Diptyque • L Ombre Dans L Eau • Fragrances

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shaktigal on 9/23/2008 5:31:00 AM more reviews by shaktigal

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Rose and more rose are dominating here, nothing much else goes on. Rather bland, boring and forgettable. However, its not a horrible scent as such and i think the sample vial will make a perfect little present for a little girl who likes perfume and girly things..

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freudianslipup on 8/29/2008 11:39:00 PM more reviews by freudianslipup

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I really liked L'Ombre Dans L'eau this spring; it was beautiful and feminine with a certain shade to it which, I feel, prevented it from becoming staid and placid. It stayed, as some previous reviewers acknowledged, true to its name and worth of its beauty. However, over the summer, it started to smell like dead leaves on me, and I contemplated just giving up on what was once a beautiful scent. However now that autumn grows closer and my bottle grows emptier, it's developing into a sweeter, more faded version of the beautiful bright blackcurrant leaf/rose accord. This evening, after some fun with my friends, it even started smelling like a delicious honey nectar on my skin during the dry down. It started to smell like fall. Fancy that, a fragrance that changes with the seasons! Perhaps Summer and Winter constitute that shadow on the water. I've loved this fragrance - just see which seasons it works with on you. When it works well, it's magic (I've gotten several actual compliments (not comments) on this beauty); when it doesn't, it breaks your heart. I find it worth the risk.

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LianH on 8/10/2008 10:33:00 AM more reviews by LianH

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

It starts very sharp, almost painful. It's very green and floral, after some time it settles down and the green smells just damp and wet and the unidentified floral becomes a rose.

It's very fresh and light, not heavy at all and a little tragic. It's not a cheerful, happy go lucky smell.

It's beautiful but a tragic beauty and I don't think this mood will strike me often so for me its not worth buying a bottle.

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*TOP REVIEWER* 52pigtails on 7/31/2008 2:50:00 AM more reviews by 52pigtails

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

Mmmm... This should be a great scent for rose lovers, because the Bulgarian rose is absolutely TRIUMPHANT here. Yet, there isn't much more in it to give it some volume, and the smell stays linear and quite sharp, boringly unaltered until the end. Essentially, this smells of crushed rose stems and juicy, green leaves, while I can also detect some clear pine resin (and this I think is the only salvific note in the fragrance). I can't see why would anyone smell like a strong rose with astringent green leaves underneath (they're said to be blackcurrant leaves): it's definitely unsexy and unpersonal, like a lawyer's office fragranced with some new Glade home spray.
Honestly, I can't imagine any person wearing this fragrance and I can't say what impression this person could leave on me. 2 lippies instead of one because the fragrance is well done, but not for me.

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Dayna on 12/17/2007 2:32:00 PM more reviews by Dayna

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

First spray: Bitter acidic green. After 10 minutes or so it mellows into a beautiful crushed rose. Petals, leaves, and stems.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Gingerbreadgirl on 11/10/2007 2:32:00 PM more reviews by Gingerbreadgirl

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

1.) Take twelve dozen gorgeous red roses, flush and ripe and huge with velvety depth. 2.) Place in large clear crystal vase, fill with water. Leave on windowsill for a week or more, forgetting to change the water. When the roses wilt and you finally do pull them out, the vase water will have the exact scent of L'Ombre Dans L'Eau. Roses, decomposing greens, an algeous herbal water elevated by the essence of the rose. It's a replica of the water from a vase of Edward roses. Yes, it does smell slightly funereal and melancholy, there's no denying that. But it's simply gorgeous. This is complex emotion in a bottle - love, loss, hope, mystery. This is a perfume to inspire short stories, inspired translations of Eluard poems, even a novel. One of the best I've tried so far. ETA: this doesn't last terribly long on me - and the drydown is almost ashy, dusty, more the reminiscence of rose than actually the smell of rose. Yet, even as I write this, it blooms again, as if rekindled by my attention, the warmth of my breath. It really is a remarkable scent that tells a complete story from beginning to end. I love it. Highly recommend.

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*TOP REVIEWER* themeglet on 8/20/2007 3:27:00 AM more reviews by themeglet

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

Diptyque is currently pulling some odd tricks on my nose. My first umpteen sniffs of L'Ombre were disturbing... I smelled sharp, dank, muddy, rosy, and green. This was offensive; I didn't want to smell sharp, dank, muddy, rose, and green. Yet my recent scented "reminders" of how much I adore the smell of pond water and rose did something odd to my brain. Now, L'Ombre rocks my world (and, very soon, I'm sure, my pockets too...) It's rose and pond water. Seriously, who could wish for more?!

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*TOP REVIEWER* ella343 on 7/14/2007 3:11:00 AM more reviews by ella343

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I can see why Diptyque L'Ombre Dans L'Eau ($70) is described as a "riverside garden". No fruit at all, but that agrees with me as I absolutely loathe fruity scents. It is a floral scent, insofar that rose is central, but leaves must grow particularly luxuriant in this garden, making blooms all the more rarer. It is at first so green that it is rather sharp and bitter rather than clean and crisp (reminiscent of tomato leaves), but that soon dissipates into a rich true rose (on my skin, the rose is quite pronounced), but a very, very reserved one that avoids the traditional associations. I can imagine a beautiful man wearing this, certainly I would wear it, and I am really not a fan of rose, because I find it clouds my senses, but this is quite refreshing, like the cool that follows a rainstorm. It is also quite dark and damp, ever so slightly sinister, as is quite proper: "The Shadow in the Water".

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*TOP REVIEWER* SensualSusanna on 7/9/2007 7:36:00 PM more reviews by SensualSusanna

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

L'Ombre dans L'eau ('Shadow Water') is a fragrance I would love for my collection. It's a watery -- almost ethereal garden of lush roses tall green grasses and wet earth.. It smells as lovely and soulfully refreshing as a glass of chardonay in a rose garden on a warm summer day. Just lovely.

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*TOP REVIEWER* darkharbour on 6/24/2007 3:57:00 PM more reviews by darkharbour

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I was startled to sense so little rose. What I sense is a fresh, utterly green aroma of a privet hedge, ivy, and a mid-day forest edge. There is a soft floral undercurrent, but it is more wildflower than rose. A friend of warm, sultry days. Perfect for summer. Not at all serious. Glides through the sunshine with an engmatic smile. La Giaconda might have smelled like this.

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dotttB on 2/17/2007 11:58:00 PM more reviews by dotttB

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

I personally dont care for this, the smell reminds me of funeral flowers and cemetaries. VERY floral but the notes in it just remind me of one of those huge sympathy wreaths. Sorry, lol.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Gita1 on 2/9/2007 3:40:00 PM more reviews by Gita1

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I really enjoy this rose! It is crisp, refreshing and happy. I love its green soapiness. Yet it is still very rosey on me. It is not a classic perfumey type rose scent. It is uplifting and herbal. I agree with all the positive comments already posted here. It does renew itself somehow throughout the day. I love a perfume that I can stick my nose in and not withdraw with a headache or queasiness - this is quality and beauty! Amen.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ewojdula on 1/3/2007 10:54:00 AM more reviews by ewojdula

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Like many of the Diptyques, this starts with a blast of dry, startling, eye-opening incense on me, which dries down to a warm, green, and beautiful rosey frag. The concoction is dense and syrupy yet dry. The only other frag I've tried that I get this dense/dry/syrupy combo from is AG Lavende. Once you get past the incense phase, what remains is very sweet, very green, transporting, unique, and beautiful. Whiffs of incense will occasionally reappear and then enhance and play against the dense black current leaf and Bulgarian rose notes beautifully and perfectly. Ombre Dans L'eau seems to recharge itself. Its beauty, uniqueness, and lasting power are the attributes that enable it to earn 5 lippies from me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* MellyHelly on 9/21/2006 7:14:00 PM more reviews by MellyHelly

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

More than 2 years later my first encounter with L'Ombre dans l'Eau, my perception of it changed dramatically!
In my previous review I wrote that I didn't like this scent, but still it had something that reminded me of myself. Strange thing.
Now I enjoy it much better, but more for sniffing purpose than as a personal perfume. There is a vegetal, plant quality which is very audacious in fragrance.
I noticed that Dyptyque is more interested in creating "odours" rather than scents, with a focus on conjuring an vision, more than a simple smell comfort.
There is something very mysterious in L'OdlE that makes me think of deep pond where you can't see the bottom, surrounded my wild pink and red roses and flowers and oversweet berries in a dark enchanted forest with very tall tree and some strong sun rays piercing the darkness creating sparkling effects in the air. The heart of Mother Earth.
This is a side of myself. The other one is the sun.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ayala on 8/5/2006 12:45:00 PM more reviews by ayala

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

A watercolour painting can portray a complete scent with lighting and emotion with just a few simple strokes of colour-stains. A good storyteller can shutter ones emotions and make one’s imagination wonder to unknown lands while using very few simple adjectives to describe them…
L’Ombre Dans l’Eau does it by using only a few simple notes to conjure a full story with colours, textures and emotions: It smells like the eternal summer at the riverside garden - The Flower Garden of the Woman Who Could Conjure – a chapter in the great story by Hans Christian Anderson “The Snow Queen”.

This scent makes me feel like little Gerda gliding with her boat along the river, running barefoot in the endless summer of the flower garden of the woman who could conjure, and talking to the roses arose from the mud…

Tomatoes, roses and earth, summer and honeybees humming and buzzing around sticky juice dripping from the berries on the vine. How can these greens and berries and dirt and roses be so smooth and opulent is beyond my understanding. There are only few notes that create this scene: a cheerful and energetic green tomato leaf, lush, red and soft roses at full bloom at the warmth of the sun, tart redcurrants and a fertile, moist soil of patchouli and oakmoss. That’s it.

I will not add a single word, Anderson said it much better than I could ever possibly could.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Sashayy on 5/12/2006 10:59:00 AM more reviews by Sashayy

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Curly   Eyes: Green    

I totally agree with Maller's review below and her description of this as only marginally a rose scent. This is far closer to the crisp fresh green scents of Hermes' Un Jardin series than it is to the roses of Les Rosines or even KM's Damascena. Though this bears a passing resemblance to Damascena on me, in that it has an equivalent crispness, this scent is all about the fresh greenery and the lake than it is about flowers.
With that said, it's a beautifully blended scent that has various moods as it dries down. It starts pungent, bracing, dry, then as it hits the middle notes a note of sweetness curls around the bracing quality and a hint of oxygenated water emerges, along with a distinctively green yet indefinable scent. On my skin, it is almost like a branch of an orange tree broken off with a single orange left on it. Though there isn't supposed to be citrus in this, on my chemistry, there is a distinctive citrus note among the greenery and air and water and faint hint of roses. But these are wild roses, the ones that grow wantonly along the old farm roads of the Canadian prairies, not the cultivated delicate hothouse ones of a florist shop.
While I wouldn't say I love this fragrance on me, I do find it haunting, compelling. It draws me in and whispers frequently to me as something that somehow matches aspects of my self. The mystery is partly why I like it so much. Definitely full bottle worthy.

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oberon21 on 4/5/2006 6:36:00 AM more reviews by oberon21

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

beautiful scent for everybody who loves roses ,i find this better suitable on men skin but it is definitely unisex

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kealle on 3/17/2006 12:03:00 PM more reviews by kealle

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

Lately I've been craving green scents. Maybe it's because I'm not a floral gal; and so when the approaching spring sends others flitting to their La Chasse aux Papillions, the closest I get is a craving for sappy greens. The timing must be responsible for me taking to this scent this time around. I know I sniffed it months ago and immediately passed it by as just not my type of scent (typically, only woods and incenses and ambers make the cut). Now I'm discovering new virtues. L'Ombre dans L'Eau reminds me a lot of Chanel #19, another longtime favorite for those rare moments of craving green. On me #19 is all green rose, no iris or leather; and so you can see how this scent of leaves and Bulgarian rose would echo the Chanel. But this one is less polished and perfume-ified to my nose; although it's strong, it has a more natural aggression rather than the super-manufactured Chanel-y-ness. It has a slightly fruity crispness that makes me think of grapefruit and berries; and it has a definite soapy-clean snap about it. The lasting power... poor. I do have a theory that bathing with soaps and shower gels of this scent would be the most refreshing summer purification ever, leaving you feeling clean and confident at the same time.

UPDATE: Okay, wow, this one is just too much for me. That potent sharpness never really stops punching me in the eye.

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land_cruiser on 3/6/2006 6:22:00 PM more reviews by land_cruiser

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Olive   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I must be extremely lucky but I do get a wonderful, the most true rose scent ever in this fragrance. L'ombre is quite cold and crispy while first applied, just like the true scent of blackcurrant leaves. but as long as I wait it changes, gets a bit warmer. And then the rose comes out. It has been hiding behind the trees, the bushes but now it's time has come. This is the best rose scent I've ever tried! Unlike most Rosines that just don't agree with me, this one is the perfect etherial scent of the rosest roses ever. This miraculous metamorphoses is so unpredictable that every time it happens I stand almost breathless trying not to loose every single moment.
The fragrance lasts quite a while, especially that rose note, to my great pleasure.

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LoveSmell on 1/26/2006 2:40:00 PM more reviews by LoveSmell

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

Every time I try l'Ombre dans l'Eau, I get my hopes up. It starts off with such promising rose/clove/green notes, I think maybe this time it will work out differently. But each time, after ten minutes, I'm wearing...jam. It has to be personal chemistry; the same thing happens with with Sa Majeste la Rose, and especially with Ce Soir ou Jamais (which I think of as 'Ce Soir ou Jammy'). Sigh. I will leave l'Ombre to those for whom the rose sings...till the end.

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