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.

I miss wearing this....bought in 2013 it was edgy (compared to all the fruity florals around) and so interesting. It smelt fantastic on me and garnered a lot of compliments. Usually from men. It was my ice queen fragrance - like I was carting around a chunk of a glacier. The hot cold cleanness stunning, soothing and still unlike anything I’ve experienced (before or since). It has the joined the rare ranks of a finished bottle as well (along with its partner in crime on my summer/autumn shelf - Serpentine by CdG) .... I’ve been trying to find another bottle. This time 100ml and it’s so hard to find. The new bottle lacks charm but if the juice is the same I’ll be happy. Now waiting for stock (at overseas retailers) and stalking auction sites. Sigh. I will just keep sniffing my old bottle till I can replace.

I bought this and love this because it fits a spot in my collection that was empty. The skin scent I do find this a androgynous, safe and rather simple fragrance. Despite this, the mint and uplifting nature of this fragrance is a real pleasure and something keeps drawing me back to it. You get a uplifting feel, hint of something aquatic, hint of something aromatic, the mint,ginger, incense and smooth sweet white resin. For a scent of this nature you might expect poor performance but for the fragrance's nature it does quite well. 4 to 6 hours with fair to weak performance. I wear this to work, on walks or to public places-parks ect, when I want something casual, yet cheerful. This has the siren's song for me. 5 out of 5 The older brother to Remarkable people by etat libre d orange

Coming from the desert I've never seen snow but this makes me think of cold water blasting into a metal sink or of dipping my fingers in metal green stoup at the side entrance of the church. There’s wonderful pepper and light mint on opening but Frankincense is the highlight, it’s cool not warm without the usual smokiness.... but man oh man this is special. The frankincense is so wonderful and the mint and watery notes are just amazing, no mere aquatic it's in a class of it’s own. The more I use this perfume the deeper my obsession with it spirals! Smells great on Men too. More sexy if you want the truth, gives a man an aloof aura,an "I'm so out of everyone's league I'm from another planet" . Zaphod Beeblebrox would wear this.

Well quite different to L'eau at first lovely hint of Incense and pepper in this one but once that's gone it drys down L'eau Froide is quite similarly to L'eau for my nose. I mean... I have one on each hand and after the opening (one floral with magnolia and this with smokey spice) All I get as the incense dies down is soapy vetiver (which is creates the same feeling as L'eau) and yet something a little greener than my comforting fresh out of the washing machine teddy bear smell...but not a million miles away. It definitely has a watery feel but is far from an aquatic. These two are different to usual fresh offerings for sure but Serge Lutens has some gems among the collection...these however are just okay.

I got a decant of this one recently, and the seller said that this fragrance "saved them during the hot summer days". I was curious but also worried that the mint would overpower everything and give me a headache. It did not. Now, I do not know what type of witchcraft they employ at Serge Lutens headquarters but every single scent I tried so far, I loved. And all of them miraculously worked well on my skin. It's magic, truly. L'Eau Froide is no exception. What a beautiful scent! The incense is gorgeous here, and mint is strong at first but does not overstep its boundaries and mellows out quickly. This is a unique take on aquatic fragrance, it did not disappoint.

I bought this scent at Barneys this late Summer and I really love it. It is a a wonderful water fragrance mixed with musk. For me, I am a seasonal person and I wear this in the Summer and when it is raining. I have worn it to the movies and my Male friends all tell me that they love what I am wearing, so for a Man to say that to a Woman is pretty darn good. I do not think it smells masculine at all. When I take off my sweater, I notice the scent and it is really inviting. It is actually warm because of the musk note drydown, but yet when you apply it, it is refreshing. A very nice blend.

I'm a fan of L'Eau Froide. Generally speaking I do NOT go for light scents, but I do keep a few in my stable for the hottest of days - and for the dead of winter when I need to smell something a bit more summery! The list is VERY short because I find most lighter scents all smell the same and bore me to tears - so I jump when I come across something I think is distinctive. It is not an ultra-complex SL creation. It does not last long enough IME. Sillage is nothing to write home about, but it's there. I'm going through it very quickly - I apply a lot of it :-) .

There are certain hot summer days when this just hits the spot. It starts off smelling like soda, like gingerale, but let the sweet die down and the dusty musky undercurrent combined with the cool, effervescent mint comes out and wins me over. I wish it had a little less of the sweet and what my sisters describe as "perfumey" opening, but really, it's so refreshing while still being a real perfume. An oriental? Ha. The chilliest oriental ever.

Crisp,clean,natural, invigorating, light and yet it performs. A perfect fragrances for a lazy day, walk in the park,carnival,festival, or picnic. You get a well-blended and lovely mint, then a tantalizing sage like note comes through with neroli. Then the fragrance becomes more light and refreshing until it becomes a very clean white musk. One of my favorite fragrances and it is one of the fragrances I was always searching for !

Frankincense, incense, pepper in a summer scent? Is this the right combination of notes? Then as soon as you put your nose on L'Eau Froide, you will understand the brilliant work that goes into blending this gorgeous scent. A true genius summer scent that did not take the citrus route. Mad respect for Mr. Serge for releasing a light fragrance that still stands out among a sea of freshies.

Wow, that opening is an herbal aquatic delight and must be experienced if you like mint, ginger and olibanum. A new direction for a freshie. I acquired a full bottle in a recent blind swap. I’m going to only repeat what many have said before, L'Eau Froide is a great take on an aquatic. Smells clean and slightly masculine. I like it a lot and look forward to wearing in warmer temps.

A particular perfume, it is cold, glacial, but at the same time warm and almost "religious". The marine note together with the incense predominate, the Mint is very evident initially. Complex perfume, not for everyone. For summer days it is to be worn as a protective amulet. Lutens is a guarantee. ❄️☀️ Sillage : 7/10 Longevity : 7.5/10 Scent : 8/10 Overall : 8/10

I am a little bit surprised that the ginger have only 16 points intensity in fragrantica. In my opinion this note is dominant in L'eau Froide and I love it! Definetly I will buy tomorrow the fragrance and this will be my signature this summer. This is a fresh, beautiful and lovely smell from Serge Lutens who deserves attention from every men and woman :)

Oh! I love this scent.It was a blind buy , but Im in heaven! I'm on the walk in the forest, I smell resin (olibanum) lots of green and fresh air.I think this is a smell of fresh breeze after storm in the very old forest. Most beautiful. I'm woman and my husband said that it smells great on me. This scent is so relaxing!

Am I the only one getting full-on rosemary essential oil with this one? It's herbal, but not minty at all to me, nor aquatic. It's good, quite similar to L'Eau d'Armoise, but less mature and fresher. Price point isn't justified in my opinion, Lutens shines better in other areas than freshies.