Eau Fraîche Dior 1953

Some time ago, I received a birthday package from a dear friend who loves perfume. Among other things, there was a bottle of Eau Fraiche. This Chypre was on my wish list, and the lovely Ms. E. from E. was sure that I would immensely enjoy this scent. Indeed, I do, and I say thank you once again!!! I’m considering how I can reciprocate; scent-wise, she is well taken care of, perhaps with beef filet and chew sticks for her little furry friend..?

Eau Fraiche is by Edmond Roudnitska, a perfumer to whom we owe many fragrance classics that I appreciate, such as Eau Sauvage, Dioressence, Miss Dior, Moustache, to name just a few. Eau Fraiche is said to be the predecessor of Eau Sauvage, which is also in my collection. To put it directly, I prefer Eau Fraiche; it touches my heart and has more warmth.

Eau Fraiche opens with a fresh blend of lemon and orange, with the fruity-sweet orange ensuring that the scent does not become too sour. It quickly warms up with a spicy creaminess and a woody note that does not interfere with the fragrance's freshness. Eau Fraiche lingers for a little while, ending in a rather mild oak moss base, as is typical for a Chypre, only lightly sweetened by tonka or vanilla. If I had to assign a color to the fragrance, it would be light green.

Longevity and sillage are weak to medium; I can perceive Eau Fraiche for about 3 - 4 hours before I need to reapply. I don’t see the volatility as too much of a drawback; a summer scent should not weigh heavily on the skin but rather float delicately. Additionally, I find that lighter fragrances tend to cling better to warm skin in the summer, at least that’s the case for me.

Although my favorite season is autumn, with... morning fog that slowly dissipates, making way for the waning rays of sunshine that bathe the orange-green-red colored trees in a warm light... I even look forward to summer with Eau Fraiche, as long as it doesn’t exceed 25 degrees...