L'Ete en Douce (Extrait de Songe)

Absolutely gorgeous scent! I can't describe it any better than the text on l'artisan parfumeur's site, so here you are: "L’Été en Douce is the story of a soft and gentle summer. As white linen sheets blow gently in the breeze, there is a faint spray of orange blossom in the air. The overall scent is that of lightness and freshness. L’Eté en Douce is pure and diaphanous. It has notes of freshly cut hay and willow, with early morning dewy grass, before the full sun takes over the day." Ever since that day in early summer last year, when I was sitting under the arcades in front of lime trees in full blossom in Corfu City, Greece, I became obsessed with the heavenly scent. Smelling l'été en douce on my wrist, I remember that sunny day, at peace, enjoying sitting in that fragrant cloud, smiling and watching a photographer taking pictures of a bride and groom in full splendor in front of that alley of lime trees. Now I am the happy owner of my bottled memories. I detect a whole bunch of linden blossom, hay (not listed here but is the top note of the gray bottle l'été en douce - I own the blue one) a pinch of orange blossom, musk, sandalwood (listed as white wood here) and mint (not listed but definitely there) and no rose.

If I think about it before smelling, I do get the dryer sheets association that Luca Turn mentions (the fanciest of dryer sheets to be sure!), and that's undoubtedly from the white musk. That said, if I'm not feeling as snarky as LT, I get hay, linden, and other light/abstract florals along with a nutty, wheat-like note. It's beautiful and, while I can see why some interpret this light floralcy as feminine, to me it more captures a beautiful moment in time in the summer when the linden trees are blooming and their smell pervades the air along with grass, other simultaneously blooming flowers, etc.

Bottled summertime! This is your favorite summer song in a spray! I immediately hone in on "My Girl" I've got so much honey, The bees envy me. Why is honey not listed in the notes? Honey dominates this summer staple. Certainly one of LAP's very best creations. Thank you, Ms. Giacobetti.

It is a CRIME that it has been discontinued. It was the most beautiful, photorealistic summer fragrance. This soft summer EdT lacked the longevity and sillage, but who cares when you can practically wear a masterpiece on your skin? L'Ete en Douce, I'm so sad you're gone!

Oh! Summer in a bottle! The linden reminds me of a 30 degrees Celsius, bright, slightly windy june/July. It dries down sweet and deep. Absolutely lovely! It just screams SUN!

Une réelle odeur de propre, de champs plutôt verts, de vent frais (et oui) et de draps blancs séchés au soleil! Un parfum idéal pour une jeune femme, pour quelqu'un cherchant une odeur discrète, élégante et rassurante. Malgré son aspect "frais" au premier abord, je le qualifierai plutôt de "parfum doudou", un côté rassurant, un rapport maman/bébé et au final..un parfum de eté Un parfum parfait pour se pshitter et aller dormir dans des draps frais. Points faibles - Une tenue minable sur la peau, plus correct sur le linge.

I don’t get the clean summery fresh everyone else is speaking of. Actually, it’s a near ringer for Comme des Garcon's Sticky Cake; that myrrh gourmand thing that reminded my husband of Mass. I really like it, but it’s so much like Sticky Cake and so unlike the listed notes that I keep thinking it’s a mislabeled vial.

This is L'Été en douce! Just renamed, reportedly on behalf of Annick Goutal and her "Songes".