L'Eau Froide

Is it a sin? Is it a crime? Loving you dear like I do... if it's a crime then I'm guilty... guilty of loving you... I declare my love for L'eau froide. It is very far from the Lutens style we are used to, true, but it follows the path of the previous L'Eau which was to me a nice little change meant for those moments we can't handle a powerhouse or killorientals à la Serge. I don't think, however, that these are bad fragrances or mainstreamish. Yes, they are easier and not so complex but at the same time they offer a unique vibe that I find very worth experiencing at least! In the case of L'Eau it was leaning towards the feminine whereas here it's the opposite. Now, let me go on with some thoughts I've had regarding 3 scents that share many many things according to my untrained nose. Whenever I think of one of them, the 2 other appear in my mind: L'Eau Froide, Geranium pour monsieur and Zagorsk. They are all unique and I'm not saying they smell exactly the same... but the three of them provoke similar things on me (a chilling craze!) and I'd dare to say they are three perfumes of a same group. Three different takes on the same vibe... as if you asked three totally different painters to re-paint the Mona Lisa with their own twist. I love them all actually. Geranium shares the mint mist with L'eau but it is definitely stronger, much more assertive and thus less wearable, much more difficult to choose when to use it unless you die for being looked at. It is a work or art for me but that previous statement prevents me from buying a full bottle (yet). In the case of Zagorsk, the olibanum is a link with l'Eau Froide and they are both so incency and cooling! A certain green ingredient makes Zagorsk also a bit medicinal, as in those Vic Vaporub creams, just like Geranium, which highlights this aspect the most. The three of them share that vibe that I'd describe as a mix of eucaliptus, mint and some resins. In the case of Zagorsk the thing is it is the strange one out of the three... amazing as well but more for intimate moments in your house by the fire... introspection and deep thoughts. A bit too ceremonial. It is not very wearable for me outside that scene... And then, there is L'eau Froide. The simple one of the bunch... the less "interesting", the one with less "development" and still... the easiest to wear. A total winner guys!! It smells delicious, calm and very compelling... sexy sexy! I can see myself wearing it on a daily base, unlike the other two brothers. I would have those other bottles for years and would possibly get bored after a while because of their being too "special". Again, not saying it is better, I'm saying they are closely linked and should appeal to different kinds of guys: The more introverted (and weird lol)- Zagorsk. The dandy - chic - extroverted and showing off guy - Geranium pour monsieur and the ones who love that same experience in a milder, easier... yet still gorgeous summer eau format - L'eau Froide. PS: It lasts for ages and projects perfectly!

Starts out as the cleanest marine fragrance I’ve smelled. It doesn’t have calone nuances, it doesn’t have a salty oily feel. But somehow it feels of the sea, a super fresh and super cold sea. And clean. Mint contributes to that enveloping feel of freeze, but I also get a little pepper and a little ginger just to add enough heat to really counterpoint and highlight the cold aspect, which is genius. As the heart notes come in, the fragrance starts to “dirty” with a mild sweet incense. Like watching a glass of water that’s just had a drop of dark food coloring added- watching the darker color start to disperse and change the transparent water. So the fragrance goes from a perfectly clear shard of ice to a slightly grey hued piece. Still piercing, still chilling, but the incense gives a little redeeming warmth and humanity to the initial ice queen feel of L’Eau Froide. I find this perfume to be magical in its simplicity. It can be worn by anyone at anytime. For such a minimal perfume it lasts a long time on skin, almost 8 hours.

Here is one example of a perfume I have loved so much that I always have a bottle since it was released in 2011 for some reason has found general revulsion because it is so different, unique and really daring. In my opinion, the best aquatic perfume ever created, this modern masterpiece of perfumery juxtaposes lighter elements (such as mint, olibanum and vetiver) with darker elements (such as musk, incense, and pepper) so beautifully to create a real airy and fresh feel of contradictions right from the get go. This is a daring and different composition and the darker elements prevent the perfume from being as clean as the popular citrusy aquatics out there. For adventurous perfume lovers and those who like their light with the dark, this perfume has been a godsend - a real antithesis to the boring citrusy summer fragrances out there. This is very intelligent perfumery and requires a daring and open mind to appreciate. A true classic!

Cold Water!? Try Vatican by the Sea! This opens as a salty frankincense that mellows to the same sweet ocean note that is identical to Chanel’s Allure Homme Sport (If you like that fragrance, then this one is worth giving a try) with subtle spices and some refreshing mint! Serge Lutens fragrances are incredibly unique, they really capture a feeling or a moment/memory. Some people have found his fragrances unwearable especially if the idea/concept behind the fragrance is dark or abstract (L’Orpheline were talking about you!) but L’Eau Froide is excellent. It reminds me of those color changing spoons that kids used to get in their cereal boxes; red spoon at room temperature but turns purple in cold milk. L’Eau Froide starts out as a sweet incense and then changes directions in the dry down and is minty and aquatic. I wore this almost every day last summer and I loved it!

This is actually one of the "freaks" in my collection. From time to time it reminds me of the spray that you use when you're injured during the sports game. From the technical point of view it's basically ISO E Super. As simple as that. Altghough this fragrance does have much more to present by itself. There's a lot of ginger and mint and sometimes they even cover whole fragrance. Plus ISO mentioned before - a bit smoky, a bit mineral. Like an olibanum put into a jar before burning. Actually I wouldn't say there's frankincense per se. And of course mint and ginger combo. The whole composition is a burst of freshness, hell yeah! It's like a ginger drink mixed with mint. Without even a pinch of sweetness. Dry, refreshing. And it does its job right. Longevity is over 8 hours, sillage is small to medium. I'd say you can't ignore it. Either you hate it or you love it.