GFF F (1997)
by Gianfranco Ferré

GFF Donna (also known as GFF F) is a recent favorite. This smells so fabulously delicious, it’s hard to believe that no one knows about it, and even harder to understand why Gianfranco Ferre goes to all the trouble to develop some wonderful fragrances, yet doesn’t seem to do much to market them. Maybe he really does in Europe, but in the States, his frags seem to be relative unknowns. GFF Donna opens with a crisp rush of Hesperides, and, my, are they marvelous. Balanced with a green note, the lemon, bergamot, lavender, and clary sage give way to the heart notes of jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, freesia, cardamom and cinnamon while patchouli, sandalwood, honey, hawthorn, vanilla, tonka bean and cedar anchor the whole composition. I detect honeysuckle as well, and in fact, GFF Donna makes me feel like a honeybee who has happily buzzed into a citrus orchard in full bloom, surrounded by copious honeysuckle vines. GFF Donna is similar to Arpege but with the citrus (orange) and honeysuckle notes revved up. Wear it to play tennis in the morning, and in the evening spritz again before dinner at the Ritz ---it’s that divinely versatile. Elegance with a smile.