Bowling Green (1986)
by Geoffrey Beene

I can't believe I've never reviewed Bowling Green. Well, time to correct that situation. BG is a very pleasant scent. It basically is a minty-mossy combination. Not much more than that. It is kind of green and has a nice, easy-going soapy light-green vibe. The mint gives it some freshness. There is nothing irritating or phony about it; however there is nothing exceptional about it either. If you like green scents, then check it out. For me, I'd say that it is nice and easily available... but not compelling. I think it is a scent with a wide appeal, and it is still somewhat different in that it is not sweet, aquatic or heavy.

29th December, 2011.

In fell swoop, BG wiped out a decade of bad fougères. True to its name, BG is monumental green, similar to the great Polo (Green) but more restrained and laid-back. They also share a similar structure - piney balsam, herbaceous juniper, and woody (patchouli, moss, cedar) drydown. Nobody knew how good this was until CK Eternity for Men came out and the new emperor suddenly stood with no clothes on.

Sadly, it's been discontinued but you can still find a bottle on the cheap i.e. Ebay. BG may not get the praise and press of Grey Flannel, but it's just as good. Understated and elegant.

18th August, 2011.

I love the first twenty minutes of Bowling Green...so fresh, so uplifting, so peppy. But then it kind of goes syrupy sweet. It's still great, but not AS great. It is very much like Drakkar Noir (which I can't take) if it had a summer version. Bowling Green seems to never have really found its place. It was around for a good twenty years, and it's a shame to see it go...but I kind of understand why. At first it was ahead of it's time, then it was behind the times, and now it's out of time. Luckily, the original LaCoste in the square green bottle with the white accents is still around. If you like Bowling Green, I think you'll love LaCoste original (1984). It seems to be what Bowling Green just missed being. A bit drier and none of that syrup.

19th June, 2011.

I bought Bowling Green for 10$ at a discount store. I never smelled it before and I just took it as I love Grey Flannel. What a good surprise. It has a shiny / transparent opening with green notes, lemon and lavander (i also get juniper somewhere). After that it stays linear for quite a while to turn in the very end to a spicy-woody-citrusy drydown. This scent is quite intense, has a nice projection and some lasting power. Nothing really exceptional and for a few aspects it runs on the edge of cheapness but it smells definitely good and it's perfect for spring-summer time. Nice!

5th April, 2011.

Such a shame that this has been discontinued. I find Bowling Green rather similar to Chanel Pour Monsieur and its neighboring scents (Monsieur de Givenchy, Eau Sauvage, etc.), though it's lighter, greener and slightly less complex. If you've smelled Chanel PM concentree you know what to expect, though Bowling Green is much lighter and has no vanilla (though its sandalwood is sweet enough to hint at it).

The opening combines citrus, herbs and spice; the lemon note lasts quite a long while, and the drydown is beautifully classic - spice and refined woods, again quite similar to Chanel PM.

This doesn't have quite the depth of the Chanel or Givenchy offerings, but it does have a beautiful, simple clarity. It smells focused and unadorned rather than cheap. Sillage is modest, longevity very good.

And speaking of cheap - at the beginning of February 2011 I was able to find an eau de toilette and aftershave gift set for $20 on Amazon. Now in early March the same set is going for around $100 - I wish I had stocked up when I had the chance!

8th March, 2011.

Bowling Green stands as one of my all-time favorites. Smelling this is like walking through a sun-slanted coniferous forest path on a warm morning while drinking a freshly cracked Sprite. The cardamom is fiercely pronounced to my nose and I can certainly see why this might turn some off, but it's an uplifting and energizing scent that makes those really early mornings tolerable. I instantly feel happier wearing it and would give it a sixth star just for that quality.

24th March, 2010.