Jean Nate

My review is for the After Bath Splash. I first read about it years ago—If I recall correctly, someone in a review somewhere had compared it to Clarins' Eau Dynamisante. (That used to be my go-to, until they sadly discontinued the 500ml bottle and it suddenly seemed far too expensive for what it was.) While I understand Jean Naté has a long history, I have no nostalgia associated with it whatsoever—I came to it blindly. I picked up a bottle a few years back, found sitting on a dusty bottom shelf in CVS while I was in the States, and lugged it all the way back to the UK with me. After years of collecting fragrance, I’ve developed a good sense of what I like—I love the act of liberally spraying, the cooling, therapeutic sensation on skin. Because of that, I enjoy cheapies, body mists, and splash-style fragrances. My favorite scents are light, airy, and spa-like, and Jean Naté absolutely hits the mark. It’s so fresh and pleasant on the skin (bonus points for the mysterious “moisture replenishing complex,” lol). The sillage is subtle and the longevity is moderate, which for this kind of fragrance, is ideal. Its performance is actually better and more balanced than many far more expensive body mists. When I first cracked open the bottle, I must admit it felt very dated, old-fashioned, and synthetic. It seemed way too powdery for my tastes. After a few days, I moved on and forgot about the bottle in the back of my cupboard. But a few months ago, I pulled it out and decided to give it another shot. I transferred it from the giant splash bottle into a smaller spray bottle—it's much nicer and more manageable this way. I can carry it around for top-ups and spritz it on clothing too. After a few weeks, my perception of the fragrance shifted (or maybe I went anosmic to the notes I disliked initially). I no longer found it powdery. Instead, the delightful, sparkling citrus came forward. It smells like a tart, not-too-sweet lemonade, with hints of spicy floral complexity. Surprisingly, I’ve even gotten a few compliments on it (from both men and women!) Even my notoriously discerning friends agreed it was lovely. As a designer, presentation and bottle design matter a lot to me. An ugly bottle can really kill the experience and the association I have with a fragrance. Luckily, I adore the entire Jean Naté presentation. The bottle—so fun! So retro! The hilariously oversized black ball cap makes me smile every time I unscrew it! The “Jean Naté” script, the pale yellow color, the frosted clear bottle—I love it all. And finally, I can say with certainty that this is the absolute cheapest fragrance product I own. I got the 887ml bottle for $16! (Prices seem to vary a bit these days, but it still looks to be consistently available for under $20.) I only wish the full line (the lotion and body wash) were still around!

been a few months since this thread had any action....but just had to add my experience to it. I am almost 50, and starting to get not only hot flashes, but all my old beloved scents are turning on me! I have picked up a favorite on my shelf to spray myself before getting dressed only to run gagging into the shower with a parade of clothing on the floor behind me more often than not the last 6 months! Today I had another unfortunate experience with my most beloved Jean Claude Gauthier Classique. I could just cry! I gave myself one spray and put on a fresh chenille robe since it was supposed to storm all day and I was going to curl up on the couch with my new Vogue Spring edition 600+ pages. Even the cat would not sit in my lap. It got so bad the robe and anything underneath got thrown in the hamper and I ran in the bathroom and soaped up with Dove Go Fresh Burst. It STILL did not help! So I grabbed some Vick's Vapor Rub and slathered my chest, breathing in the menthol fumes and trying to stop gagging. I washed it off with said Dove again. It was better but there was still a lingering sweetness. By this time I am in a full-blown hot flash. So in desperation for comfort, coolness and some kind of crisp fragrance retreat I sprayed on my chilled Jean Nate Body Splash I keep refrigerated in a spray bottle. Pulled on my leopard print mu-mu. And finally got to sit down on the couch and look at my new Vogue. Jean Nate saved the day!

I am with Sassy1 !! I am so far from being a snob, that I can say I love this, and have for decades. I have heard it being referred to as 'ghetto' to my disgust - not out of the fragrances` respect, but out of respect for people in general- but that`s another topic for another place. My mother had the spray, splash and dusting powder when I was a child, and around 13 years of age I discovered how refreshing and cooling it could be. I love the verbena and lemony scent. I buy a huge splash bottle about every other year or so from either from Walgreens, Ebay or Amazon. 30 ounces. I wear in every season. I have splashed and smoothed on, I have poured some into a spray bottle and used it that way. I have combined remnants of 4711 and CK1 into the bottle. I have layered Jean Nate with musks. I started doing that the summer I was 15 years old, and brings back awesome memories and feelings :) Also good to layer with shea and cocoa butter creams, monoi oils and sesame oils. The combos are great, the fresh with some warmth. The best is just wearing alone, on a very warm to hot day, in a light breezy sundress. Even on this cold winter day, I might splash some on. My mother still has an unopened tin of Jean nate Dusting powder I gifted her with in the 80`s... I may have to steal it away from her ;)

As much as I enjoy wearing the Jean Nate after-bath splash in hot weather I found I reached for it several times this past winter after a shower just to bring about a bit of summer's sunny warmth. It's so darn cozy and I swear I imagine my skin looking a bit tanned when I wear it, as if the summer sun is beaming down on me. Sweet, citrusy and buttery (and with no hint of "old lady"), the formula has not changed over the years. The spray cologne is longer lasting but hard to find - I found mine at Big Lots. The bath splash is readily available in drug stores and is well worth having. I think I went through nearly a quart of the splash last year alone. Good old dependable JN will always have a place in my fragrance wardrobe. Oh, and if you love(d) this "essence of summer" in a bottle, you might enjoy Tuscan Soul, a similarly low priced refreshing beauty with a tad more citrus but without Jean Nate's "buttery" note. I have and love both but understand how Jean Nate could be a bit too sweet for some.

WHY IS THIS SO GOOD ??!! My mémé passed away leaving me 2 massive tankers of Jean Naté over 4 years ago... this stuff is insane... I'm a child of the aughties and this is nothing like the body spray I grew up with... SO complex for the price point and addictively unsweet... Filled up a huge spray bottle for my boyfriend and barely made a dent in the tank, now he's hooked too... Warm lemon, powdery, zesty, floral, herbaceous, woody heaven! I spray it after the shower, in the car, keep a mini in my purse... the scent is very ephemeral and short lived but I can afford to stay armed to the teeth with it. Layers beautifully with pretty much every other scent I have, like a slice of fresh lemon in a cold beverage... Love it with Liz Arden Green Tea, Chanel no5, Arpège, Nemat Amber... Perfect body spray, soft, fresh, light, layerable, and expensive smelling. There are Many EDPs at 10x the price with less range...... love her..... <3