Since the Nina fragrance first launched in 2006, it’s popularity has spawned a whole family of reinterpretations. From completely reworked versions of the scent to variations in concentration, there’s a whole spectrum of scent to be explored.

The latest addition to the family is Nina L’Eau, a light and charismatic fragrance that refreshes the sweetness of the original very nicely indeed. There is a micro-trend (perhaps not surprising considering the time of year) for romantic, cherry blossom-like fragrances at the moment, such as new release Van Cleef & Arpels Feerie Spring Blossom, and the upcoming Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Eau de Toilette and Escada Cherry In The Air.

This scent is characterised by its bright and breezy character; it’s fruitier than the original fragrance, but in a more linear way. Clean and bright apple, grapefruit and mandarin mingle with the sharpness of neroli in the top notes, with just hints of the sweet cherry heart peeking through. As the fragrance progresses, it becomes sweeter and more voluptuous, with rich gardenia and more of the distinctive cherry note. All of this built atop the characteristically sweet and musky base notes of the original Nina.

On my skin, the scent lasts for roughly 3-6 hours, but as it is an eau fraiche, this is to be expected. The musky base notes eke out the longevity very nicely, and it lingers subtly on the skin for a long time.

Overall, I’m a big fan of Nina L’Eau. It’s perfect for this time of year, and is a great choice for those who prefer their sweet scents to have a little more subtlety. Of course, there is also that gorgeous bottle…

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