Eau Fraîche is a stunning summer fragrance from Canadian indie line Monsillage.

Eau Fraîche opens with a note of verbena that’s fresh, vibrant, lemony and green-nuanced. It’s sweetened by juicy mandarin. The second I smell it, I brighten. Soon, the fruits give way to a note of aromatic, heady lavender The lavender blooms, while the verbena recedes, playing a supporting role in the background as the fragrance develops. Then the herbs appear – thyme, spicy and warm, and rosemary, minty and woody. This is the phase I caught coming from Ms. Michaud that summer’s day. It’s what made her Eau Fraîche memorable for me. But when I started wearing it, I realized there was more to love, like the delicate, tender note of lilac at the heart. Here, it’s aquatic and soothing with the top notes shimmering above it. The base is woody, from cedarwood and vetiver, which also gives it some depth. Ambergris adds warmth along with an oceanic fleck, while musk is woody, faceted musk adds a touch of sensuality.

The drydown has a summery vibe that’s fresh and calming. It’s the combination of high-quality natural ingredients, pitched in perfect harmony, that makes Eau Fraîche the ideal summer fragrance.

Notes: Verbena, mandarin, lavender, thyme, rosemary, lilac, aquatic note, white cedar, vetiver, musk and ambergris.