Après L'ondée (1906)
by Guerlain

I will not attempt to describe the notes of Apres L'ondee because my perfume vocabulary is simply not sufficient. All I know is that this it is a beyond beautiful fragrance that is both delicate yet resolute at the same time. It is a shame that someone who themselves admit to be unknowledgeable in perfumery would rate this negatively. The chutzpah necessary for anyone but an expert to even try to rate a work of art such as this is astounding.

I received a sample and immediately went to the one online site I knew to carry it. Sold out. My father was visiting NYC and called me from Guerlain to surprise me. He offered me one bottle as a gift, and without hesitation I asked for Apres L'ondee.

All I can say is that I urge anyone reading this to seek out a sample and marvel at its beauty.

Lovely, delicate creamy violet. Woody and clear, it dries down to an almost ice-cream smoothness. Unfortunately, the EDT fades very quickly.

I feel bad rating this one low, given its reputation and my relative lack of experience with fragrance. But I like to think it is not merely let-down after reading the myriad glowing reviews. It certainly sounds for all the world like something I would like. But my nose does not tell me "melancholy" when I smell this cloying, powdery foo foo. It absolutely does not tell me "rain showers," nor "twilight."

My nose tells me "Pampers."

Apres l'Ondee is anything but "the sunshine after the rain". It is painfully beautiful and whispers ominous news to anyone who will listen. This is the only Guerlain fragrance that should be sold in the EDT only (a disturbing trend in fragrances such as Vol de Nuit). I am not a huge fan of florals, but this one should not be missed. It is such a mystery...it relays the impression of Spring that will never become Summer. It's cool aloofness makes it unusual for a Guerlain. A truly unique experience!

First time I smelled this was around the corner of the Amsterdam Red Light District, which was an exercise in romantic irony.

Just imagine the contrast between the pale, soft spoken, melancholy beauty of Apres L'ondee and the loud, seedy, stale-beer-and-unwashed-bum-smell of the world's number one whore's quarter.

For a moment, Apres L'ondee cleared the way of pain, despair, fake smiles and drunken nihilistic stupidity. Unlike anything I've smelled, it made me feel deeply sad and joyful at the same time.

I cannot say it any better than JaimeB! To his eloquent review I can only add how perfectly the aniseed note is presented ~ breathtaking! A timeless masterpiece that any perfume lover should seek out, sniff, marvel and appreciate!