Eau sOleil
Nicolaï (2013)

The opening smells very much like the smell of aromatic sap from a broken plant stem melded with a quality citrus note... I like it… natural and calming. The pyramid lists a whole lot of citrus, but I get a green / "citrus" combination. Looking at the pyramid, I don't understand where the green comes from. I get a rather strong petit grain note. Although I can't pick out the thyme, I think it is there working with the wormwood to balance the overdose of citrus load. In any case, I'm smelling a complex, nicely designed accord. This is not your typical citrus opening, nor do I think it is your run-of-the-mill suntan lotion offering, although it resembles more the later than the former. I'm impressed by the opening, and it seems to merge seamlessly into the floral heart accord.

The heart is floral dominated by the Ylang Ylang. It is of good quality but rather unspectacular – especially after following the interesting opening. It either doesn't last very long, or else its lack of intrigue dulls my sense of smell a bit. The base moves into even more unspectacular territory… it completes the “run-of-the-mill suntan lotion” potential of the opening. I'm surprised how it lost so much interest is such a short time. I'm also surprised that Eau Soliel was introduced in 2013… I've seen better versions of this suntan lotion concept ten years ago. Excellent quality – not very original… if you enjoy it, its quality makes it worth owning.