Reviews of L'Ombre dans L'Eau (1983)
by Diptyque

To me, this smelled like ferns and rose geraniums... tossed in a dumpster and left to rot. Pungent and unpleasant.

At first quite nice a scent, especially the fascinating turn from the starting note, which is a little crispy, almost pine–like, to the perfectly authentic smell of heavy roses after some moments. But all in all it does not last too long and leaves a somehow morbid old lady–like smell at least on my skin. A perfume I would never recommend to a young man, at least if he does not feel like an impersonator of the late Judy Garland.

I just can't seem to hitch a ride on the Diptyque love train, and this widely loved Diptyque scent hammers that home for me. While not unpleasant - as in sour, musty, dusty, dour - like some rose scents can be, L'Ombre dans L'Eau smells so basic and straightforward to my nose that it just leaves me unstirred. Fresh, dewy young rose meets some green notes. Boom, the end. I don't get any black currant, no earthy notes, no nuance whatsoever beyond buds and leaves. I've really made an effort with Diptyque scents but they just don't cut it for me. Recently I happened across a shop that was selling a few Diptyque scents, including this L'Ombre, at dramatically discounted prices. I'm talking around $15 a bottle. And I STILL couldn't get myself to buy any of them; if that's not my subconscious telling me, "Calchic, you really hate these, you won't admit it but you really hate these," then I don't know what is!