Reviews of L'Eau de L'Artisan (1993)
by L'Artisan Parfumeur

Contrary to some of the other reviews here, I find that l'eau de l'Artisan progresses through three quite distinct stages, rather an accomplishment for a fragrance that maintains its light eau de toilette quality throughout. The topnotes are a bouquet of bright, fresh, green herbs. Soon after the fragrance settles into a grassy, almost hay-like middle stage that is almost totally devoid of sweetness. In the drydown, the verbena finally comes to dominate and the fragrance finishes off with a touch of sweetened lemon. It is definitely drier and less moist than Eau de Guerlain, probably its closest counterpart, but a wonderful fragrance for lovely spring days.

Lemon, verbena, basil, mint
This is as light and refreshing as a breeze on a sunny day! The ingredients are simple and true to type. They are rendered in a cheerful, tonic and yet delicate style. The lemon and basil are excellent, with verbena complimenting and bridging those two notes and adding a typical baked bread note. The mint and basil combine to give a leafy herbal cool green air.

This is an excellent, natural light citrus/herbal scent, that seems to combine some of the top notes of the classic eau de colognes (think Colonia's topnotes), the green-ness of Sisley's Eau De Campagne, even a small taste of Creed's Selection Verte. I feel as if it should have a slightly stronger base, but that is just me. It likely appeals to a wider audience being just what it is. As typical of L'Artisans it smells 100% natural, and well blended and proportioned. Thumbs up.

You know what this reminds me of?

The smell of a luxury hotel -- and their hotel soap.

This is light, fresh, green, and really easy to wear. Safe, but good. I prefer this over Mugler Cologne.

To my nose, this was all grass and... some other hard to distinguish stuff. Smells really good though, like clean grass and light lemony soap. Nothing to write home about but nice, and goes well under the radar. If you like this, but aren’t intrigued, try Mugler cologne. It’s similar, much sexier, but a little more synthetic and lime-y.

Unfortunately, after a while I noticed something in this that is very bothersome… there is this chemical note in it that wears off with time, but MAN is it ever gross. Is it cinnamon floor cleaner? Acetone? I’m having a hard time describing it but all I can say it makes me not want to wear this. Rather ironic since otherwise, this smells so natural! What a shame...

7/10

Rather mundane for a niche perfumery HOWEVER this stuff is amazing just like about every other "Eau de Something or Other". This one stands out a bit with a harsh mildly abrasive citrus that lasts and lasts and I find it quite charming. Very much on the dry side and is rather quite pleasant. Good stuff.

What is this? A "safe" offering from L'Artisan? Say it aint so! This scent is fresh and completely inoffensive, and frankly, doesn't really show the typical cunning that the rest of L'Artisan's offerings do. Most of what I get is a lemony-soap smell and grass. It's nice, but is it really worth niche money? Considering there are better scents in the same family, namely Mugler Cologne, I submit that it is not.

This is my first purchase of a L'Artisan product. How natural! The ingredients must be top-notch. The citrus opening and the "clean-green-and oh so mean" dry-down impress me no end. I've purchased this for my wife, who enjoys fresh smelling fragrances but I can see myself wearing this one as well. Classy, a cut above.

A very grassy, fresh, summery scent. Reminds me of Eau de Christian Tortu. Beautiful indeed! A very unique green scent that's not overwhelming. The sillage is just perfect. Bravo!

L'Eau de L'Artisan in a bright, crisp green scent, perfect for spring or summer. Very similar to Miracle Homme L'Aquatonic, except without being sharp or astringent. IMO, the higher quality ingredients and the artful blending justify the higher price point, but if you were on a budget, you could probably find a bottle of L'Aquatonic on eBay for about $20.

Very likeable, very refreshing, very green and citrusy, without any jarring or artificial "fresh" notes. I'm not sure it's interesting enough to buy for me who love dark and complex perfumes, but for someone who doesn't really like perfume or who's sensitive to strong smells this is the ideal scent. Unlike so many "fresh" aquatic/ozone scents people mistakenly believe can't be overapplied this one really can't. I usually use a swipe or two from the sample vial, but I've been pouring L'eau all over myself all day. No, it does not have much "throw" or "longevity", but that's not a matter of quality, it's just not that type of scent. For what it is, it's lovely!

This one receives a thumbs up because it's a great scent - very unisex. However, for the money I would try Clarins Eau Dynamisante treatment fragrance. It's very similar & MUCH more affordable!

Very light grassy fragrance, although it is very alike Eau de Campaigne, by Sisley. I love them both!

Along with Malle's Vetiver Extraordinaire, this one is one of my favorite non-sweet, deeply green scents. As others have mentioned, it is very grassy and crisp, but with no florals. I enjoy it in spring and summer best, but also sometimes on a winter day when I want to be reminded of nicer weather. My only complaint is that it doesn't last longer on me (it disappears too quickly), but while it's there it is wonderful.

The overwhelmingly natural quality of L'Eau de L'Artisan launches it light years past the dearth of average fragrances in this category. I don't think this would be evident from a sample. I only began to relish its organic, green bliss after a week of wearing it often (in the summer). I found it to have a most agreeable basil note which does smell very green but not so obviously grassy as others have noted.
I couldn't agree more with opalsdad that, "this makes one realize what crap most fragrances houses are foisting on the public".
Re: the "menstral" component: I find myself to be sensitive to that odor as well. I wonder if it's a gay guy thing? Although, I don't find it here. I do see where the verbena/basil accord could possibly lean that way but thankfully it just doesn't go there for me.
It is quite linear and it is not as wholly complex as other L'Artisans, yes, but if you really love citrus/aromatic (green) combinations there's none so real and uplifting.

lemon verbena mint basil

ok I have a realllly weird comment, but I'm serious.

the smell of a woman... that is actually left behind sometimes in bathrooms, that I sometimes smell on public transportation, I've always wondered, being a gay guy, if this mystery lady scent has something to do with menstruation, or products used for feminine hygiene?

I smell grass too but I definitely get that mysterious girl smell...

even so I dislike it less than most fragrances!

The citrus notes quickly disappear leaving a tiny sprig of mint and a whole field of grass. And there it stays. This is another scent that feels like watching grass grow. Somehow, I don’t think that the odor of grass—as clean and lovely as it is—can be engaging over a prolonged period. L’Eau de L’Artisan, beautifully constructed and sensitively accomplished, is just not as interesting as the other L’Artisans, and this is unfortunate because it is a graceful, long-lasting fragrance. It is a strange vessel to be named the flagship of the fleet.

If you love the smell of freshly cut grass you will enjoy L'Eau de L'Artisan. It's remarkable in its ability to capture the scent of the liquid that oozes from blades of grass when they're cut, and it transports me to childhood summer days when it seemed like somebody in the neighborhood was cutting grass every day. The sound of lawnmowers was the backdrop to everything and piles of cut grass blew on the breeze and scented the air. This isn't a fragrance I'd wear, but I definitely admire it.

A clean light and grassy fragrance with a touch of citrus. It makes me think of warmer weather.

There IS a lot of grass in here, but also, at least IMO a hint of fresh mint. It is light and very clean. I really like it!

Sadly, disappointing...nothing more than a run-of-the-mill eau fraiche. Grassy, yes, fresh, yes, sparkling, yes...Intriguing - no.

Smells very good and fresh, but I could not help thinking that if I walked past someone who was facing the other direction, that they would think a woman had walked past. As a male, it's not really the impression I want to leave behind.

It's very grassy indeed, but I find it less inspiring compared to the other L'artisans. It's a nice clean scent, but it doesn't really conjure up any memories or emotions. For a niche fragrance, it doesn't really stand out from all the designer scents if you ask me. It's nice, but not unique IMO.

Lemon, grass, basil and, at least to this nose, cucumber. It's a sparklingly bright and delicious summer scent.

Beautiful green. Not overwhelming or synthetic.

L'Artisan Parfumeurs take on the classic cologne was bound to be original, as everything else they do. And of course it is. Just like Bwp pointed out L'Eau de L'Artisan is indeed very grassy. It smells fresh and lasts for ages (especially for a edc). Top notch, as expected.

a wonderful, inspiring, uplifting scent that is great for anytime, but especially spring and summer. Very clean and fresh with a wonderful note of fresh-cut grass. Has a very crisp out-of-the-shower feel to it that is inviting and casual for a day out and about, just something I enjoy smelling all the time. Neither perfume-y or cologne-y, this just captures the essence of a beautiful, sunny spring day. Sounds sappy but true! One of my all-time favorites.

This is what a light, fresh and clean fragrance should be and light-years ahead of the usual scents in this catagory. Ideal for a Summer afternoon. It makes one realize what crap most fragrances houses are foisting on the public.