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Metallurg-AAK – :
Rosemary baby powder with a squeeze of lemon. The other reviews here have gone into much better detail than I could. I do agree that it smells quite similar to MFK’s Cologne Pour Le Matin. I’m surprised because I usually love everything from L’Artisan but this one is not really my cup of tea. I think it’s a personal association thing however, I spent over a decade in childcare and there is something about this that reminds me of a scented diaper cream I used a lot on the babies. I’m sure if you did not have that same memory, this would come across as a soft powdery herbal violet with just a touch of orange blossom to make it somewhat soapy in nature.
tuckBorkchoic – :
The fragrance is very smooth, herbal, aquatic. I thought I smelled herbs and musks in it. It’s pretty pleasant on it’s own, light and refreshing. I get a very good cold-metallic violet, the herbs (not only rosemary though, also some sweet basil), and some great citrus in the beginning.
It also pairs beautifully with the other AP perfumes. It blended into an insanely delicious juice with premier figuiere, we culdn’t stop smelling out wrists. I’m even sure it lasts longer once blended. It was a total eye opener to me that AP’s perfumes can be blended. Hurrah!
latish – :
I was a bit apprehensive upon testing Au Bord de L’Eau. With a name loosely translated into “by the water”, I was prepared to get a blast of ozonic or aqueous notes, which are actually far from what I smell on my skin.
After a brief introduction by mild, refreshing citrus, what then dominates Au Bord de L’Eau on my skin are actually herbal, savoury, slightly spicy/anise-y and salty thym and rosemary. I can see the comparison with Francis Kurkdjian’s Cologne Pour Le Matin, as both focus on prominent aromatic herbs such as thym preceded by fresh citrus opening. However, while Cologne Pour Le Matin is vivid and exhilarating like dazzling morning sunlight, Au Bord de L’Eau is more muted. At first, it only feels less luminous in comparison; but with time, it becomes more and more clear that it’s the underlying, gently powdery, almost suede-like violet-iris that filters the glaring light like an organza veil.
About 4 hours in, the suede-like violet-iris starts to dominate the fragrance, even occasionally makes me briefly think of lipstick. The aromatic herbs are now in a supporting role to bring in herbal freshness, and the earthy vegetal quality makes the perfect link between these two accords. Au Bord de L’Eau remains as this mildl, suede-like, earthy with a tiny bit of carrot and anise, herbal musky skin scent for another 3 hours, making the total longevity around 7 hours. The sillage is moderate during the first 4 hours, and then drops close to the skin.
Au Bord de L’Eau is supposedly inspired by the eponymous painting of Monet, of which the association does not necessarily speak to me. However, compared to Sur L’Herbe which feels like simple, abstract strokes of white and green to me, Au Bord de L’Eau is more complexe and more refined with the interplay of aromatic herbs and violet-iris, while retaining the carefree, easy-going vibe of cologne-style fragrances. I would even say that it’s what I hoped Kurkdjian’s Absolue Pour Le Matin would be, where the violet-iris should have played harmoniously with thym and rosemary, instead of being excessively clean and flattening the lively aromatic herbs.
All in all, if you happen to be looking for a cologne-style fragrance featuring prominent thym and rosemary, and would like a more feminine, refined touch of violet-iris, I’d definitely recommend giving Au Bord de L’Eau a try. Since it’s not an aquatic fragrance based on my personal experience, I’d also encourage those who worry about the “eau” in the name, to give it a chance and see for yourself.