L'Eau

Upon opening this is a very pretty scent, mostly mint and basil to my nose. For a good while it remains fresh, clean and uplifting, like trailing one's fingers in rippling blue water. I am not sure how the emerging nutmeg andf frisky violets manage to be so aquatic but there you go. However there is much more to this perfume than the delicious opening. I am very sad to say that L'Eau eventually takes on an aerosol nuance which I cannot forgive. It is certainly worth trying if you are looking for a cool, clean, unusual aquatic, especially if your skin can subdue that particular nuance.

Renee L'eau is a lovely, fresh and feminine fragrance, however please note that it doesn't work on everyone. Skin chemistry really comes into play as the main decider, especially in the heart and drydown. Like previous reviewers have noted, this scent can become heavier over time, and in some cases, it can smell quite bitter and unpleasant. The opening was bright and aromatic. Scents that are of a herbaceous nature, often smell masculine on me, but this fragrance was an exception. It was really smooth and green, the perfect balance of powdery nutmeg and basil. The scent is amped up by strong, sharp green accords and mint, which will either agree with your skin, or smell ridiculously loud. Unfortunately L'eau reacts badly on me, giving me headaches every time I try to wear it. It's sad for me because the top notes were so agreeable. If you can manage to wait it out, the drydown is much more pleasant with fresh, powdery violets and the faintest hint of nutmeg. I love this fragrance once it's settled, and I only wish it was like this all the way through the composition. I have a lot of respect for Australian perfumers and I'm all for introducing niche to new consumers. I think Renee has that down-to-earth approach that really appeals to fellow Aussies. Her scents follow in that same kind of style. L'eau smells relaxed yet versatile. The sillage and longevity are excellent. It's the later stages of L'eau which really grab my attention, as I find myself enjoying the remnants on my wrist. I would advise against a blind buy, but with that being said, Renee does some lovely sample sets on her website, which give you the chance to do some thorough testing before purchasing a full bottle. Wonderful.

This opens a powdery violet with a stingy nuance. Then it gets a bit cloying (for lack of a better word) what I mean is that the scent seems to be having a conflict with itself :s. After the conflict, which fortunately doesn't last long, the scent dries down to a soft,floral,powdery hint. This fragrance fades away fairly quick and is very subtle through out. To me this seems to be another neutral scent...I do not feel it is special, or that it has perfected its simplicity.