Perfume Thursday: Apres L'Ondee by Guerlain

Apres L'Ondee by Guerlain is possibly one of the oldest blends we've ever worn. Created in 1906 by Jacques Guerlain it was inspired by nature - in particular, the weather after a fantastic storm. In fact the perfume's name translates to "After the Rain".

We have to be honest, upon first spray we weren't all feeling the love for this perfume. The first scent a lot of us were hit with was heaps of violet, giving it a sweetie, palma-violet smell that isn't always pleasant or easy to wear. It also has an undertone of licorice thanks the to aniseed element. The first few seconds of Apree L'Ondee, for the majority of us, is just a bit too full on, the combination of violet, orange blossom and aniseed just a bit too strong and unusual.

However, this is very momentary because within a minute or so, the perfume has mellowed down to a delicate and pretty floral with gentle spice. The florals included are not sweet but musty and spicy; powdery violet, spicy carnation and buttery orris all work wonderfully together.

The perfume continues to fade until it's barely there, and you're left with just a memory of what once was - similar to the feeling a lot of us have after an actual storm. In truth it doesn't last much longer than an hour but it is the last few minutes that are the most enjoyable - the vanilla base bringing everything together.

The bottle is stunning too. Inspired by the original Bee Bottle designed to contain another perfume in Guerlain's history, Eau de Cologne Imperiale, the bottle has 69 tiny bees embossed onto it,

While the majority of us aren't fans of the scent, we really love the inspiration behind both the perfume and the bottle. To us, it represents the smell of a summer garden in bloom after a heavy storm; rain drops decorating petals like mirrors reflecting and reminding us of the past.

Considering it was created for women of the early 1900's we completely appreciate how this would have suited their tastes and needs. There's a real romantic, nostalgic feel to this perfume and while we wouldn't choose to wear it, we've fallen for it on a much deeper level.

Have you ever tried Apres L'Ondee? If you ever get the chance to, we'd strongly advise it!