The story of Clarins
Jacques Courtin-Clarins opened his first beauty institute in Paris in 1954. He worked with plant oils and massage at a time when cosmetics mostly relied on chemistry. Plants became the house trademark. In 1987 he launched Eau Dynamisante, which combined a fragrance with plant extracts such as ginseng and thyme. It sold as skincare as much as perfume, and it is still in the range. In 2000 he handed the company to his sons, Christian and Olivier. The family of waters then grew: Eau Ressourçante in 2003, Eau Ensoleillante in 2007, Eau des Jardins in 2010. The family still controls the business.
An olfactory signature
Clarins waters smell like the bathroom of a good hotel. They are fresh and clean with no heavy base. Eau Dynamisante opens on sweet and bitter orange with petitgrain, then moves to an aromatic heart of lavandin and tarragon. A light patchouli holds the base. Eau des Jardins plays citrus and spearmint with a touch of bay leaf. Eau Ressourçante is calmer, with basil and cardamom leading into sage and iris. You spray them without thinking, and plenty of them. They are about ritual rather than seduction.
Which Clarins perfume to choose?
Eau Dynamisante is still the benchmark, an aromatic citrus for the morning after a shower. Eau des Jardins is greener and mintier, made for real heat. For the evening or before bed, Eau Ressourçante is the softest of the set. Eau Ensoleillante smells of a day by the pool, with a warmer tonka base. Eau Extraordinaire, released in 2022, adds ginger and a rose heart. None of them last long, so spray your whole body rather than just your neck. For a more perfumed citrus, try Hermès Eau d'Orange Verte.