L'Eau by Laura (1995)
by Laura Ashley

LAURA ASHLEY l’eau EdT (w) Rare & Discontinued.

This symphonic, aromatic floral (created in 1994; launched in ’95 under the supervision of Paul Sebastian) is a perfume I love to wear in the spring. The sprightly top notes of lemon and petitgrain are a lovely introduction to a heart dominated by lavender and carnation. The base is very subtle, and serves mainly to fix the top and base notes. As the top notes on this perfume are truly a part of the beauty, it is imperative to locate a bottle that has been stored properly. Top notes are often delicate and subject to deterioration more than the sturdy resins and musks found in the bases of perfumes.

Ingredients for l’eau include:

Top Notes of: Lemon, Mandarin, Petitgrain, & Rosemary

Middle Notes of: Jasmine, Lavender, Lily of the Valley, Carnation

Base Notes of: Patchouli, Sandal, Moss, Tonka


Laura Ashley’s older perfumes- No.1 No. 2, l’eau. Emma, & Dilys-have a cult following, and with good reason. Probably some of the prettiest perfumes ever made, they are still available online from time to time. Online auctions are mobbed by bidders and there is nary a bargain to be seen. (Martecci’s Fine Fragrances has actually re-synthesized some of them through molecular analysis and reconstruction.) These first perfumes have no connection to the current Ashley releases; Ashley’s husband Bernard personally oversaw their creations. Sadly, subsequent issues with distributor Alfin (until ’93), quality control, shop closures, majority Malaysian ownership, and ties to tele-evangelist Pat Robertson have sullied the reputation of LA and brought the quality of its products to outlet-store levels.