Our take
What does Après l'Ondée smell like?
Jacques Guerlain created Après l'Ondée in 1906, reportedly struck by the smell of the countryside after spring rain. The original bottle recalled a wicker basket, topped with a clover stopper. The opening is brisk. Lemon, bergamot and neroli get a lift from anise, which lends a nearly metallic sparkle. The heart quickly turns to mauve flowers. Violet and carnation blend with hawthorn and orange blossom in a soft, slightly wistful shade. The base is where the scent finds its voice. Iris and heliotrope form a powdery veil that smells of damp earth and almond. Vanilla, benzoin and sandalwood extend it without adding weight. Après l'Ondée is often called the mother of L'Heure Bleue, which came out in 1912. The younger scent is denser and more oriental. The elder stays a watercolour, fragile and short-lived.
When to wear it
For a grey day in spring or autumn, at the office or just for yourself. Spray freely because the eau de toilette fades within a few hours.
It belongs to the Floral, Powdery family. Après l'Ondée is one of 89 creations by Guerlain in our encyclopedia.
