It’s been raining a lot lately. You know, those heavy, ozonic rain storms.  They only come after intense heat and humidity, when you can barely see a few feet ahead, there is such a deluge. So of course, this brings to mind a perfume, and of course, that perfume is Guerlain Après L’Ondée. Après L’Ondée translates more or less to “after the rain shower” and was created in 1906 by Jacques Guerlain. It has often been called “heartbreakingly beautiful” by those who wear it. Some so much that they simply can’t wear it- it makes them too sad. I adore it, maybe because it feels therapeutic to  wear a perfume that can evoke such emotion. Jacques Guerlain himself has said “I felt something so intense, I could only express it in a perfume”. Are we feeling what he felt in 1906? Maybe…

Après L’Ondée does to perfume notes what watercolours do to art. You can almost see the light coming out after the rain, you can practically feel it.  Guerlain calls it “a perfume of absolute romance”. When I wear it, I can almost see Monet’s Les Nymphéas (Water Lilies), with their almost ethereal blues and purples and that feeling of cool fresh water.

Guerlain Apres l’Ondee eau de toilette in the 100ml bee bottle is available from Guerlain Boutiques. Some department stores in the US with comprehensive Guerlain counters also carry it.