Lavande Poivre Noir

L'Occitan / Eau de L'Occitan

L'Occitane en Provence 2005

At first, I was thrilled by some scents from L'Occitane. For example, I sprayed L'Eau de L'Occitane and Eau de Cade at the airport and was blissful that I didn't smell like all the other chemicals in the duty-free area. With a naturally fresh top note, this Provençal water pleasantly stood out from what I had previously sprayed on some test strips.

And yes: I have a generally favorable view of the brand and its EDTs, especially since the price is quite reasonable compared to niche fragrances (about €50 for 100 ml). So, I quickly became a fan of L'Occitane, also because I feel like a nature-loving guy with this brand and not just a typical marketing victim.

However, I particularly like the top note of L'Eau de L'Occitane, which accompanied me in a sprightly, fresh, and natural way through boarding. After landing, about three hours later, I thought to myself (just like back then with Eau de Cade ... I should revise my comment on that): This scent is undoubtedly good, delivers what it promises, fits me as a hiker in Crete (where I had just come from), but let's be honest: Arriving in Cologne and even to this day, it just seems completely unsexy to me!

L'Occitane actually did everything right and didn't lie about their marketing promise. It's just that I personally don't feel good about smelling like a singed lavender bush in the presence of my colleagues and/or friends. A great scent when I'm outside in nature, but do I want to smell like that myself? That's the big question! Fellow travelers wrinkled their noses and said: If you like it!?

When I go hiking, I don't need any "incense" and I enjoy the unbeatable scents of nature. However, in everyday life, it feels strange to smell as if I've just emerged from a herb garden, even though I do like the scent itself. Maybe that's it: L'Eau de L'Occitane is more of a smell than a fragrance (in my nose, of course) ... Somehow it fits me, but unfortunately not in company!