L'Ombre dans l'eau

In 1961, three friends (Christiane Gautrot, Yves Coueslant and Desmond Knox-Leet) from the “Beaux Arts” (a famous art school in Paris) got together to open a boutique where they sold their printed fabrics and an eclectic "mélange" of decorative items. Then in 1963, the enthusiasm of the three founders for perfumes and creation led them to create their first line of scented candles and  later, their very own perfume line which has proven to be one of the most sought-after cult perfume brands.

Their creations stem from memories of their travels through the Mediterranean and Near East mostly. They conjure up images of the Greek hot summer days, but also an orchard of limes and tangerines, the clear morning of a classical Latin landscape, noon in the countryside or the scent of a green riverside garden.


Carefully selected essences, a sober black and white design, with elegant lettering and stylish drawings are the unmistakable hallmark of Diptyque products. All the Diptyque fragrances are natural, whether they are woodsy, spicy, green, floral or fruity. It is Diptyque's proudest accomplishment to have never used a synthetic fragrance in developing its products. This happened to be what Miss B read of Diptyque back in early 2000 in Wallpaper Magazine (they were talking about Diptyque candles though...) and Miss B had since lusted after a bottle of Diptyque.

Then in 2004, Miss B happened to be in Paris and she got her first bottle of Diptyque L'Ombre dans l'eau and immediately fell in love with it and by about early 2005, Miss B's bottle of L'Ombre dans l'eau finally breathed its last drop of perfumed vapour and Miss B has since: 1) had problem buying Diptyque in Singapore 2) been too broke (like all cult perfume, it's not cheap) to buy another one while on tour (say in Melbourne or Hong Kong)....3) had other "scential" affairs with other perfumes (like 9 million different ones)

But on 19 February 2010, while pacing at Lane Crawford beauty hall at Pacific Place prior to meeting BB, Miss B finally replaced and bought a new bottle of Diptyque L'Ombre dans l'eau and once again, fell in love with it once more. And Miss B is super glad that BB finds it rather nice too. Miss B's memory of L'Ombre dans l'eau was once again refreshed and she's mesmerised by the wonderful mix of its unique and whimsical mix of blackcurrent leaves and bulgarian rose....the scent of a green riverside garden.

L'Ombre dans L'Eau has an arresting opening: crisp, bitter green notes of blackcurrent leaf jump up and kick your nose around a bit, just to make sure you're awake. These are followed almost immediately by a very clear, three dimensional rose note, which soon blends with the green to form the heart of the fragrance. What comes to mind is a rose growing in wet earth....a very nice warm comforting scent...
This is a dark rose scent, more masculine than unisex (Diptyque sells it as a unisex perfume but I think BB will think it's too feminine and won't use it) to my nose, and with an element of danger hovering deep in the shadowy background (thus "L'Ombre"). Perfect for me who shuns all girly sweet and saccarine-laced rose scents but yet wants a nice rose fragrance...Bliss.....especially when BB is around to sniff it too....oh...and I think I have a new perfume waiting for me in Singapore courtesy of BB...will blog about it when I get my hands on it :)