Histoire d'Eau

I bought this blind, based on reviews here. It just got delivered from Amazon, about $15 for 2.5 oz. As people commented on Amazon, it leaked in transit, but only a tiny bit. The container is very... hmmm... 1960s i guess, reflecting the 60s fascination with plastics which were new and amazing then, especially acrylics, and the clean futuristic look of fashion and furnishings in the mid 60s. It is a bit tricky to spray. The spray head has to be rotated (it has on and off positions). And pushing in the middle didn't work. Eventually, while carefully aimed away from me, i got it to work. However, the scent is not plastic modern. I haven't given it time to develop fully, but, wow! It is a rich, deep, heady oriental like i haven't smelled in ages... because i love orientals, but i've been trying to get into lighter and more contemporary scents lately. Today Histoire d'Eau is giving me a load of warm spices, ylang2, and sweet amber. I don't smell the citrus, just as i never do in Shalimar perfume (S's EdTs & outliers don't count, as far as i am concerned :-p) I'm not a musk fan, so I was surprised that i kind of liked the musk in Hermes Un Jardin... series. I'll see if it turns up with the leather in HdE's dry down and how i feel about it. = Edit = The musk didnt show up until *many* hours later. It wasnt a horrible musk, but not special like Hermes. I never smelled the leather :( = End Edit = To comment on what 'awesomness' said, i am finding that many fragrances are quite unpredictable on me lately, too! One day Narcisco Rodriguez for Her smells like old foam rubber and another like roses; one day Bvlgari Omnia smells like nasty RiteGuard deodorant and another like Indian spices. I'll see how HdE and i get along. But i can say that HdE is feminine, adult, and *potent*. So don't spray this on and immediately walk into an elevator or climb into an automobile with others :-) = Edit = I have worn this several times now. So far it always smells as wonderful as it did the first time, richly spicey, heavy ylang2, warm and enveloping. Definitely a success, and a special occasion scent. = End Edit =

I am slowly making my way through Sebastian and his Roumanian friend's list of 19 awesome cheapies. This arrived today all the way from Israel and it is an instant love! I am running a bath to wash off the Only One Intense I am wearing so I can fully rock this. I can't believe the last review before mine was in August of 2020! So this is a rare treasure. It is ambery and mysterious and was reminding me of something which I have now identified: Elixir Des Merveilles- another beloved fragrance of mine. This one is a bit more animalic and I can't wait to experience the drydown. I personally think the bottle is cool as well- reminds me of the 80's. I wish fragrantica still let us edit our reviews so I could write about that later- I really hate the massive overhaul they did on their site. Editing is the absolute KEY for all artistic endeavors. What idiot would have disabled the editing function available to users? It's as bad as Facebook which used to be fun back in 2009-15, and it got steadily worse over each of those years as well. Here is a fun fact from my own experience: someone at Facebook came to dislike my best friend and I supporting each other's posts on difficult posts that might, say, discuss topics which no one wants to hear about although they should. Well, they made my friend unsearchable to me and me to her. We simply do not exist for each other on FB any longer. If I find a post with her in it, her name is black instead of blue. For a time, she thought I had deleted her! Now I detect a fear factor in this censorship committed by the overlords. The PTB at FB just do not want certain things discussed. And, imagine, we have a 1st Amendment here in the US protecting free speech! Not sure why this fragrance site is now censoring our ability to edit..

I just got my 40 ml bottle and I’m sooooo stoked! First off the bottle looks awesome! Yeah it’s plastic, but so cool! To me it looks like a citrus press with a juice reservoir in the shape of an orange. Then the scent! It is addictive! So so so yummy! I’m testing this against Godet Mondanité (which sadly isn’t on Fragantica yet) and I keep going back to this one, even though Mondanité is absolutely delicious and has more silage. I think I too got a bottle of a weaker batch, because the scent fades to somewhat of a skin scent fairly quickly, but what is there is pure awesomejuice! It opens with zesty orange.. it’s syrupy rather than juicy.. more specifically it smells like a somewhat medicinal orange juice and zest syrup that has dried up and gone somewhat bad, cause it has this somewhat yeasty booziness to it. I can’t explain, and it probably sounds horrible, but it’s so so good! At the same time there’s something animalic from the leather, something reminiscent of aniseed, which is probably a mix between the cardamom and mandarin orange.. beeswax is there too.. it’s warm and fresh and spicy all at the same time and I can’t stop sniffing!! I’m obsessed and rambling! This may replace Shalimar as my signature scent. I’m in love! I need another bottle 😂 It somehow reminds me of SJP Stash even though the two fragrances are very very different 🤔

Sweet amber and wood shavings, the cedar plays out here but resembles sandalwood b/c of the beautiful mix with the sweetness of the amber. Very woody. I'd say orange blossom over orange citrus b/c again the sweetness of the wood/amber combo. Sure the ylang ylang can add to that. Not a ylang ylang fan but it is not a bother here. Well blended into the other beautiful notes to evolve as something completely different. I keep mentioning sweet but this is not the cloying candy sweet but rather the lumber store after a rain sweet. Cardamom is present but do not dismiss if you don't like it b/c i promise it's only there if you know to look for it. This one makes me happy. As soon as i opened the box, i got a whiff of something that made me instantly smile. Very close to what Tam Dao does for me but a bit sweeter and less straight up wood, again given by the Amber. So i think i may have found a favorite amber perfume after a very long search. Always loved the note but it's never been done quite so perfectly with my next favorite note, WOOOOOOOOD. Im a nutmeg/pepper girl, wish i got more with this one but i think for layering with another heavily spiced beauty this could be a winner. My only regret is i got the small bottle. Going back for a bigger one. :)

Sweet amber and wood shavings, the cedar plays out here but resembles sandalwood b/c of the beautiful mix with the sweetness of the amber. Very woody. I'd say orange blossom over orange citrus b/c again the sweetness of the wood/amber combo. Sure the ylang ylang can add to that. Not a ylang ylang fan but it is not a bother here. Well blended into the other beautiful notes to evolve as something completely different. I keep mentioning sweet but this is not the cloying candy sweet but rather the lumber store after a rain sweet. Cardamom is present but do not dismiss if you don't like it b/c i promise it's only there if you know to look for it. This one makes me happy. As soon as i opened the box, i got a whiff of something that made me instantly smile. Very close to what Tam Dao does for me but a bit sweeter and less straight up wood, again given by the Amber. So i think i may have found a favorite amber perfume after a very long search. Always loved the note but it's never been done quite so perfectly with my next favorite note, WOOOOOOOOD. Im a nutmeg/pepper girl, wish i got more with this one but i think for layering with another heavily spiced beauty this could be a winner. My only regret is i got the small bottle. Going back for a bigger one. :)

At first spray, I get a deep, rich, thick, sweet juicy mandarin. The soft spices unfold , wrapping around beautiful ylang ylang . Pepper and nutmeg are very soft and the cardamom is uplifting. Then the rich leather and sweet amber unfold together, adding more depth, increasing longevity, embracing the ever present delicious sweet mandarin. Myrte is as gentle as the wisps of white musk. Extremely well blended, this is the highest quality perfume, thankfully still at a reasonable price. I always enjoy this perfume in autumn, since it seems to blend so well with turning leaves and deep red sunsets. It 's especially perfect for the holiday season. This perfume lasts easily more than 12 hours on my skin, with moderate projection. Histoire d'Eau Mouboussin is a true beauty made in historically vintage fashion, using the best, richest, most natural smelling ingredients. I LOVE it !

Beeswax, honey, smoke and aged wood. My grandfather was a beekeeper. He processed the honey himself in a small wooden cabin near the beehives. Over the years, the walls became permeated with the scent of wax and honey. In the cabin was an old wood range inherited from our farmhouse kitchen. On it, my grandfather melted down the honeycombs after the honey had been extracted so that the wax could be reused. The smoke from the stove hovered in the air, adding to the ambience of the cabin. When I first tried Histoire d'Eau I was overcome with a feeling of contentment and happiness. It was only days later that I realized that it was the smell of my grandfather's little house. The scent of the perfume is very strong at first, and I like it better when it moderates, It lingers forever, especially on clothing.

Wonderful! A restrained leather like a kid glove on Easter; at times the ylang-nutmeg-pepper gives me a sense of carnations although I wouldn't consider this in the least floral. As it has developed over the past hours I get occasional whiffs of orange blossom and incense but the constant lovely note is a refined soft leather. Perhaps a bit of Nuit de Noel dabbed on a wrist and smelled through a thin white kid glove: a throwback to days when scents were elegant. I bought this blind based on Sherapop's review and am glad I did--I expect this will become the first scent I pick up every morning (until my next crush arrives). Sillage: relatively close Duration: very good so far Fabulosity: high Price to value ratio: Excellent 10/10

I have worn and tested this for a couple of months now - and have to stop now or risk suffocating other people with my fume ;) this fragrance is cardamon-incense (don't see it listed but nevertheless) goodness and I love it. the flowers are just a delightul shy lot and just add a twist to the oriental scent. The leather I didn't smell so far, but as I'm bad at distinginuishing - it might be there. Love it, feel like a VIP for finding it, and though I love the summer in Germany right now (I escaped Italy-too hot) I can't wait for autumn to wear it again. As I can't describe scents - this smells on me with the same cardamon as in Costume National-21. Love both, though this is a tad more gorgeous... Shame it's discontinued.

Vintage Gorgeousness. Truly a gift for leather lovers. Uniquely itself, rather than a repetition of other leathers I've met before. At first I smelled only musk and animalic notes, unaware that leather COULD smell like this.... Not the pungent, lemony leather of Azuree or Cabochard, but a Warm, Amber leather, tinged with spices. Great longevity, the only con is that you must be a real fan of musk to thoroughly appreciate Histoire d'Eau. In other words, Musk haters need not apply! Even a leather lover might be cautious about when to apply this classic Mauboussin. Dark, old fashioned musk is hardly my fragrance of choice in summer, even with glorious leather overtones. Autumn leather, if you will? Five Stars

That might sound weird, but for me HdE is a perfect spring scent: When I received it, it was autumn and I was already craving winter sweetness. HdE didn't serve; this strange smell, very spicy, yet not really sweet-warm, but very rough and different, was not what I had expected after reading those notes. I tested it today and in spring I love it: Those un-sweet orange peel spiced with nutmeg is pure heaven! It is mouthwatering in it's own unique way. It is still very strange, so try before you buy, if possible. --- EDIT: I sample Egoiste today and I find Histoire d'Eau and Egoiste to be butchy sisters at heart - they are very close together. Anybody agree? I need to to do a side by side comparison soon.

very unique, peculiar and comforting! with histoire d'eau i always have the same textural feeling wearing it, but fortunately it is a very interesting and pleasant one... it's as if there is a close range net of spice-rays projecting from my neck which is coated in inedible fruity juice. the image of this wonderful spices that i invariably have is beautiful dandelion seeds growing out of that juice...^^ also i think the weather can have some enhancing influence on it, particularly the humidity (maybe thus the name?). i found it crazy beautiful after rain in half closed spaces (=metro)! but, in my experience, it is always wearable.

It is a cooler late August morning, and Histoire d'Eau is a perfect accompaniment. It is sheer, luminous, but foreshadows the autumn with its resins and warm, smoky cedar. Waning summer solarity. It opens with citrus and spice with a suede sheen but an understated animalic musk peers in and eventually eclipses the top notes. The citrus segues into a cozy amber. This is a certain unisex fragrance and is a pleasure to wear. Far more complex and interesting than the price would suggest, and can still be purchased for a decent price even though it has been discontinued.

Zesty orange at the first spray, then (without any warnings) it turned quickly into animalic scent. So animalic that made me think it's a completely different fragrance! Thankfully around 10 minutes later, the orange came back but not alone, it brought with it the leather, nutmeg, cardamom, and a bit of pepper. In this phase, Histoire d'Eau is a cheerful lady with opulences, fortunes, and experiences. The dry down is warm, sweet, spicy, still orangish, and a bit leathery. The flacon is so unique, although it's a bit awkward to hold.

Christmas in a bottle! This is what this perfume is for me. A delicious concoction of candied orange and all-spice, wonderfully blended, just like in a perfect British Christmas pudding. I can detect orange, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, which smell warm and comforting... when I close my eyes and smell it, it makes me think of sitting in a warm, cosy room on Christmas eve, sipping some tea in the trembling light from the fireplace, when all is snowy and silent outside, In a few words, it is perfect "to drive the cold winter away".

I agree with 'perfumeaddict' that the name may be an allusion to "Histoire d'O", a story about more than bondage, altho it is prominently featured. But it was a novel long before a film (of which there've been a number). It was published in French in 1955 (!), and in English in 1965. Even with the leather, this is not a fragrance that makes me think of BDSM. And with the ambiguous name, those unfamiliar with the story can wear it safely as a warm feminine scent :)

I just received my Histoire d'Eau in the post. Love at first sniff! I smelled the myrtle in the base immediately, backed up by the spices and a little ylang-ylang. Lovely; like a little olifactory walk in the woods. I pronounce it a good scent for either fall or winter. Which is why I will be wearing it for the rest of this month. This is a perfect fragrance for Chypre lovers, those who love herbal scent and anyone who likes the smell of greenery.

Pure pencil shavings and flowers - it's a complete delight and a HUGE perfume. It is just a bit over to the feminine side, but guys can wear it, especially with the heavy dose of cedar. I really adore this scent - it's so unapologetically bold, and linear in two distinct paths - the wood and the florals. Definitely a late summer/fall kind of scent, something in it makes me think of transitions from one season to the next.

This was my end of year blind buy that I purchased based on all of the wonderful comments here on Fragrantica. All I can say here is "wow" Histoire d'eau Mauboussin is fantastic. It's unique, confident and energetic, and it smells like velvety suede with the creaminess of nuts, orange and spice. Such a stunning perfume.

Animalic, spicy, leather and musk! Quite a feeling of cumin and for that reason it feels like a more unisex take on Rochas Femme. In fact, recommended for lovers of Rochas Femme. Those who comment on the fragrance being light must have a different batch than mine. This is powerful and potentially even offensive!