South Water
Lili Bermuda (2009)

I finally got around to doing a proper sampling of one of the fragrances that I initially loved from the Bermuda-based house, Lili Bermuda, and perhaps their most popular scent, South Water, a coconut-heavy freshie that's beautifully balanced between the coconut itself, mimosa, fruity bits (guava, mandarin), amber, musk, and sea salt.

It's really an excellent fresh coconut fragrance that doesn't feel overly gourmand-lik e–that it's, it's not too heavy–while simultaneously conjuring the ocean without being marine. The sea salt really does the trick, in the latter respect.

Priced at $90 for 100ml, it's a nice deal, like pretty much the whole line from Lili Bermuda, and even though the concentration is Eau de Cologne, it feels reasonably robust and long-lasting. Like SunKiss, the delightful orange creamsicle release of 2017, South Water is a sweet freshie that I find very satisfying, and I'll likely buy a bottle at some point.

8 out of 10

Very light opening of sea salt and vanilla: too much sweetness but the coconut offsets it (a bit). Almost immediately it sits as a skin scent: there's some level of fruity-musk but you're going to have to really dig at your wrists to get to it. Light fruit, peach-mango. Almost indistinguishable.

There's too much resemblance here to a tanning lotion: for 75-90 dollars for a 3.4 ounce bottle, there are cheaper (and better) ways to get your summer scents. While it smells more natural than say, Hawaiian Tropic or something of that ilk, and is certainly much lighter, they're too close for me to recommend. Furthermore, the performance is an absolute dud and disappears as quickly as it was put on. Not unpleasant but too expensive and generic.

5.5/10

On me this frag opens soft, slightly sweet and coconutty (is that a word?) There's a light fruitiness about it - a sort of melon thing, that is underlined with a slight saltiness...the musky gardenia shows up an hour or so later and the longevity is amazing for a summer scent like this.

Gets lots of notice and inquiries...i rully rully like it.

Top notes here are Tangerine, Coconut, Guava and Gardenia. Middle - Cactus Sap. Base - Sea Salt and White Musk.

It is the most tropical of all their scents and cries out BERMUDA!

The Coconut and Guava dominate - a very sweet and delightful summer scent.

This and their eau de cologne FRESH WATER are a great combination for summer wear.