Vert d'Eau 
Chabaud Maison de Parfum

A most odd lemon start – nicely devoid of sweetness but simultaneously a mix of the real (an evocation of both the zest and the juice) and the tooth-clenchingly synthetic, though the latter aspect wins out in the course of the wear. Through this in-betweenness pokes a pale green leaf accord refracted through an aquatic layer, not quite fig as the notes declare but a sympatico accompaniment to the lemon. However, in the drydown Vert d'Eau turns into lemon-scented talcum powder – not a come-on in my book.

Vert d'Eau opens with a mild watery citrus infused aromatic grassy green fig accord before transitioning to its heart. As the composition enters its early heart the citrus-laced grassy green fig deepens, adding mild herbs to the well-blended mix. As time passes the aromatic fig gives way to the now starring green fir-like fig leaf with a very prominent dry amber undertone that grows into co-star as time passes. During the late dry-down the dry amber turns mildly powdery as the fig leaf hangs around, now supporting it. Projection is below average but longevity is superb at between 14-15 hours on skin.

Vert d'Eau started off promising as true to its "Green Water" name it smelled like watery grassy greens. The citrus early-on worked extremely well with the herbal aromatic green nature of the fig, adding near-transparent support giving the composition its watery texture. Then things began to fall apart as the near-coniferous smelling fig leaf and dry amber entered the picture. The combination is not only monotonous, but additionally irritating. It seems like the dry amber will never go away as the composition turn extremely linear from hereon in, only softening briefly at the very end of its life cycle, allowing the wearer to finally enjoy its slightly powdery remnants. The bottom line is Vert d'Eau starts off pleasant but the overwhelming dry amber and fir-like fig leaf prove too much and wear one down as time passes, earning this disappointing overall composition a "below average" 2 to 2.5 star out of 5 rating and a mild avoid recommendation.