L'Artisan Fragrances • L Ete en Douce • Fragrances

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SelenaSerena on 5/1/2013 9:16:00 AM more reviews by SelenaSerena

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Just got myself a bottle from a niche perfumery shop. I loved it from very first spray. I should say I did not know what to expect and the scent appeared quite unique to me compared to anything else I own.
I would love it for both spring and summer days when I need just a light swift of perfume which is rather skin scent than a tail-y fragrance.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ayala on 8/29/2012 5:57:00 AM more reviews by ayala

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

Reminiscent of fragrant twigs and freshly soaped skin, l'Été en Douce is light and ethereal and I find it wears better on fabric than on my skin. On fabric it unfolds with the subtle honey nuances of linden and orange blossom with hints of petitgrain; where as on skin, the clean "white musks" and synthetic "white woods" notes are taking over. And there is also an underlining bitterness, reminiscent of almonds but not quite - the mark of coumarin (hay is listed among the notes, but there is non of its delicious sweetness, so I think it's just coumarin - adorable all the same, but just a little flatter).

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Eryn2 on 4/19/2012 12:38:00 AM more reviews by Eryn2

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

This is a gorgeous summer fragrance, very sheer and feminine. On me it's linden-dominant with some support from green leaves and a hint of orange blossom. It reminds me of a favourite passage in Raymond Chandler's "The Long Goodbye": "She was standing close to me. I smelled her perfume. Or I thought I did. It hadn't been put on with a spray gun. Perhaps it was just the summer day." It would be a five but for its fleetingness, a typical L'Artisan trait.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* HelenVanPattersonPatton on 8/21/2011 5:17:00 PM more reviews by HelenVanPattersonPatton

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I remember receiving a sample of this when it was first released under "Extrait de Songes" and I was immediately smitten. I knew I'd go through bottles, plural. I adore L'ete en Douce (Soft/Sweet Summer Day? Anyone?) and keep a bottle handy, as it it refined and genteel; perfect for any given relaxing day filled with sunshine, clean cotton dresses hanging on the line, cool breezes on a porch swing and Southern Comfort. I am all in when a fragrance lists hay as a note, and I'm also a fan of linden. This one has both, which are the two stand out notes. I sometimes find both orange blossom and musk a bit much for my liking, but they are well balanced here, and the mint is very subtle. I wear L'ete en Douce on occasion in the winter, but truly enjoy spritzing with abandon on lazy summer days. As my favorite Jour de Fête has been discontinued, I imagine I'll reach for this one more often in the future. It's gorgeous and refined but still fun and sparkly. Notes: mint, rose, orange blossom, linden, hay, woods, and white musk

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*TOP REVIEWER* TwoBostons on 6/27/2010 11:16:00 AM more reviews by TwoBostons

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

If you're looking for a cross between Ivory soap and Tide, this is the one for you! Sadly, it makes me sneeze. Once it gets into the drydown, though, it mellows out and becomes quite soft.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* FeySparrow on 12/27/2009 1:24:00 AM more reviews by FeySparrow

Age: Unknown   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Other, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

This sounds so nice that I have no earthly idea how it can turn so awful on me. The notes include mint leaves, rose, orange blossom, linden, green hay, white woods, white musk, and dogwood. This is the sort of thing I’d jump to buy unsniffed, and illustrates why I must not. It’s supposed to bring to mind the dew on the grass in the cool evening after a warm summer day. I get that it’s green and cool, but regretfully on me it’s more like lying in a weedy ditch with diesel trucks going past. Good luck. It has to be better on everyone else.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* doree_001 on 2/11/2009 7:54:00 AM more reviews by doree_001

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

I agree that it is a calm fragrance, "summery". Fresh and clean, somehow very dry, but at the same time a way too detergent-like. I usually like those kind of "clean", even soapy smells, but this one developes into a too "laundry-detergent" type of scent. It lacks a "sparkle".

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*TOP REVIEWER* sherrie09 on 7/26/2008 2:12:00 PM more reviews by sherrie09

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I'm testing this for the first time today. It reminds me a bit of Malle's En Passant because it has the same wheat (hay?) note, but it's not as strong as it is in En Passant. I also got a note of linden - I'm glad the reviewer below said it because I wasn't sure what I was smelling but just thought to myself, "linden!". :-) This is a very pleasant summery fragrance. It reminds me of being in the country during summer, the smell of fields and country lanes. I think it's a bit nicer than laundry sheets.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Ciciban on 7/21/2008 7:13:00 AM more reviews by Ciciban

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I absolutely love this scent! For me at least what's not to love!? L Ete en Douce is a perfect scent for a hot humid weather we have every summer, it lifts my spirits - it's perfect for the office as well as weekends when I just want to relax. I find it soothing and calming and delicate in a way, but at the same time it's attractive and happy. L Ete en Douce sure knows how to get a compliment and gets noticed every time I wear it :). Oh and I better mention that on me it lasts all day as I get compliments on it hours and hours after application.

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*TOP REVIEWER* sucrose77 on 7/20/2008 6:28:00 PM more reviews by sucrose77

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I know some people put this scent down for smelling like an air freshener, but I think this is what air fresheners aspire to be. You know those laundry detergents with pictures of sunshine and flowers and meadows on the front -- this actually smells like those pictures. Lovely linden, orange blossom, and hay, with a bit of sweetness. It smells impossibly fresh and idyllic. One of my favorite pick-me-up scents for hot weather or general doldrums.

Edit: I now prefer IUNX Eau Baptiste, which to me is a more naturalistic take on this idea with orange blossom and wheat.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Emma13 on 7/18/2008 4:46:00 AM more reviews by Emma13

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

This is a pleasant fragrance, somewhat unusual, neither overly green or overly flowery. It's a mutedly quiet, calm scent for the summer rather than a refreshing, vibrant one, at least on my skin. I do enjoy it, but I don't love it. It also has no sillage whatsoever. I can't even smell myself, which kind of defeats the point of wearing a fragrance. 2* only for the pretty scent.

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*TOP REVIEWER* estesmcc on 6/27/2008 11:58:00 AM more reviews by estesmcc

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

Recently, I had an opporunity to sample this scent, and I'm glad I did. The notes to this scent have already been given, so I won't repeat them here. While I enjoyed L'Ete en Douce, I don't think I would wear it often enough to justify buying a full bottle.

When I first applied the fragrance, I got a hint of that sharp grass note that I so love in L'Eau de L'Artisan. However, as the linden kicked in, the scent quickly became undeniably feminine. It smelled sweet, soft and almost dreamlike to me. This would be the perfect perfume to wear while drifting off to sleep.

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*TOP REVIEWER* janebkrn on 5/21/2008 1:51:00 PM more reviews by janebkrn

Age: Unknown   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This has been reviewed extremely well, so I will make it simple. Ignorant of the notes or background, I said "AH, IUNX by OG." This is light, clean,happy like all the IUNX waters,which have sadly been discontinued. For IUNX lovers like me, here's your fix.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* 52pigtails on 4/26/2008 12:59:00 PM more reviews by 52pigtails

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I have little luck with l'Artisan fragrances, I like them but in the end I wouldn't wear them because I feel they're missing on something. This one is better than La Chasse aux Papillons, but still it lacks something. The notes I get most from smelling this fragrance closely (nose-to-wrist) are the truest, purest linden (I almost feel I'm walking under a blooming linden row in spring), a slightly artificial mint and a fiery, carnal yellow rose. Then some calm notes of hay start to emerge from the background, and that is the note that really puts me in a summery mode.
Yet, for some reason, the sillage starts to show some fragility, and all I can smell is bathroom detergent, so I would be ashamed to wear a fragrance that could remind others about bathroom detergent.
Therefore I won't buy the full bottle, but I'll still enjoy my sampler every now and then, in perfect solitude.

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Loves on 3/11/2008 9:14:00 AM more reviews by Loves

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Other    

Initial spray was lovely, clean and fresh and everything I was looking for. Then it settled into a very strong pure soap smell. I guess it is a clean scent because I smelled like a bar of cheap soap. No good. I am so disappointed because I really wanted it to work on me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* BerryDelicious on 1/15/2008 8:52:00 PM more reviews by BerryDelicious

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

To me, L’Ete En Douce is a daydream in gentle sunlight. It isn’t one particular note or scent, though at the beginning I do get a mix of the mint and rosy top notes and a hint of orange blossom, though none yell out their presence.


Soon, as the linden and hay emerge, I’m surrounded in pale greens and blues and the lightest, purest breeze, drifting in through the door, the sun outside warming the hay and freshly washed cottons on the line. Just the sheerest whisper of their scent is carried in on this warmed, fresh breeze. Seriously, it fills my nose with joy. It’s almost a cross between a clean and musky skin scent, with its nuances of mint, rose and orange blossom and musk. Although, at times I get just a touch of sugared almonds, but I think that is just how it plays out on my skin sometimes.


I’d normally prefer to wear L’Ete En Douce in an environment which is not awash with other smells, or even noise. It is one to wear in more quiet places or moments or even to sleep. Despite the quiet aura of this scent, I’m still surprised by its tenacity on my skin and soft sillage.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Gingerbreadgirl on 12/6/2007 7:55:00 PM more reviews by Gingerbreadgirl

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Fit for a faerie queen to wear on Midsummer's Eve. Tovah's review is brilliant - not much I can add other than "yes, yes, yes!" I feel fortunate that it works on my skin, as it is evidently capricious in its affections.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Tovah on 7/30/2007 12:21:00 AM more reviews by Tovah

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Olive, Warm   Hair: Red, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

L'ete en douce is one of the most beautiful fragrances I'd ever dreamed of owning, and it's almost magical to me. It is the smell of a lazy, soft summer day, with hay, and cut grass, and linden and flowers. I swear you can smell the rays of the sunshine! If you enjoy D'Orsay Tilleul, you will LOVE this scent. It's similar, but greener, fresher, and dreamier. If you are familiar with D'Humeur Reveuse, or Extrait de Songe, you already know this ethereal, precious fragrance. If a Holy Grail were obtainable, this may very well be mine. Lasting power is excellent. L'ete en douce, like other Olivia Giacobetti fragrances, completely transports me to another place and time, or into the perfect dream. Absolutely exquisite.

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*TOP REVIEWER* veruska on 7/21/2007 1:34:00 AM more reviews by veruska

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

The blast of astrigent menthol toothpaste is what opens the perfume.It's a bit peppery green but with that slightly fake aspect.Then you get a thin transparent orange blossom mixed with a sweet melon like fruit.Not really what i expected but at this point the perfume is joyful and radiant.And then disaster strikes!SOAPISSIMO.A huge white bar of soap that smell of ....well soap.It's the kind of soap that i remember from my childhood but i don't seek that kind of trip in memory lane from L'Artisans.At least not now.The perfume doesn't change so much till it's fade out,maybe it gains a shadow of light woodines but by then you really know that PdN Eau d'Ete is the only summer in a bottle.

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