• Feminine
• Elegant Floral with Subtle Spices
• Sillage is Low to Moderate
• Projection is Low to Moderate
• Suitable for Any Occasion
• Suitable for Most Seasons with the Exception of Extreme Heat or Cold
• Inoffensive, Safe for Work or School
• Vintage, but Not Outdated
• Vegan? No
• Cruelty Free? No

L’Air du Temps EdT Review

First released in 1948 by the fashion house, Nina Ricci, L’Air du Temps is a floral perfume with subtle spicy notes. It has a laundry list of notes in it that belies the perfume’s softness. This perfume does contain aldehydes, but not in the style of the more domineering Chanel No5. In L’Air du Temps eau de toilette, the aldehydes are subtle and supportive.

So much about this perfume is moderate. It has a low-to-moderate sillage, low-to-moderate projection, and low-to-moderate longevity depending on the wearer. I think most people would get 2 – 4 hours of wear before it becomes a skin scent. The quality of the formulation; however, is anything but moderate. The perfume is well-balanced and, though it’s an older fragrance, it’s still relevant today.

For seasonal wear, think mild temperatures. It’s not robust enough for freezing winter temperatures, and it’s a little too rich and spicy for roasting summer heat, but it can handle any kind of weather between those two extremes. L’Air du Temps is available as an eau de parfum, which would be a better choice for winter use. This is a review of the eau de toilette.

The under-25 crowd might not like this one, but slightly older young women, or men, who like soft florals probably will. Yes, L’Air du Temps is an old-fashioned perfume, but it’s not an “old lady” scent. It’s classic, classy, and elegant. If I had to pick a single word to describe L’Air du Temps, it would be—refined.

The Opening

One would think with all of the myriad notes in L’Air du Temps that it would be a potent, or possibly even jarring, perfume, but it’s not. Though not exactly delicate, this is a soft, warm, feminine perfume.

The first sniff of L’Air du Temps greets the nose with a zesty citrus note, mostly bergamot to my nose. This is an uplifting citrus that’s not biting or overly bitter. Subtle warm spice notes are immediately apparent. This perfume is slightly soapy and very clean smelling. Much of the opening is contributed by carnation, which is a prominent note throughout the life of the perfume. Peach adds a bit of sweetness that balances the citrus and spice notes. It’s a natural fruity sweetness, not a sugar-candy type of sweetness.

The zesty, spicy, floral first notes quickly morph into soapy and creamy white florals. There are too many notes in this perfume for my not-so-sensitive nose to pick up but, for me, gardenia, orchid, and carnation dominate the heart notes with a little spicy support from clove.

It’s important to note that the spices in L’Air du Temps are subtle and serve to add warmth and fullness to what is really a floral-bouquet perfume.

The Dry Down

The dry down is where the woody and musky notes really come through. As a fan of woody scents, I think the dry down is where L’Air du Temps really shines. Unfortunately, this perfume doesn’t last long after the dry down, at least not on me.

White musk can sometimes be harsh, but not in this perfume. The musk adds a bit of depth that’s enhanced by earthy vetiver and rich amber. This is such a well-balanced perfume. Every note is perfectly poised.

L’Air du Temps is a little soapy from the start and becomes more so in the dry down. It gets a bit powdery too, but not overwhelmingly so. This is a clean-smelling fragrance from start to finish that gets just a touch dark in the dry down, but not enough to be risque. This is a true lady’s perfume after all.

As a warm, cozy, soft floral, L’Air du Temps makes an excellent bedtime perfume.

Is L’Air du Temps Vegan?

As a company, Nina Ricci, is not vegan. Its parent company, Puig, is also not vegan. Both companies have recently made statements vowing to shift their product manufacture toward more environmentally friendly methods.

Here’s a statement from Nina Ricci.

Here’s a statement from Puig.

Regarding this specific perfume, L’Air du Temps EdT, the only known animalic ingredient is musk, which is almost certainly white musk, or synthetic musk. The use of animal-derived musk has been outlawed in modern perfumery for many years.

It’s unknown if the numerous other ingredients in this perfume are responsibly and/or sustainably farmed and collected.

Due to Nina Ricci’s history of manufacturing non-vegan products and testing some of its products on animals, I would categorize this perfume as non-vegan. You may have a different opinion on what makes a product vegan, and that’s fine.

Is L’Air du Temps vegan? Probably not.

Is L’Air du Temps Cruelty Free?

Nina Ricci and its parent company, Puig, have a history of testing their products on animals and using animal-derived ingredients in their products. Neither company has publicly posted any statements regarding testing their beauty products on animals, which usually means they do it.

Cruelty-Free Kitty has a little more information about Nina Ricci regarding animal testing.

PETA confirms that Nina Ricci tests on animals.

Since L’Air du Temps is an old fragrance that’s been using the same ingredients for quite some time, it’s possible that it’s no longer tested on animals, but that is speculation. L’Air du Temps might be cruelty free, but Nina Ricci is definitely not.

Is L’Air du Temps cruelty free? Probably not.

Video Reviews of L’Air du Temps