Diptyque's Eau de Lierre, conceived as an homage to the ivy growing around the country homes of the line's founders, launches this week. The fragrance features fresh notes, pepper, ivy, water notes, musk and wood.
Eau de Lierre starts with ivy, heavily peppered. It is green and slightly bitter, but nothing like the explosion of green that opens L'Ombre dans L'Eau: this is considerably lighter and airier, and much less astringent. Although I prefer the more concentrated approach of L'Ombre, the Lierre is probably the more wearable of the two fragrances, at least in the early stages, and I rather liked the breezy quality of the top notes.
Once the top notes fade, the "fresh" and "water" notes intensify and the greenery begins to recede. In its place, we are left with a pale woody musk enlivened only by what remains of the pepper. It is not unpleasant, but nor is it lively (or unusual) enough to hold my interest. Mind you, if you're looking for a fresh woody musk, it might be just the thing. It lasted nearly forever on me — in fact, I found it no easy thing to remove.
Diptyque Eau de Lierre is available in 50 and 100 ml Eau de Toilette. For buying information, see the listing for Diptyque under Perfume Houses.
For related reviews, see my St. Patrick's Day post on green fragrances, including some great suggestions in the comments.
Note: top image is Ivy by chidorian at flickr; some rights reserved.
When is this new one available? I love Ivy… and woods… and musk… =)
Lierre does not sound like something I would love…still, I am curious to twy 🙂
Yes, this one was a disappointment. I really expected something more daring.
Should be out by the end of the week.
M, as much as we are EFT, I still don't think you'll care for it…but you never know!
V, don't know that I expected daring, but I certainly expected something greener. The more greens I try, the more desperately I am clinging to my Gobin Daudes.
I am a fan of Diptyque & have quite a few of their scents, but the last one I adored was Tam Dao. Do Son I like very much, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I adored it. This one & Jardin Clos I think of as anomalies…
Robin… EFT… mind is a blank =P
Sorry, I need to stop using obscure abbreviations: evil fragrance twin, e.g. someone who likes what I don't & vice versa, although actually columbina & I do like some of the same things.
oops.. I got confused between the two Ms =P so I thought you were talking to me *blush* carry on….
I do love Diptyque, but am so happy with my fave three – L'Ombre Dans L'eau, Philosykos, and Tam Dao. This one doesn't sound as interesting, though I'd like a sample just to try it…thanks for another brilliant review, Robin!
I forgot to ask: Is the pepper note really that strong? You wrote that it fades rather quickly, but too much pepper makes me sneeze.
I don't think it is heavy as that — actually Diptyque Ofresia makes me sneeze. This one didn't.
Sounds like we have some of the same favorites!
Interesting that you mention Gobin Daudes R. I've just tested this and on me I find it almost identical to Sous le Buis. It has stayed green for over 3 hours and is still going strong. I am quite tempted to purchase.
Mind you, I really dislike L'Ombre dans L'eau which is pure blackcurrant leaf and rose on me.
J, So glad you love it! I will have to try it next to Sous Le Buis one of these days, but going on memory I didn't find it nearly as green & I don't care for the “fresh” stuff in the EdL…but it certainly beats SlB in terms of lasting power, to say nothing of the price!
R, not a big green fan…. guess I'll stick with my nasty Trois and Elide. 🙂
I was kindly given a pre-release sample of this, and I have to say I really liked it. It evokes an amazing sense of breeze – like a light wind laden with the scent of sap from pruned shrubs. I can't imagine how a fragrance manages to suggest a sense of movement!
Hey, Trois isn't nasty! Elide is another story 😉
Yes, it definitely has a “fresh air” thing — exactly the part I don't like, but glad that you do!
Really?!?! With your fondness for herbs n' green, and your orange fondness, I would have thought Elide …. I will admit it ventures in the direction of scrubber every now and again.
My bad, was confusing Elide with another Diptyque. Elide is lovely except that I don't really like to wear lavender. Don't know why, as I love the smell as long as it isn't on my person. If I was going to wear lavender, it would be one of my top choices. Great summery scent.
I have tested it before… and loved it! Now I’m retesting it again, I’m not sure why I still don’t have a full bottle of this 2 years later… I absolutely love, love, love this fragrance. I guess it’s because I adore Ivy notes, yes I even love Granercy Park by Bond no.9 because of it’s Ivy heart… Eau de Lierre has that peppery-ivy accord and it’s toned down by it’s fresh/ sheer “water notes”. However this “water note” is nothing too aquatic or acidic (I hate these overy fresh/oceanic fragrances. Eau de Lierre is just right. If there was one ingredient more or one ingredient less in Eau de Lierre… it just wouldn’t be the same anymore… And yes it lasts forever!!!!! How is it possible for a green/fresh fragrance? You tell me but it’s true! Love it so much.
Many fresh fragrances that rely on synthetic fresh notes and musk last forever! In fact, most white musk fragrances last all day and into the night.