Eau de Rochas Fraîche Rochas 2010

My grandmother always had a small bottle of 4711 in her handbag, sometimes also Tosca. These fragrances served not only as perfume. They also provided refreshment that one would fan onto oneself on hot days, and when dabbed on a handkerchief, they were good for wiping sticky fingers or for rubbing away stains that had somehow appeared on clothing while on the go. Last but not least, they were used to ward off bad odors and to disinfect seemingly bacteria-laden objects before touching them. Even small injuries were disinfected on the go with 4711 or Tosca.

They say that sooner or later, one inevitably becomes like their parents. For me, it's different. I am becoming like my grandmother. What 4711 and Tosca were to my grandmother, Eau de Rochas Fraîche is to me.
But as befits a true secret star, Eau de Rochas Fraîche kept me in the dark about the true circumstances for a long time.

I could have noticed it last year when I bought my bottle. I spontaneously and enthusiastically decided on the 220ml splash bottle. But usually, one sees the beam in their own eye last.
And so it only struck me this autumn: I was packing for a train journey, luggage that I also had to carry at times. So everything heavy had to go. Restrictions also applied to perfumes: only plastic travel sprays and preferably only 2-3 fragrances, possibly also small manufacturer samples in plastic. I changed the fragrance selection at least 10 times. And it became clear to me: Eau de Rochas Fraîche definitely has to come along. But why exactly? It was a scent for the height of summer. A fresh scent, as the name suggests. Only then did I realize: Eau de Rochas Fraîche is not only always suitable but also for everything.

Initially, I really just used it as a fragrance, and I liked it very much as such.
In the opening, with the typical Eau de Cologne freshness of bergamot and orange blossom of the gentlest, most harmonious kind, a slightly powdery note soon joins in. This iris powder is also delicate and light and gives the sprightliness of the still perceptible bergamot some grounding and support. Throughout the heart note, the scent remains light, citrusy, and fresh, but the iris adds a bit more calm than such a citrusy, light fragrance would otherwise convey. The initially strong sillage quickly melts away with the heart note, and I can only perceive Eau de Rochas Fraîche close to the body or with strong movement. This is wonderful in summer; you refresh yourself briefly and are then not overly bothered by the scent, but fortunately, it doesn't disappear right away either; it is just the right amount of subtle and retains the freshness factor throughout. The longevity is quite remarkable for such a fragrance; I can definitely smell it for about 7 hours, even if most of the time it is faint. Aside from the increasing retreat of the bergamot, which is replaced by delicate oak moss as a freshness carrier, the scent now remains linear. I notice nothing of musk.

I have loved Eau de Rochas Fraîche for hot summer days for quite some time.
But why did I want to have it with me so badly while packing for the trip in autumn?
Slowly, it dawned on me: With its alcoholic-citrusy top note, it not only conveys refreshment in heat but also a sense of renewal in terms of cleanliness. I wouldn't consider any of my other fragrances suitable for making my own refreshing wipes. I wouldn't want to wipe my hands with any of my other scents in order to then eat, say, chicken in banana-coconut sauce and couscous with my hands. If I had to say which fragrance from my collection I would consider the least harmful if I accidentally soaked it, it would also be Eau de Rochas Fraîche.
Which of my fragrances could I really imagine would remove a light stain without damaging the fabric or leaving a stain itself? Only Eau de Rochas Fraîche. Although, on white fabric, I would be a bit skeptical due to the slightly bluish tint of the bottle's contents and would first test it on a piece of hem inside.
Well, as you can see, I haven't tried everything yet, but what matters more is this feeling of certainty that Rochas Fraîche is indeed this deliciously refreshing all-rounder.

And lastly: Which of my fragrances would I consider the least intrusive even when using another? Eau de Rochas Fraîche would be one of two.
This is a very important point, as it means I can use Eau de Rochas Fraîche even when I don't want it as a fragrance but am wearing another.

I don't always have Eau de Rochas Fraîche in my handbag, but almost always. It definitely has to come along on trips, if only as a room spray for potentially oddly smelling hotel rooms. My subconscious knew what it was doing when it joyfully and unabashedly ordered the 220ml splash.

I am becoming like my grandmother. And that's a good thing.
My grandmother and Eau de Rochas Fraîche are, in many ways, secret stars to me!