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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Frederic Malle L'Eau D'Hiver: Perfume Review


By Tom

Created in 2003 by Jean Claude Ellena and as sharp and clear as an icicle, D'Hiver is listed as having notes of heliotrope, iris and honey (according to Barney's). I also get bergamot in the opening and an overarching angelica. But mostly I get a sense of whiteness. Whiteness and coldness. As if you were sitting in a freshly painted white room looking out a picture window at a field of snow, perhaps with a television set in the background that's set to a station that's only static while wearing a white suit.

If it weren't so lovely it would seem almost stuntish it it's whiter-than-white aspect. I love it in winter, which in LA can get into the 80's (I know, hate me), but I really like it in the heat of summer where it's as refreshing as a cool bath.

Available at Barney's, $120 for 50ML

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24 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Nice word image, Tom! Will have to retry this, when it's not so very white around here. (Sometimes in the summer we get into the 80s!) Heliotrope has really grown on me recently.

11:38 AM EST  
Blogger Ducks said...

Wow, sounds wonderful. I love all the notes, and can imagine them as pale gold... but white? I have to sniff this.

12:54 PM EST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great pic! ;-) I sniffed this again the other day, and to me it's definitely got some green life about it - it's like sniffing the whole of a fresh, Spring flower; sap, stem, leaves and all! I sampled Sienne l'Hiver too, recently, and this was REALLY like the smell of frost. It honestly smelt like the inside of a freezer compartment, which was impressive, but not how I want to smell. I gave it to my mum, who spent a great holiday in Sienna, in the hope that she would enjoy it more.

- Emma

3:02 PM EST  
Blogger elle said...

What a brilliant description of this scent! I have great hope that one day I will come to love this scent. I have so much faith in this that I've had a bottle sitting around for a couple of years now just waiting for that day to arrive.

3:06 PM EST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beautiful review, Tom! All the educated noses get the winter from it. I am totally in love with this, and simply don't get cold or white from it. I get a big splash of a starry night in a garden where white flowers compete with the sky. I wear it in any season, and it's always right. It was hugely spendy for me, because I accidentally purchased THREE travel sizes, with the incredible black screw case,but I have not regretted one dime of the money spent.

3:41 PM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

PF-

I'd love to read what you think!

4:32 PM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

ducks-

yep. white. creamy whiteness and cold.

4:32 PM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

emma-

it does kind of smell like the inside of a freezer!

4:33 PM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

elle-

I hope it does!

4:34 PM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

quinn-

I't spendy, but I do love those travel sizes..

4:35 PM EST  
Blogger danush said...

Love the picture. L'Eau d'Hiver is one of the hardest to describe for me - while I don't get any cold or white (rather pale lavender = color not smell), I do get winter in dimension of crisp and transparent at top notes and fluffy and cosy as it developes on skin.

6:39 PM EST  
Blogger ScentScelf said...

Hey, I meant to take that picture of the view out my window... ;)

I'm trying to think of a note you mentioned that I don't like. Maybe honey. But with the others...

...it goes on the "sniff it" list.

7:23 PM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

chadanush-

It's a great scent, right?

8:35 PM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

ScentSelf

I'd like to read what you think of it.

8:36 PM EST  
Blogger Unknown said...

I couldn't possibly know what makes this artful creature what it is, but, maybe, perhaps, it is the hawthorn, warm and unexpected..

5:21 AM EST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What an intriguing review, and love the image to go with it. I really must try this now...Freddie Malles are so hard to find in my area :-(

Lovethescents

9:01 AM EST  
Blogger Flora said...

Hmmm - not sure I would spend that much to smell like... winter? I spend most of my time pretending there is no such thing!

11:38 PM EST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I also wish F Malle was easier to get in my area. I would love to smell this one and pretend that we actually have winter here in Singapore...Jen

4:28 AM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

EEM-

I think it is the hawthorne..

3:44 PM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

Lovethescents-

There's always the Perfumed Court to try them out.

3:45 PM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

D-

You might like it! Maybe in summer?

3:46 PM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

jen-

I'm sorry that they aren't more available in the Far East

3:48 PM EST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tmpoo-

The P Court is very good but also quite pricey...

3:56 PM EST  
Blogger tmp00 said...

Anon-

I've heard people say that, but it's less pricey that popping for a full bottle and finding you hate it.

I've priced them out and they frankly make a lot less on their decants that Starbucks does on a coffee.

7:30 PM EST  

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