LES BAINS GUERBOIS
1979 New Wave

2020

PERFUMER
Dominique Ropion

spearmint
peppermint
aldehydes

orris
cedarwood

musk
sandalwood
amberwood

‘Another night at Bains Douches, another young English band onstage. The charismatic lead singer close to a trance. A legendary performance. A small enthusiastic crowd, girls and boys riding waves of emotions, sounds, of fragrances melding together yet distinct. Peppermint, orris, cedarwood. New Romantics. Is this a dark or cheerful view of the world? Could be both.

MAGNETIC & AVANT-GARDE
The first notes resound. Unexpected and vibrant, peppermint infuses its aromatic freshness that feels like a wave. The earthy and metallic inflections of the deaf and earthy iris add depth to this avant-garde duo. The smooth and milky sandalwood announces the intermission and the promise of suspended time.’ – Les Bains Guerbois

When I sampled on paper, I picked several to test on skin. I knew then that New Wave wouldn’t really be my jam, but I wanted to give it a try anyway, as it’s hard to come by good minty fragrances.

What made me appreciate this is the iris. From the opening, you get a classy, almost ‘cold’ iris here, mixed with the mint. This is more of a chewing gum/toothpaste mint to me than a leafy, green one. It’s refreshing and I did like wearing this on a warm night, but I just don’t see myself actively wearing mint fragrances; it’s a scent I mostly kept reserved for other purposes than perfumes. As nice and well done as New Wave is, it hasn’t changed that.