BergamotOpens with
TeaHeart
CypressDries down to
Mathieu NardinThe nose · 44 fragrances · also made Smoking Hot (2023)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Etat Libre d'Orange · Sold as unisex
Above the Waves
A brisk walk along a coastal path where sea air meets earthy undergrowth, with the scent of incense lingering in the background.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Above the WavesPremium · $100–250
48%Similar accords, often for lessDesire Black · Alfred DunhillMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 4 of its 9 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Mathieu Nardin crafted Above the Waves, launched by Etat Libre d'Orange in 2025, as an aromatic woody scent that navigates the tension between freshness and warmth. The fragrance opens with a burst of bergamot and frankincense, creating an immediate contrast of citrus brightness and incense richness. This is balanced by the softness of tea notes — specifically oolong tea — which add a subtle complexity to the composition. As it settles into its woody base, rose and cypress contribute a green freshness that cuts through the warmth of cedar and vetiver.
Apply this fragrance two hours before you need it to be at its peak. The bergamot and frankincense top notes are fleeting but impactful, so they may fade quickly after application. Once the woody base comes through, it will last throughout the day without needing a re-application.
Fig. 01 — Above the Waves, Etat Libre d'Orange
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
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Mathieu Nardin
Grasse roots, modern handsBorn and raised in Grasse to a family of perfumers, Mathieu Nardin developed his appreciation for raw materials picking jasmine and rose in his grandparents' fields.
Designer Etat Libre d'Orange
More from the house · France
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalAbove the WavesEtat Libre d'Orange · Premium · $100–250Alfred Dunhill · 2014Desire BlackShares 4 of its 9 notes$40–100★ 3.86 (327)47%Match
Dolce&Gabbana · 2017Velvet CypressShares Bergamot, Cypress and Cedar$40–100★ 3.98 (99)45%Match
Al Haramain PerfumesWhite LeatherShares 4 of its 9 notesunder $40★ 3.78 (23)
With Etat Libre d'Orange Tom of Finland
Adds leather, powdery and musky; shares cypress and vetiver.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 40%, disliked or hated by 6%.