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.

I never get tired of this frankencise masterpiece. Great on me, fantastic on him. The new bottles are ok. This is haughty / aloof perfume on a woman. On a man its beyond aloof; it say with extreme coolness, "I Don't even know your there but if I did, I'd ignore you".

Un parfum unique. A la fois chaud et froid comme son nom l'indique, il sera parfait par temps chaud pour tous ceux qui recherche un parfum rafraichissant mais qui a quand même du caractère. Comme tous les Serge Lutens il ne plaira pas à tout le monde et tant mieux.

I love the frshness of this fragrance. It awakes me and energize in the morning. I am very grateful that I had a chance to test it before it was released. I think it will be more popular among men then women but who knows.

Nice! I'm not sure about the smokiness? Ok maybe a little, but a hint of spice and a lot of green. Definitely something fresh and perfect for spring time.

A great summery, oceanic(yes, oceanic) scent that got a twist. Coming from the house of Serge Lutens, it is a rare gem.

"Cold water in the rusty water pipes" is the perfect description.

Exquisite and smooth perfum! In love with Serge Lutens, as usual.

Very unique and interesting scent. Reminds me of snow. Love it.

The first blast of Serge Lutens L'Eau Froide is a medicinal sweet peppermint. The mint here is not the wonderful herbal mint in Guerlain Herba Fresca, instead, with its medicinal and sweet quality, it's utterly reminiscent of toothpaste to me. But at the same time, it does give off a cooling effect. Later on, while the mint starts to mellow, a smoky facet is revealed. The austere incense contrasts with the sweet mint, and at the same time, it stays cold, which is coherent to the overall ambiance. I didn't notice the salty note until in the late drydown, when the incense fades. Again, the saltiness contrasts with sweet mint, as if the skin just comes out of sea water and then a shower with mint shower gel, clean, but still with a slight exotic vibe. The sillage of L'Eau Froide is better than L'Eau, but still close to the skin, and the longvity is around 9 to 10 hours. Although I'm still bugged with the toothpaste assocition at the beginning, scent-wise I find it more interesting than its predecessor in Les Eaux series. If you happen to be looking for a medicinal mint fragrance with an incense touch, L'Eau Froide worths a shot, but do try it before commiting a blind buy.

This one grew on me, like Lutens fragrances often do. The initial sniff left me completely thrown off - I just didnt get it. But then as it settled in, I realized what a little gem this is. It is summery in the sense that the notes are not classical summery notes, but together they give you this instant Mediterranean feel. Salty ocean, fresh mint, something green and a lovely herbal veil - like some other reviewer I get rosemary aswell. No citrus, and thank GOD for that. Its such a natural, crisp, unisex, clean scent. Very unique, and definitely not for eveyone. Especially not the ones that love their scents loud, complicated and crowd pleasing. This is the very opposite. I think alot of people being put of by commerical scents will finds this absolutely intriguing. Its a clever little gem, this. But make sure to test it before buying, as Lutens are quite pricey.

This perfume is obviously very subject to personal chemistry! To me, it is mostly spices, ginger and pepper in particular. It is sharp, and only barely rounded out by olibanum. I don't detect the mint or ocean notes, and if I do, they're only barely perceptible. It is more masculine than many Lutenses, and cheaper-smelling than, say Arabie or even Chergui. Granted, I have not smelled more than 7 or 8 Lutens, so I can't really tell if L'eau Froide has the signature "Lutens-ade" that I detect in his "warmer" scents. I can say, though, that both his "cooler" scents (this is a cooler one) and his "warmer" scents alike evoke a sense of melancholy and loneliness or solitude. L'eau Froide is no exception.

the initial blast i get a mix of plastic balloon/cellophane/rubber + citrus and ginger which makes me feel like i'm drinking a ginger ale. the citrus kind of fades and becomes more plasticky once the smokiness arrives. they dry-down is definitely much more interesting and kind of chic now that it's really holding on to that synthetic smoky rubber! the muskiness at the end is the only time i can feel the salty sea breeze character of it, while still having a slight mentholated quality! so wow! feels like a windy night with friends by an unswimable beach. it's cool! (i'm back after an hour and sadly all i'm left with (for some reason) is plasticky flowers. it was a good ride tho)

A ghost of Timbuktu, chilled with mint. If you take Timbuktu by L’Artisan Parfumeur, dilute it several times, strip away its dense woody thickness, and add a hint of mint, you’ll end up with L’Eau Froide. It retains the skeleton of Timbuktu—that woody, resinous incense structure—but everything feels lighter, thinner, and more transparent, as if seen through frosted glass. The frankincense here is bright and almost mineral, lifted by a clean minty breeze touched with Calone -ish oceanic freshness—that faintly marine, almost translucent coolness that makes the composition feel ethereal and remote. Rating: 7/10

Thank you, dear Xrayer for the sample of this beauty. I love the sea salt and minty smell of this. The opening notes remind me of a long drive I once took with my Mum to a beach in the middle of a storm. The sky was grey, the surrounding grass and hills seemed a lusher green than usual and the wind was blowing. I remember the smell of salt in the air and the exhilirating feel of sitting cosily with her, watching the wild waves of the normally calm beach from the safety of the car. The dry down is sweeter than the opening here but those first few notes are really something!

"The situation was too hot for me to handle.” or “A chill ran down my spine.” I simply applied a similar concept to an Eau. The hero of this story is a tree during the dog days of summer. If an incision is made in its trunk, "tears of glass" come out. Without air conditioning, the heat would kill it. Frankincense helps this scent preserve an icy cool." A pleasant aquatic: fresh, bright, cool and relaxing. Really natural smelling and I don't really have any deep emotions about it. Very cooling and refreshing for summer months. 7/10

I found this very refreshing and as described to be honest .. ! But I have to agree with Tusnelda - for me it is too masculine ... regrettably handing over to my son! For me it is very 'fresh' watery and I certainly don't get any incense at all - I smell a trace of vanilla in the background on my skin but this isn't listed! After 24 hours there is a trace of mint on my skin and I must say compared to most of the SL fragrances this has lasted quite a long time - I got over 9 hours on this one!

nice fresh perfume for summer , give the feeling of freshness & cleanness , it is really like new invention far from Serge Lutens signatures , it has a new identity and new concept , it gives some energy at the beginning with the strong opening of mint , after it calms it is soft and cottony , on my skin it lasts well , i like it and for daily use , but i prefer if it has a cheaper price since it does not reflect a feeling of luxury neither the ingredients are . Merci Mr.Serge Lutens

I imagine this to be what the heart of a mountain glacier would smell like. The name "the cold water" really matches perfectly. This would be perfect at work as it is soft, clean and understated. As others have mentioned, this is one of those scents that make you smell good rather than identifiably smelling of a particular perfume. Is it unique enough to warrant the expense of a bottle of Lutens? Not sure. But it is lovely in a quiet way.

This is the perfect scent for people who don't really like perfume, but just want to smell clean. Crisp white towels, pressed linen and soap. It's fresh, sharp, a little abrasive -that's the ozone and the pepper- but also cool, herbal and slightly sweet, with lots of laundry musk and minty Iso-E. I like wearing it, but it's not a fragrance that tells a story or catches the attention of others. You will just smell really hygenic.

Frankly this being in a belljar is a joke, it's a good incense scent but certainly not worthy of being in the same league as the likes of MKK or ISM. Tbf this isn't the only bell jar that makes one scratch their head as to how it ended up in the "Exclusive" collection but I guess that's just how (confusingly) it's run.

This is a nice fragrance from the eau series. Acquatic mint with a hint of incense. Not groundbreaking, but Lutens managed to deliver a quite unique fragrance: a mysterious freshie! I wish the performance was better though. Full bottle: hmmm... not saying no, but it's not a crush at first sniff. Summer days, 25+

Fascinating scent. Bracing mint and resin mingle into a cool metallic cloud. The ginger and vetiver combine to give it a sexy masculine edge on drydown. Highly reminiscent of ADP Cipresso di Toscana. A very enjoyable fragrance with good silage. Recommended for men.

Scent cold and warm at the same time. A fresh spicy. It reminds me of the windows of a church during a religious celebration. Very particular.

Yesss!!! it Frankinscense through and through, Comforting yet refreshing thus clearing the mind and body - Love it and want, need it now.

Minty, fresh, wet yet cozy clothes hanging on a windy day with a hint of spice. Perfect for hot summer days.

The scent of a youthful merman. Can't wait to try it in summer!

Edvard Munch: “Bathing girls” 1897-99

Hardly unique, hardly poorly done, hardly compelling, yet hardly without any curiosity. On the one hand it is well made, as we hope and expect all Lutens perfumes to be, but on the other it’s not inspired or worth much time. Hard is a word I like for this perfume because, essentially, it reminds me of a freshly laundered dress shirt that was pressed with so much fabric starch we are at the point the shirt can stand upright on its own. No hanger required, just sit it in your closet. It’s a very nice shirt, though. Wonderful texture and expertly crafted. However, too much of the stiffening starch material - aka musks and marine notes - were used in pressing the garment. The detergent used on the garment smells very expensive: high quality soap musks inflected with a good amount incenses and vetiver to add an “mmmm” dimension - people are going to think you outsource your laundry to a service used only by the 1% - because the additions never detract from the fresh, clean feeling. If this is your laundry bag, I get it; you can afford it, it smells better than everyone else’s laundry, so why not. You’re doing great with your life - keep up the good work, scooter. But I suspect many of us will just think it’s a waste of money better spent on far more evocative and memorable things.

If anyone remembers max steel , this is his fragrance. Icy glacial blue eyes, dynamic , energetic and youthful. I like how cold and conceptual this fragrance is, it’s certainly refreshing and piercing. I just keep drawing similarities to men’s generic shower gel / hollister fragrances, particular those of an aquatic hue. It lacks the refinement and precision you would expect from SL. The drydown is flat and uninspiring.

Not for me! I unfortunately enjoy other mint scents more (like Diptyque's minthe). This is a very non strong, very weak mint with no interesting or unique notes for me. It's not green, not dark like the Diptyque's one. It's just way too too simple for me.