By the Sea

The Backstory

There was a period when I became completely obsessed with blue tansy. I had blue tansy skincare, shampoo, body wash, facial cleansers, and just about anything else I could find containing the ingredient. Naturally, the next step was to find a blue tansy perfume.

Surprisingly, there aren’t many fragrances that feature blue tansy prominently. A few include it among their notes, but very few make it the main character. After quite a bit of searching, one of the handful I came across was Purely Parsons By the Sea.

My first thought was that the brand had missed a wonderful opportunity to call it By the TANsea. The name was practically asking for it.

But questionable naming opportunities aside, the fragrance itself turned out to be a lovely discovery.

Composition & Notes

By the Sea has a remarkably simple composition. Purely Parsons lists just four aromatic ingredients: blue tansy, ylang-ylang, Madagascar vanilla, and Hawaiian sandalwood, in a base of organic sugarcane alcohol and water.

The official fragrance pyramid places blue tansy at the top, ylang-ylang in the heart, and vanilla and sandalwood in the base.

And blue tansy really is the star here.

What comes through most prominently are its sweeter, creamier qualities. The ylang-ylang complements them beautifully, adding a yellow floral sweetness that gives the fragrance an almost suntan-lotion-like character.

The sandalwood and vanilla round everything out without taking attention away from the blue tansy.

Despite its name, though, I wouldn’t describe this as a conventional marine or beach fragrance. There is a very subtle, almost imperceptible salty quality, but nothing that makes me think of hot sand, ocean spray, or a crowded beach in the middle of summer.

Instead, I imagine an evening in the woods that happens to be by the sea.

The sun is setting, and a gentle breeze carries a little of the ocean air through the trees, mixing with the greenery and nearby flowers. There’s something coastal about the atmosphere, but it’s the woods and the botanicals that take center stage.

It’s a beautiful interpretation of the setting, even if it’s not what the name initially suggests.

The Experience

What I particularly enjoy about By the Sea is how naturally botanical it smells.

It doesn’t have the polished, intricately constructed character I’d associate with an expensive designer or niche perfume. It smells more like a beautiful blend of aromatic plants and essential oils, without the elaborate structure or dramatic evolution of a traditional fragrance.

And I don’t consider that a weakness. It’s part of its appeal.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the performance. I typically apply around four sprays near my neck, and I can still smell the fragrance throughout much of the day.

It stays relatively close to the skin, so don’t expect an enormous scent trail or particularly strong projection. But for something with such a simple, botanical composition, I find its longevity impressive.

One practical consideration is the color of the liquid. It’s a very vivid blue, presumably from the blue tansy oil, and I would avoid spraying it directly onto light-colored clothing because of the possibility of staining.

Otherwise, I’ve found it thoroughly enjoyable to wear.

Final Words

By the Sea was exactly the kind of discovery I was hoping to make during my search for a blue tansy fragrance.

It’s creamy, subtly floral, slightly coastal, and unmistakably botanical. It doesn’t try to imitate a conventional perfume, and I appreciate it for what it is.

For $68, I think it offers good value, particularly given how well it wears on my skin. The restrained projection and natural, essential-oil character won’t appeal to everyone, but neither detracts from my enjoyment.

If you’re specifically looking for a fragrance that showcases the sweeter side of blue tansy, this is one I would absolutely recommend.

I’m very happy I purchased it, and I would gladly repurchase it when my bottle runs out.