By Dane
"Pretty" perfumes aren't difficult to come by. Looking at a historical scent from the house of Guerlain, you'd expect something pretty. The floral notes in Apres l'Ondee are just that. Violet and iris make it powdery and sweet, but what makes it interesting is the bitterness of licorice paired with spicy notes that give it a stale, musty smell.
The first time I smelled Apres l'Ondee, I thought maybe something was off. The strange, off-putting topnotes were not what I was expecting. Soon a soft and sweet violet entered the picture, and my faith was restored. I realize now that if the bitter notes were not present, you wouldn't have the timeless combination that Guerlain created, but just a simple floral water (like Meteorites).
The foundation of Apres l'Ondee is based on Heliotrope, a flower with a unique, powdery vanilla scent. Guerlain took each facet of this ingredient and highlighted them with complimentary ingredients. Bergamot and aniseed for the sharp qualities, violet and iris for the powder-puff, carnation for the hint of spice, and vanilla for the sweetness. A genius combination devoted to a unique and special ingredient, which, for some reason, isn't listed in the advertised notes.
Apres l'Ondee, along with many other Guerlain classics, borders on masculine, although marketed towards women. Don't let that stop you from trying it, you'll be missing out on one of the most important fragrances ever created.
Now unfortunatley only sold in the classic "bee bottle" in EDT concentration. If you're lucky, you might have the chance to smell the extrait sometime, although it's extremely hard to come by.
Year: 1906
Perfumer: Jacques Guerlain
Notes: Aniseed, Cassia, Violet, Carnation, Iris, Vanilla
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