Our take
What does Eau de Cartier smell like?
Christine Nagel composed Eau de Cartier in 2001 as an Eau de Toilette meant for both men and women. Yuzu leads off. It is spikier than lemon, and bergamot rounds it out. Violet leaf soon takes over and gives the perfume its character: green and a little watery, with a clean laundry effect that never turns soapy. Violet flower and lavender sit behind it with no sugar and no powder. The base stays light. White musk leads, carried by a very clean patchouli and a hint of amber. Think of a freshly ironed shirt rather than a citrus cologne. It sits close to the skin and projects little. Reports on longevity vary widely, from a few hours to most of a day. Cartier later spun it into a long line of variations, including Essence d'Orange and Goutte de Rose.
When to wear it
Spring and summer, at the office or on weekends. A midday top-up will not overdo it.
It belongs to the Citrus, Aromatic family. Eau de Cartier is one of 18 creations by Cartier in our encyclopedia.
