Agrumes v. (Martin de Candre)
★★★★☆ lemon peel
The challenge in making a lemon fresh fragrance is to keep it from smelling like dish washing liquid. With Agrumes, MdC succeeds in doing this. How? First, they use convincing citrus oils that don't feel like they've just slipped out of a test tube. All through the shave you get the impression of fresh lemon peel with maybe some yuzu and grapefruit joining in. And second, the MdC base offers a creamy, earthy, rubbery side note that by contrast highlights the brightness of the citrus without making it all feel shrill or acidic. Though I still prefer the fougère, this Agrumes is a cheerful and sunshiny pot of suds. For me, it takes second spot among all the MdC fragrances. If you like the lemony opening of the latest version of Dior's Eau Sauvage, you may also enjoy Agrumes.
The soap itself gets full points for slickness. Your razor won't bog down in its thick lather, and the soap won't cling to your face after the last rinse. This cleanliness, though, comes at a cost. You may find that Agrumes finishes too lean, especially in the cooler months. After a couple days with this sample, I was more than happy to reach for a balm to revive my chapped skin.