Menthe Fraiche / Fresh Mint / Eau de Menthe
by Heeley

This is just an absolutely fantastic mint scent and by far the most natural I have smelled to date. It smells exactly like a high quality mint tea I enjoy drinking (and smelling). The scent is relatively simple and does not develop much. It is called fresh mint, and that is what it delivers. Mint fragrance seekers can stop right here and seek this one out as it will most likely wind up as their reference mint scent. Unfortunately, the price on this one is pretty steep in relative terms, and the scent is very short-lived. Those negatives make purchasing a full bottle a more difficult decision, but from a sheer quality perspective this is a tremendous release from Heeley and shows they know what they are doing.

12nd October, 2011.

An unpretentious (but successful) attempt to create a non-toothpaste mint fragrance. Lemony-mint on top (smells much like verbena and mint) on a smooth and very natural cedarwood/musky base. Mission accomplished.

25th September, 2011.

A singular and powerfully unique interpretation of Mint.

10th July, 2011.

Heeley's Menthe Fraîche tosses off one of the few interpretations of its title note that doesn't smell of mouthwash, cough drops, or toothpaste,* capturing instead the leafy, astringent, and savory qualities of mint. Unfortunately the mint effect is, quite literally, a flash of brilliance. It’s magnificent while it endures, but gone within minutes. The mild clean musk skin scent that remains in its wake does nothing for me. Brilliant and disappointing in equal measure.

*See Maître Parfumeur et Gantier’s Jardin du Nil and Frédéric Malle’s Géranium pour Monsieur for further examples.

8th July, 2011. (Last Edited: 9th July, 2011.)

As the other reviews say: Minty fresh and clean. Menthe Fraiche is an enjoyably fresh minty fragrance. The mint is supported first by maté and later by a green tea note and finally by a light white cedar note. I particularly enjoy the full green richness that maté supplies to a fragrance, and maté works especially well in combination with the mint and cedar. Menthe Fraiche is quite linear, but that’s all right because the accords are so enjoyable. Soft projection and, for a mint fragrance… decent longevity.

22nd June, 2011.

Menthe Fraiche is true to its name: a fresh mint fragrance. This one cannot hide the toothpast aspects of mint, but it cleverly mix it with the more green aroma of mint leaves, resulting in a fresh herbal opening, slightly citrus. The mint accord, as usual, doesn`t last too long, and leave space for a transparent woody scent, with something slightly tea-ish, and a vegetal woody accord. Seems perfect for summer hot days and tottaly adequate for wearing it at work without bothering anyone.

14th February, 2011.