Fraicheur Vegetale Cedre Bleu

A very odd journey.. I bought this incredibly cheaply on the Yves Rocher website charmed by the promise of mountainous air. It sort of does but in a peculiar manner. The first hit is a great thwack of bay with a slightly curry leaf odour (note 'odour' rather than fragrance). After 10 minutes or so it warms up and a vanilla base seeps through. There is a definite woodsy whiff at this point that for a while is quite lovely. This is a little reminiscent of the Chanel Exclusifs fragrance 'Sycomore' in that there is a smokey quality, albeit a much fainter and less like your laundry is being flavoured by the neighbour's bonfire. On me it seems to more or less disappear after about an hour leaving just a slightly synthetic vanilla hint so really it's a short walk in the woods, not a long hike.. At about £10 a bottle depending what offers they have running, it's not bad. It's one to spray liberally after the bath, many squirts required. It's also a good one for the boys being essentially rather masculine. I won't buy it again but I'll probably enjoy this unusual bottle. Recommended for those with a quirky nose at a fraction of the price of niche fragrances. Just don't buy it as a hot weather cologne, it's not, it's a cosy one. UPDATE A MONTH LATER This has grown on me.. It's gone from a 'quite like-not bad' to a 'wear it in bed every night after a bath' This is what has changed; the curry-ish hit at the top seems to have lessened, either I've become used to it or I was having an odd fragrance altering hormones day when I wrote the review. I'm feeling the woods much more now. The outcome is that I'm amazed Yves Rocher have made something this good that costs so little, superb!

It’s not foresty so much as woody – the clean honest smell of cedar planks, or the inside of a chest or cupboard. A bare cedar, separated from the pure air and verdant foliage of its origins, and already prepared for domestic use. There is a touch of vanilla, or the benzoin that, to many, registers as vanilla. When I wear it, it’s not the color blue that comes to mind, but a warm beige: a masculine beige, as this is a warm, rather masculine cologne. And although I’m a woman that suits me just fine. This is a cologne I will reach for when I know I’ll be working alone, no people to please or impress, just me and my keyboard and my thoughts. The bottle is sleek yet unprepossessing, and it’s all of 125 ml, meaning I can use it (1 burst from the sprayer is strong enough) without worrying I’ll run out.

I like this one a LOT! Cheap and rather ugly packaging, but what a great scent! I spray it in my hair and twice on my neck. Topnotes fade fast, but the heart is rich woody and sweet. I don't get powder. It blends great with my skin and it comforts me incredibly well. I felt a little ill yesterday and I sprayed this one on: head ache disappeared, nausia disappeared. Amazing. It's EDC, but I believe it is EDT worhty. It's not just plain cedar wood either. It has some sweetness to it too in the dry down. I don't consider it unisex though, it's too feminine for unisex. relaxing day time perfume, great after sports comes in a biiiiig bottle (125 ml) for a cheap price saison doesn't matter in my opinion lasts +6 hours sillage: comfortable, non-offensive no headache, nausia 2-3 spritzes

This is probably the most refreshing cedar scent I have ever had the pleasure of trying. It is cooling, watery and transparent, with a crisp woodsy bitterness underneath its crystalline surface. I am completely smitten! Cedre Blue is easily my favorite scent from Yves Rocher's Fraicheur Vegetale line (Bambou and The Vert are runner-ups). I agree with the previous reviewer about the very poor lasting power and would like to echo her request: Yves Rocher, PLEASE boost the lasting power of this gorgeous fragrance, make an EDT version of it!

Another discontinued lovely, a very simple linear scent, soft cedar, with no sharp edges, underpinned by something subtle and pleasant; a hint of vanilla, just barely there. The bottle says Eau de Cologne on the bottom, so this isn't meant to last, which adds to its charm. I used 5-6 sprays and was good to go for some hours. I hate using it up, it being discontinued, but the smell is so great :)