and Aloe and Water Blssom Ivy are nice and fresh and not too sweet, as many of their others are.
Odonoata, It was definitely a watery era for scents! I think L’Eau d’Issey was one of the trend-setters. I also wore Banana Republic “W,” a watery-clean floral, in the mid-90s. My tastes have shifted somewhat…