I have no idea but it smells pretty fricking good.

In the '90s, I was obsessed with all products worn by Sofia Coppola. I clearly remember purchasing Laura Mercier's French Lips lipstick (a beautiful sheer, dark raspberry) and a smudgy black pencil from Origins. But, my main obsession was her scent; Olene by Diptyque. It was very grown up for me, at the time. It was all honeysuckle and wisteria.

I've not worn a Diptyque fragrance again until now. L'Eau Papier has become my "fall-winter scent" and it's a scent I've never noticed anyone else wearing. For a change. Probably because it's not sold at Sephora or Ulta.

How do you describe notes not related to an oil or flower? Like fig. What does fig even smell like? And, every time I sniff a fig fragrance, it smells different. What does that mean? Is it real or made up? Which leads to: What does rice steam smell like?

To start, L’Eau Papier makes me think of soft woods, a twist of rice steam, sprinkled with mimosa, and a dash of musk. The weird part of it is, it smells like what I think rice would smell like. Am I an expert on steam that emits from rice? Hardly. But, it's a kind of feeling. 

I'm rarely stopped and asked about the scent I'm wearing but, with this one, I'm asked every time I wear it. It's the type of scent one can wear to dinner or to bed. Sort of a soft-but-mighty scent.

L'Eau Papier wears softly and carries a big scent.

Diptyque L'Eau Papier EDT; 100 ml, $190