L'Eau d'Hiver (for women and men)

essija

Soft and fleeting on my skin. I get too much honey and hint of Jasmine which I cannot wear. I don't see how this could offend anyone and with that in mind it is easily forgotten. I have found too many other iris scents that smell better in my opionion. I just like my scent to be louder and spicier than this. Though I do still love FM.

mellybee

L'Eau D'Hiver is a romantic fragrance transports you to a wintery day when the weather is warm.

It captures the essence of snow, its transparence is expressed through the usage of the iris note (cold notes are typical of iris scents) folded into the white softness of almond and heliotrope, enveloping the wearer in warmth.
If L'Eau D'Hiver were a garment, it would be your warmest most luxurious cashmere sweater or scarf.
To my surprise I enjoyed the almond in this fragrance.

The white musk accords in the drydown add also a crisp effect to the fragrance and I detect powder too.

Vickalena

Another little haiku by Jean-Claude Ellena...
The name fits perfectly, in my native language it would sound quite poetic, maybe "thawed snow".

The perfume is transparent, like the sky at the end of winter or in the early spring ... Actually, this scent is quite difficult to describe - it is built on semitones and thin shades. Some would say, it is pale, but I love Ellena's minimalist style: the innuendo gives more space for your thoughts.

The scent is clean, with some tiny note of freshness (bergamot?), there are some flowers in the heart - their powdery sweetness is not dominant, but delightful - I smell an iris and heliotrope. Then, this "powdery-dusty note", which is the most charming note for me - it's mimosa bloom!!! blended with slightly bitter note - I agree with flannelman, and my husband also pointed "bitter almond". Finally, in the presence of musk, it gets a touch of warmth - like shy beams of spring sun. This fragrance makes me think of those days at the end of winter, when the snow starts melting and you can feel a gentle breath of spring, in the bitterish aroma of the woken up trees.

L'Eau d'Hiver is not powerful scent, though it is notable in the trail - when sprayed generously. I was wearing this perfume during some days, I can say that it is quite long lasting - I still feel the aroma after 7+ hours, and, sprayed on textile, it lasts some days. At the moment this is my favourite perfume - I don't want to change!

flannelman

L'eau d'hiver is described by Elena as an "Eau chaude" (warm water), and there is certainly such an aspect in this fragrance. This is a very delicate scent indeed and in a way it makes me think of a very light, (luke-)warm flowery tea to which a spoonful of honey has been added. Honey is definitely the note I get the most often. It is however very well balanced, not too sweet, and not over-bearing: it comes and goes softly and dances with the iris notes. And again, soft is the word to describe the iris in l'Eau d'hiver. In other perfumes the iris can appear somewhat metallic (e.g. Ferre for Men, perhaps) but not here: it's light and powdery. Other noticeable notes for me are jasmine, a bit of vanilla and some hint of almond although very fleeting.

How do I like it? Well... It certainly has a feel-good, light, clean, warm, comfy, soft appeal. The longevity and sillage are weak though, making it a scent that you wear just for yourself, and very pleasant that can be too. Best uses for me would be either when staying at home with a good book or when going out for a walk in the snow on a sunny winter day.

jeca

This is a perfume I felt in love with from the first sniff! :-)
This is a truly light, absolutely weightless fragrance, a very delicate note of heliotrope with a citrus and vanilla nuances.
The perfume waves with cold and warm notes, slightly powdery, very romantic and beautiful. I smell honey at the end, but it is a very-very delicate note, because the fragrance is not sweet at all.