L'Eau par Kenzo

This is just beautiful, the most natural smelling aquatic that I've come across to date! L'eau par isn't widely available in the UK, actually other than Kenzo World and Flower, we don't get many of Kenzo's other offerings (at least, to my knowledge) so when I saw this circulating around on Fragrantica, read the notes list and fell in love with the really cool bottle, I went on a mission online to try and get a bottle. So, firstly I thought this was discontinued but its still on Kenzo parfums' website, and there are new flankers of it about on there too. Notino stock L'eau Par on their website and Allbeauty also stock the 50ml and 100ml bottles, so I'm glad I can repurchase this one when my currently 30ml runs out. If anyone looks at my wardrobe, I have a lot of summery, citrussy and aquatic fragrances, but I really wanted something that was different from L'eau D'issey (cold, wet flowers) and Davidoff Cool water (salty melon, juicy fruit gum) that was more grassy, fresh and maybe a little bit sporty, L'eau Par is all of those things! So, L'eau Par is fresh, its cold, super clean and very modern/city-like, the first spritz is a really strong citrussy hit which sort of veers into bathroom cleaner territory but it settles into an icy, slightly floral and grassy scent, but theres something in this which gives it a vodka/gin like nuance as well, not quite sure what note or combination of notes does that, but it really makes this feel like you're drinking either a fresh, iced gin and tonic or an iced glass of water. Silage is very good, being on lockdown, I'm around my parents a lot and they have noticed the refreshing breeze coming from me and have positively commented on it, the longevity is very good, I can get about 7 hours worth of wear from this with 5 sprays. I think this may actually become my signature scent, its so effortless and fresh, I'll be ordering a bigger bottle soon because I don't think my 30ml bottle will be full for very long!

With all the Kenzo's I've sampled I've come to realize all women's fragrances of this brand have a very distinct DNA that I'd describe as oriental poise. Given how delicate they generally are, this DNA often stands out the most, and each new one I try instantly seems familiar. But regarding L'Eau: it is good. Olivier Cresp knows his craft, especially if we talk his earlier works. Kenzo (and perhaps only Kenzo) knows how to deliver this kind of scent, the meaningful minimalism. It smells like water; not the tap kind but the element itself and our mental image of it - the stillness of it, not the calamity. L'Eau feels like a beautiful blend of nature's breath and coolness of urban futurism, what with the impeccable humanly cleanness it emanates alongside the gentle herbal freshness. In the 90s people still dreamt of progress and nature coexisting in harmony, and that harmony manifests itself in this fragrance. It might be popular because it is simple, but it is in fact very special, being the perfect olfactory interpretation of water as a part of nature, the bridge between scent and vision. A delicate timeless fougere that is linear but not in the way that gives you a migraine with its monotone presence. Reed is appropriately sweet for a distinctively herbal note, mint and pepper aren't overdone, the base is soft and perfectly womanly. No fruits for me - maybe the newer formula has been tweaked - but frankly I prefer it that way, a strong fruity accord would only simplify it, not refine. As for performance, in my experience Kenzo fragrances get stronger with time. Melody it reminds me of: Air - J'ai dormi sous l'eau.

I have vintage (oval shaped bottle) and rectangle shaped L'eau PAR-version of this. Vintage formula is softer. Opening is sweet herbal, like anise or fennel with hint of dry hay. After few hours it turns less sweet and waterlily comes out, dry hay note is still there, but less noticeable. After four hours I smell cedar and dry hay with hint of watery notes. This reminds me of Honore des Pres- Nu Green, very similar dry hay note. Longevity is better in vintage one, imo. Newer L'eau Par Kenzo: Opening is sharp, very aquatic and herbal at the same time. Strong mint leaf note (sweet and minty) I think mint leaf scent was the strange note that bothered me always. It's very noticeable if you overspray this. After an hour this turns out very nice aquatic fresh, I smell waterlily, lilac and hint of peach. And then it's gone. Weak hay scent with musk. So sad. I would like to try the newest L'eau Kenzo-version of this. I prefer vintage formula because it has good longevity and scent is close enough to newer formula.

Wow, what an interesting scent and what a twist. It starts fresh and watery with water lilly, mint and pepper, then something almost stinky comes in, I think it's reed, but after a minute or two boozy cedar and vanilla start to rise, and underneath there's floral fruit. I've been looking for a scent that smells like lilac for a long time and I think I can smell it, and it's a very accurate lilac scent. Rose, amaryllis and violet, you can feel every note. Everything comes together in a magic where the cedar and the sweetness of the vanilla kiss the freshness of the water lily and musk. I wasn't expecting this festival of scents. The star of this scent is definitely cedar. The sweet, boozy, fresh, piercing note keeps everything in balance, the other notes dance around. I like this work. Maybe I'm a little biased towards Mr. O. Cresp. L'Eau par Kenzo is underappreciated. Sillage is good and longevity is about 7 hours. Love this so much.

This fragrance is my favorite of all time (tied with Issey Miyake original EDT). It is a well kept secret. I own them all (literally). When I wear this, the balance of fresh, sweet, fruity and warm dry down to perfection - a perfect balance. I do wear it more in the Spring/Summer, but I would say that when people guess it is Chanel or Bylgari, I just smile because it is unique. I would say you need to wear this all day before you make a judgment, and wear it on a warmer day....and around both men and women. Even without their opinion, when you smell your wrist, it will be beautiful and surprising. Not too much...not too little...not too spicy....not too watery, not too innocent, and yes, very natural and comfortable. What seems like a fragrance of innocence is a colorful blend of emotion with nuances of real life.