Yendi (1974)
by Roberto Capucci

I liked Yendi right from the start, but every time I put it on I got this nagging feeling I’d smelled its fruity-green floral accord somewhere before. On the third or fourth wearing it finally hit me: it smells an awful lot like Globe, an extinct masculine that Jean-Claude Elléna did for Rochas in the 1990s. I sampled the two side-by-side to check my sanity, and am happy to report that it’s not just my imagination. In its top notes and much of its heart Yendi is very close to Globe indeed! The two share a brilliantly balanced palette of sweetened green floral notes, bergamot, berries, and soft woods that paints a glowing spring landscape for the nostrils. While Globe sets its green floral accord over a fougère foundation, Yendi rests on a brisk, powdery floral chypre underpinning. The result is a happy green floral fragrance with all of the sophistication of Cristalle or Chanel No. 19, but none of the chilly hauteur.

Yendi’s sillage and projection are both generous, an its lasting power is more than adequate. There are no seams, lumps, or rough spots anywhere in Yendi’s progression. Instead, it has a natural, inevitable quality about it I’ve found only among the most balanced and well-blended of fragrances. Were it offered today as a niche scent or part of an “exclusive” designer line, I’d wager Yendi would win converts among perfume lovers, but in 1974 it was perhaps not merely prescient, but ahead of its time. Eminently worth seeking out.

Review of vintage eau de toilette:
Yendi is a wonderfully blended ultra-green floral, sparkling with gentle effervescience, a touch of metallic edge, and a soft powdery finish. In addition to the predominance of 'green' I detect hyacinth and possibly a hint of lily but don't know the formal notes. I'd categorize this as a carefree and refreshing scent.

A dazzling gem from the seventies. This scent manages to combine wonderfully fresh green note, with rich sweet florals, then gives it just a slight bit of powder to soften the whole affair. It is pure olfactory candy; it is sweet without being cloying, green without any sharpness, and powdery without any of the aldehydic roar. I find myself contemplating this scent whenever I wear it, it is 'that' complex, and that delightful. It truly is a shame it is no longer in production, but as we all know; ingredients for these classic masterpieces are not used any longer due to regulations (cost cutting). Therefore it is better that this grand old dame is remembered fondly and will not suffer the fate of many of her contemporaries; "a 'bad' face-lift"/ re-orchestration.
This is definitely one to not overlook if you stumble upon it, it will not let you down.