L'Eau Froide

It's 2023 and hard to find a full bottle that doesn't cost $300+, but I'm on a Lutens kick, so I bought a 5ml sample (in a tiny version of the tall bottle). First try I was slightly disappointed. I've been wearing l'orpheline a lot recently, and was expecting that sort of soft, musky incense. From this I mostly got a lot of ginger and aquatic notes (more of a calone aquatic than salty marine). Second wear, I put it on a little heavier, and now I get it -- the notes all seem to blend together into a churchy, gingery, aquatic musk. It's a lovely aromatic, with incense darker and drier than l'orpheline (and really they are not the same at all, but just to compare that particular note).

I you look for something different this is it. If you look for a fresh, green, but deep and with a personality fragrance this is it. Balsamic but with a strong presence, not delicate but elegant. Great singular blend!

Gorgeous scent profile but not worth the inflated prices. Uncle Serge's Point du Jour is a close cousin to this and actually performs a lot better.

Fresh, peppery soap. Quite nice, but that lovely hint of incense the tall one has lingering in the background is completely lost to my nose. Overall not too bad, though still a mild disappointment.

I bought into the anti-hype and had prejudice against the eaux. "Oh, too synthetic." "Lutens watered down." Treating the house like they were a traitor because they had reformulated and were making "polite" fragrances. Well guess what, this is great. I usually can't stand white musks and marine notes. But here they're fantastic. Fresh, cool, salty/marine, very understated. I had expected something really 'zingy' (aka harsh) to create a feeling of 'froide' but it's not like that at all. There is some harshness in the opening that may recall a chemical cleanser, but once it settles the fragrance is understated and full-bodied. It's less fuzzy than Gris Clair... The brief highlights frankincense but this is more bleu and less incense. Perhaps boring on paper but a delight on skin.

I can’t believe how anyone, let alone a fan of Serge Lutens, could be unimpressed with L’Eau Froide. You have to applaud Serge for stepping out of its typical lane of resins and spices to create a fresh bleu. Not only a fresh bleu, but a truly original take on the aquatic genre that stays true to Serge’s DNA. L’Eau Froide is a minty incense, marine fougere that works equally well for warm and cold weather. In fact, it’s even better for windy Fall and Spring days. It’s full of aromatic texture, with sharpness from the incense and greenness of the mint. Fans of L’Orpheline will be happy to find that the incense is exact same. Serge Lutens must’ve known that they had something special with this as it’s now in their Flacon Collection. Deservedly so.

Thought I was ordering the tall bottle but I got this one and it's lovely to hold the back has a nice texture. Anyway I put off buying it as I detest mint but bit the bullet expecting more on the incense side according to reviews. What I got was a very calming soapy scent that at first was fizzy and bright then calmed to a deep clean comforting and relaxing spa treatment. Like being in a Turkish bath house being pummelled with frothing bubbles without steam and the roof taken off so the air rushes in. It's a keeper and most probably I'll replace it when it finishes. Serge did a good blending job here.

opening is spicy, but you can feel the coolness coming through. dries down fresh and intoxicating with the incense blending in well. a nice aquatic scent - as if i were about to be splashed by some cold ocean waves in the morning. wish the opening wasn't as jarring, but i think this smelled better after i retested it after a few months.

I Love this one it’s my bedtime perfume smell so clean,comfort and relaxing reminded me of luxury spa which is unusual blended from Serge Lutens. Perfect for hot and humid summers day and night.

I have a bottle if anyone is interested. It’s about 80% full. I’m located in the US. Message me for me details.